the comic's comic

Geechy Guy's quarterfinal performance and exit interview from America's Got Talent 2011

So far stand-up comedians are 0-2 in making it past the quarterfinal stage in the 2011 season of NBC's America's Got Talent -- although, of course, there will be a wild-card addition which gives both J. Chris Newberg and Geechy Guy one more chance to sneak into the semis this summer, if the judges deem it so.

Tonight was Geechy Guy's turn to feel the heat.

A longtime veteran of stand-up, Geechy Guy had judge Howie Mandel in his corner. But that wasn't enough. This time. For his quarterfinal performance, NBC hired two women to dress up in whoopie cushion costumes to make him seem more Vegas. Weird? Not as weird as Mandel telling Geechy Guy afterward that he has a very family-friendly act, when Geechy Guy already has a recurring gig in Las Vegas with a show he created called The "Dirty Joke Show" that plays nightly at the Hooters Casino in Vegas.

J. Chris Newberg, Geechy Guy join Melissa Villasenor in top 48 of America's Got Talent 2011

If you appear on America's Got Talent and make it to Vegas Week, but they never identify you by name, then does it still count as a credit? While I wait for Nick Cannon to get back to me on that one on behalf of the three "comedians" who didn't make the cut, three other comedians did make it through to the top 48 who will be performing on the live shows for this summer's voting audiences.

Melissa Villasenor got fast-tracked by the judges to Hollywood along with a few other contestants with varied talents (including the more circus-y big-tent types), while J. Chris Newberg (at left) and Geechy Guy both received approvals following Vegas auditions.

And Newberg got to tell Piers Morgan: "Suck it."