Harith makes it to semi-final of funniest person contest
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: Comedian Harith Iskander (pix) has made it to the semi-final of the Funniest Person in the World contest.
He will be joined by 20 comedians in the semi-final on Dec 5 in Helsinki, Finland.
Over 80 comedians took part in the contest organised by Laugh Factory, a global comedy chain in the United States, via online voting since Sept 2.
Harith said it would be his first time taking part in a stand-up comedy competition. “This is probably the first, the biggest competition ever for a Malaysian,” he told The Star.
He said the competition "is interesting for him as it features comedians from all over the world."
“If it is a Malaysian stand-up competition, I wouldn’t join it.
“Why would I compete against my fellow Malaysians,” he said, adding that stand-up comedy is about “personal taste.”
However, he said, the competition "is a personal desire, to see how I stand up against some of the best comedians in other countries.”
While he feels confident of going through to the final, Harith said: “Yes, I am nervous. I am not going there for jalan-jalan (a holiday), I want to win this.”
He said he would be among the few in the semi-final who have been in the stand-up comedy circuit for more than 10 years.
“Many of them are fairly new, I would say between three and six years compared to me who have been in the industry for 26 years,” he said.
Harith said Culture and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has lent his support with the ministry sponsoring his flight and accommodation in Helsinki.
As online votes make up half the score of the competition, Malaysians can vote for Harith online at http://www.voteforharith.com/ until Dec 5.
KUALA LUMPUR: Comedian Harith Iskander (pix) has made it to the semi-final of the Funniest Person in the World contest.
He will be joined by 20 comedians in the semi-final on Dec 5 in Helsinki, Finland.
Over 80 comedians took part in the contest organised by Laugh Factory, a global comedy chain in the United States, via online voting since Sept 2.
Harith said it would be his first time taking part in a stand-up comedy competition. “This is probably the first, the biggest competition ever for a Malaysian,” he told The Star.
He said the competition "is interesting for him as it features comedians from all over the world."
“If it is a Malaysian stand-up competition, I wouldn’t join it.
“Why would I compete against my fellow Malaysians,” he said, adding that stand-up comedy is about “personal taste.”
However, he said, the competition "is a personal desire, to see how I stand up against some of the best comedians in other countries.”
While he feels confident of going through to the final, Harith said: “Yes, I am nervous. I am not going there for jalan-jalan (a holiday), I want to win this.”
He said he would be among the few in the semi-final who have been in the stand-up comedy circuit for more than 10 years.
“Many of them are fairly new, I would say between three and six years compared to me who have been in the industry for 26 years,” he said.
Harith said Culture and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has lent his support with the ministry sponsoring his flight and accommodation in Helsinki.
As online votes make up half the score of the competition, Malaysians can vote for Harith online at http://www.voteforharith.com/ until Dec 5.
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