Evergreen alumnus hopes to be "Last Comic Standing"

2001 Evergreen alumnus and stand up comic Josh Blue is competing in the NBC reality series Last Comic Standing this summer. Blue was selected over hundreds of comics nationwide to join 11 others living and laughing on the cruise ship Queen Mary, where they will compete in various comedy contests to determine the top six, then the public will vote to choose the winner, who receives an exclusive talent contract with NBC and their own comedy special on the Bravo television network.

A gifted stand-up comedian and U.S. Paralympic soccer player, Blue takes on the challenges that come from living with cerebral palsy with a smile. He jokes, "I realize that people are going to stare so I want to give them something to stare at." His self-deprecating sense of humor defies stereotypes and encourages others to overcome their pre-conceived notions about disabled people.

Blue was featured twice on Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia in fall 2005, and also released his first CD, "Good Josh Bad Arm."

He got his start in comedy while pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing from The Evergreen State College. At the 2004 Las Vegas Comedy Festival, he won the $10,000 Grand Prize at the Royal Flush Comedy Competition. In 2005, he earned rave reviews on the college circuit and a nomination for "Best Diversity Event of 2006."

Blue has opened for nationally known comics including Robert Schimmel, Kathleen Madigan, Richard Lewis, Tommy Davidson and Jake Johannsen.

Despite his hectic career, Josh continues to be a member of the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team. In September 2004 he competed at the Paralympic Games held in Athens, Greece.

Blue lives in Denver, Colo. Learn more about him at www.joshblue.com. (Photo courtesy of Last Comic Standing)