Producers of the annual stand-up comedy competition Uncensored 10 are going to be shaking things up, and this year instead of the usual one competition, will be hosting two competitions on December 29 and 30 at the National Cultural Centre.

Over $1 million in cash and prizes will be up for grabs over the two nights.
The first night will feature the regular competition that the public has come to know and love, where the comedians will each be given 12-minute time slots to put on their best performances for the judges, after which an ultimate winner is declared.

The reigning champion is Odessa Primus, who represented the sisterhood when she went on to win after being the only woman in the competition.
However, on December 30, things are going to get a little interesting. That night is going to feature a stand-up clash, with eliminations at each round.
All of the comedians will be paired off and battle it out against an opponent. The losing opponents will continue to be eliminated, while those remaining will then be paired off until there’s the last man (or woman) standing.

The comedians will know who they are paired with within the first round, however, for each successive round opponents will be selected by a random draw.

Producer for the show Maria Benschop said this new change is a move to keep the show relevant and ever improving.

“After a time when you’re doing something one way all the time the crowd would tend to get bored with it, so we have to find new ways to reinvent it,” she explained. “Once we market it well it will raise the interest of the people.”
In addition to revamping the show, the new format is also a way to challenge the comedians to really bring that A Game.

“They will have to show their versatility,” Benschop said.

However, despite the change, the show promises to continue in its stride of delivering unbridled comedy in it’s raw, uncut version. And, as always, the public is advised: Adults ONLY!

The first night of competition will utilise a judging panel, while for the second night, the winners are going to be determined mostly by the audience, something Guyanese are always ready, willing and able to do.

Over the years, the Uncensored fans have proven that they are not unafraid to show it when they are unsatisfied. And comedians have in the past been sent packing to the chorus of “boos” when their act does not deliver.

Aside from Primus returning to defend her crown, this year will of course also feature several of the show’s stalwarts including last year’s second-place finisher Michael Ignatius as well as Kirwyn Mars and Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson. Famed promoter Marlon Jacobs and Paul Burnette, who both performed for the first time at the show last year will be returning to sharpen their stand up skills a little more.

This year the newbies will be social media comedians Ron “Kunchi” Reynolds of Kunchi.tv and Anasticia “Ann3ie” Shako, a University of Guyana (UG) student who does comedy on the side.
Shako is really looking to the competition to bring her own brand of comedy to the stage.

“I saw it as an opportunity to promote what I already do and make inroads for the type of comedy I do; it’s not as vulgar as the others,” Ann3ie expressed.
Some of the competitors will perform both nights, while others will only perform in either the Saturday or Sunday night competition. The placements are still being ironed out, but no matter how it works, patrons can expect two nights of pure laughter.

Saved as Odessa Primus
Caption: Odessa Primus in her winning performance at Uncensored 9 last year.

Saved as Odessa Primus
Saved as: Uncensored
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