Felipe Esparza dreamed of winning NBC's "Last Comic Standing" with its $250,000 grand prize.
He won the contest, but so far, the money part hasn't exactly worked out like the 34-year-old comic from East Los Angeles thought it would.
"I have to wait 90 days," he said recently in an interview from Boston on the Last Comic Standing Tour. "I thought that (host) Craig Robinson was going to come out with a big check like Publisher's Clearinghouse, or the check was going to come down and knock (competitor) Tommy (Johnagin) over and then I'd grab it."
Instead, Esparza, who plans to donate a portion of his winnings to the non-profit organization, Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, is waiting for the cash.
"You know what it feels like? It feels like that guy in the neighborhood waiting for the settlement check," he said with a chuckle.
His appearance was on the seventh season of "Last Comic Standing" — hosted by Craig Robinson (NBC's "The Office") — and aired this summer on NBC. As with previous seasons, talent scouts in Los Angeles and New York watched performances from aspiring and professional comedians to find the contestants. Each week, viewers voted for their favorites until there was one left.
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NBC's Last Comic Standing Tour
Jackson Community College, Potter Center Nov. 6, 8 p.m., $32, $29, $26 jccmi.edu/events/pottercenter/1011season/tickets.htm (517) 796-8600
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In addition to the $200,000 cash prize, Esparza has a $50,000, one-year development deal with NBC to either come up with his own show or develop a character on an existing show.
"We have until June 30, 2011 to come up for a show for me or some kind of vehicle that is going to take me to an NBC show," he said. "It's probably the best deal I have, besides the money."
Recently, it was announced that "Last Comic Standing" Judge Greg Giraldo had passed away from a drug overdose. Esparza said learning of Giraldo's death made for a "really tough week."
At the time of the interview, he was trying to come up with a way to honor Giraldo, whose death was announced just three days before. Throughout the competition, Giraldo championed Esparza.
"Through every step he was loving it," Esparza said. "He was really keeping me going. (Judge) Natasha Leggaro would say negative stuff about my comedy, but then he would totally say something opposite of what she said and make the crowd like me even more."
The 65-city tour also features Tommy Johnagin, Roy Wood, Jr., Myq Kaplan and Mike DeStefano.
