Six months of fierce competition between some of Tampa Bay’s best up and coming talent came to an end with the December 3rd season finale of The Big Bang Show, at Nova 535 in St. Pete.
The Big Bang Show is a talent contest/ variety show that can be described as The Gong Show meets American Idol meets Whose Line is it Anyway. Nine performers who had each won a prior round of The Big Bang Show, including stand-up comedians Chris Matson, Pretty Paul, Catherine Larson and Chris Gorges, Jim Morey from the Jim Morey Band and singer J’Nelle all competed for the $1,000 grand prize.
Each contestant was critiqued by a panel of local celebrity judges
consisting of NOVA 535 owner Michael Novilla, Wild 94.1’s Alli That Girl, and Maison Rouge designer Rhonda Shear. The judges offered their two cents after each contestant’s act, but at the end of the show, the winner was decided by applause from the audience.
It was a tough decision, requiring two rounds for the audience to whittle the field down to three contestants. The final three were human beat-boxer Black Zappha, spoken word poet Phillip Ott and stand-up comedian Chuck Glass. All three gentlemen gave phenomenal performances during the show, and it was difficult to determine who had received the most 
applause – but when the crowd began chanting, “Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!” it sealed the deal, with “the Unbreakable” Chuck Glass named the winner and taking home The Big Bang Show’s $1,000 grand prize.
“The talent at the Big Bang was unbelievable. Everyone brought their A game. It was by far the most incredible competition I have ever been in,” said Glass. “If I had lost, I wouldn’t have felt slighted at all.” Glass has been doing stand-up comedy for three years, performing at top venues including The Improv in Ybor and recently joining the cast of Got Jokes? Improv, although not performing with the group for the duration of the competition.
Opening and closing the show was improv group Got Jokes? The group performed their unique and irreverent spin on familiar TV shows to start, and finished the evening with their signature “HBO Special” – a hilarious medley of improvised one-liners.
The Big Bang Show takes place at Nova 535 on the first Thursday of every month at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and can be purchased on the Got Jokes? website at www.gotjokesimprov.com. Season two of The Big Bang Show begins in January 2010. If you would like to be considered to compete in the show, contact Daniel Jefferson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..