Denver Comedian Phil Palisoul Wins the 2013 Great American Comedy Festival

On Saturday, June 14, Denver native Phil Palisoul won first place at the 2013 Great American Comedy Festival. He beat out eight other professional comedians in the finals to take home the first place trophy.

The Great American Comedy Festival is a 4-day festival of stand-up comedy honoring one of the greatest comedians and Norfolk native, Johnny Carson. The event showcases some of the best amateur and professional comedians from across the nation.

The festival comes full circle for Phil, who tried to get on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson early in his career. "And when I wasn't able to get on the show, I was really disappointed. So, to be able to come here and do this well in a festival for his name and honor is...it's overwhelming really," he explained. Phil began his comedy career in Denver, and quickly became one of the top acts in the city. Soon he was headlining comedy clubs across the country, and in 1994 he moved to Los Angeles. There he became a regular at most of the top comedy clubs in the city as well as starting a successful career as a television writer.

In addition to landing a spot at the prestigious HBO U.S Comedy Arts Festival, where he received rave reviews for his performances, Phil has continued to perform his stand-up routine on such shows as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," NBC's "Friday Night!", Louie Andersons "Comedy Showcase," VH-1's "Stand-Up Spotlight" and "Fools For Love," and A&E's "Caroline's Comedy Hour." Although Phil is a regular television performer, his first love is still performing for live audiences.

Phil took home the $1,000 first place prize and trophy while Dennis Regan of Miami was awarded second place and Joe Machi of State College, Pa., won third place in the comedy festival's professional comedian competition. The winners were picked by a panel of comedy club managers who judged the comedians on their material, audience reaction, poise and other categories.