The funniest student in the country might get discovered tonight as iCAST Comedy, a new online comedy channel, makes a stop at the University Center Ballroom as part of a 25-city comedy contest tour.

The iCAST College Comedy Bake-Off will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. It will be hosted by Ralph Harris, a performer seen on television shows like In Living Color, Living Single and Seinfeld.

Students registered for the event will be able to compete in the joke-telling, stand-up and sketch categories and will be voted on by the audience. Interested participants should contact Jenni Boyce in the Office of Student Activities at 974-5455 or visit the iCAST tent at the UC Plaza today.

Any student thinking of a career in comedy should not miss the Bake-Off, iCAST’s Elaine Brosnan said. The winner of the UT event will have their UT performance judged along with the other 24 school winners by a panel of celebrity comedians and four finalists will be chosen.

The four finalists will be flown to Panama City for the Spring Break finals. The winner will have the opportunity to tour with comedienne Janeane Garofalo in her tour during Spring 2001.

This is the big break a budding comedian is looking for in life, Brosnan said.

Students can also enter submissions in the stand-up, sketch, joke-telling, animation, comic strips and short film categories online at www.icast.com/comedy.

The tour is just a prelude to our site’s full launch at the end of the year, said Brian Murphy. The Bake-Off offers our advertisers a very creative and effective method for connecting with a desirable young adult audience.

Members of the audience will receive free giveaways and will be able to register to win a sports utility vehicle.