Republished October 23, 2014 - 5:34 AM
Original Publication Date October 22, 2014 - 5:25 PM
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - An international search to find the world's funniest person is moving to Las Vegas, where people will get to see five finalists square off in an Olympics of comedy that pits France, Finland and other countries against one another.
The finalists were determined by online voters who saw 10 comics take the stage at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood during a Monday night jokefest that was streamed on the club's website.
The finals will take place Friday at the Laugh Factory's sister club in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced after online voting closes Monday.
Finalists are Saad Haroon of Pakistan, Mustapha El Atrassi of France, Archie Bezos of Spain, Nitin Mirani of United Arab Emirates and Ismo Leikola of Finland. Lioz Shem Tov of Israel, who came in sixth, will take part if one of the others drops out.
Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada combed comedy festivals around the world for dozens of contestants. Online voters previously narrowed the list to the 10 semifinalists.
Masada says he hopes the competition will show people around the world that if they can laugh together there is no need for war.
He hopes to make it an annual event.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014