By Nigel Maxwell

PA comedian makes national contest shortlist

Jul 24, 2015 | 6:31 AM

Prince Albert’s Kelly Taylor has been invited to Afghanistan several times to entertain the troops and next month, he could be named Canada’s Next Top Comic.

Taylor is a semi-finalist in the contest run by Sirius XM.

Auditions were held in June in eight Canadian cities.  Taylor travelled to Calgary for his audition, a trip he almost didn’t make.

“‘I was kind of on the fence even if I really wanted to do it, and then I knew the Stanley Cup finals were going on that day too,” said Taylor, who is a huge hockey fan.

Taylor did make the trip and right away he realized he was out of his element.  The comedians were only allowed seven minutes to perform their best material.  Taylor is used to doing shows that are an hour long.

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“Really when you have a short set, a seven minute set, really anyone can win in a shorter time because if you are a starting out comic you might have a good seven minutes that you live and die by every night,” he said.

Taylor learned this week that he was one of three comics shortlisted to the semi-finals. 

People can now go online and vote for their favourite comic from each city.  The voting period runs until August 14.

Eight finalists will be announced for the final round.

The winner of the contest will win $15,000 to put towards their career development.  The winner is also guaranteed a slot at next year’s Just for Laughs festival.

Taylor said at this stage of the game he is not nervous because everything is out of his hands.

“All I can do now is try and promote it,” said Taylor.  “This is the first time I’m trying to get out and Facebook and Tweet.”

Taylor is the only Saskatchewan comedian left in the contest.  He said he is hoping the province will help him out.

 You can find a link to the voting website here.

There is a limit of one vote per day.

nmaxwell@panow.com

Follow on Twitter: @nigelmaxwell