This week’s episode of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” saw the 10 finalists get reduced to seven. Those final comics include the dry, deadpan, slightly absurd comedian Jonathan Thymius — a Bangor native, with family roots in the area and in Blue Hill.
Thymius grew up on the East Side of Bangor, before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., as a teenager. According to Thymius, he lived in a house on the corner of Maple Street and Stillwater Avenue, before the Bangor Mall was built, making his house one of the last stops before Orono and Old Town.
In an e-mail, Thymius stated that he was deeply influenced by beloved Bangor comedian Eddie Driscoll — and he still does a ventriloquist bit that’s an ode to the late Driscoll. Thymius has visited the area a number of times as an adult to see his Bangor family.
His uncle, the late Robert Taylor, was a longtime Bangor Daily News reporter, columnist and editor, working at the newspaper from 1952 until 1991. Thymius is now based in Los Angeles.
The next episode of “Last Comic Standing” is set for 9 p.m. Monday, July 26, and will eliminate yet another comic from the show. You can show your support by voting during the episode. Visit the Last Comic Standing website at www.nbc.com/last-comic-standing, and visit Thymius’ website at www.jonathanthymius.com.
They came very close to winning the first season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” back in 2006, and now they are touring the world. Celtic Spring, the eight-piece family band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29, at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts.
Celtic Spring, based out of California, is comprised of members of the Wood family, all of whom are talented musicians and dancers. They range in age from 9-year-old dancer and fiddler Aidan to 24-year-old fiddler Elizabeth. Mother and father Mary and Greg have performed with their children all their lives, learning music in both the classical and Celtic traditions and studying under the likes of Natalie MacMaster and Alasdair Fraser, both renowned Cape Breton-style fiddlers.
The six youthful fiddlers are among the elite few that can step dance while fiddling, which is just one of the many skills that brought them to second place in the 2006 season of “America’s Got Talent.” More information can be found at their website, www.celticspringband.com.
Tickets for Thursday’s show are $10 and can be purchased at the door, by calling 948-7469 or online at www.unitymaine.org. A pre-show jam session will begin 45 minutes prior to curtain; audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments. UCCPA is located at 42 Depot Street in Unity.
Winter Harbor plays host to one of the biggest names in TV today. Kara DioGuardi, one of the judges on Fox’s “American Idol,” will judge the final round of the first-ever Schoodic Idol competition, which has been in elimination rounds for the past few weeks.
The final round is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, and tickets for the show have been sold out since June. DioGuardi, a summer resident of Prospect Harbor, agreed to help judge the final round as a benefit for the Channing Chapel, a beautiful stone chapel in Winter Harbor. The final group of 16 Maine singers will perform for DioGuardi and fellow judges this weekend, with the winner receiving a cash prize and the knowledge that at least one of the “Idol” judges thinks he or she is pretty talented.
Local judges for this weekend include actor Chandler Williams, newspaper writer Jill Goldthwait, voice teacher Bronwyn Kortge, Winter Harbor resident Vickie Goldstein, local arts supporter Bob Barr, and MPBN radio personality Suzanne Nance. Local actor Ben Layman will MC. The event is part of the yearly Schoodic Arts for All Festival, which offers an array of performances, workshops and showcases from Aug. 2-15.
For information, visit www.schoodicartsforall.org.
