JOHN PRIEST LANDS ON TOP 10 LIST

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Hollywood Reporter Puts Upstart Comic On Best of New York List

New York: You may not know the name John Priest, but the upstart young comic who's been hailed by The New York Post as a "cross between Woody Allen and John Travolta" was singled out by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of the 10 comics heating up New York's comedy scene" -- sparking a renaissance in the realm of stand-up in a city where the audiences are hardcore and the comics unrelenting.

The Reporter  reports the 30-something comedian, who mines his own diverse life as fodder for his jokes, is in the midst of developing a network tv show based on his act -- the momentum for which began following a pivotal appearance at Montreal's prestigious Just For Laughs Festival. Having spent a year doing his own show at Caroline's, Priest pulled up stakes and focused on touring the country; but he can still be found working out at the Comic Strip Live, Dangerfields and Caroline's.

Priest was having lunch at the legendary Friars Club when he found out. "I didn't realize it was that competitive... I'm just glad there was no bathing suit competition. That coulda changed everything."

Among the other new names gracing the list is Richard Jeni, who's had the most "Tonight Show" appearances since Jay Leno took over. So the quality of the list is something to be reckoned with -- and the New York-born Priest is more than ready for the challenge.

With a date at Cornell University in Ithaca this evening, the blue eyed dark haired comic is headed to Los Angeles next week. Cited by The New York Post as one of "the young guns who invade the Friars Club," Priest's bringing the best of the East Coast to the West Coast -- and it's only gonna keep rolling from here.

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John Priest will appear Thur. March 6 at Comic Strip Live (1568 2nd Ave.) at 9PM