Sam Demaris of Houston earned bragging rights by having the highest score at the conclusion of the first preliminary round of the 32nd Annual Seattle Stand-Up Comedy Competition when the results were announced at the Comedy Underground Monday night.

He will now advance to the semi-finals next week along with John Beuhler of Vancouver, Mark Normand of New York, Patrick Keane of Los Angeles and Rodney Sherwood of Seattle.

Demaris stayed ahead of a pack of 16 competitors with a routine that chronicled his shocked interaction with a one-toothed McDonald’s employee near Yellowstone Park as well as his rapacious desire for Oprah Winfrey.

Beginning tonight, a new group of 16 competitors will start preliminary round two at The Comedy Underground and then on to five other venues through Puget Sound with five more semi-finalists being announced on Sunday in Bellingham. In all, there will be 23 performances in comedy clubs, casinos and theaters before this year's champion is announced after the last show on Sunday, November 27th, at the Comedy Undergorund.

The winner will receive $5,000 and a recording contract from Uproar Entertainment. An additional $10,000 will distributed amongst the number two thru number ten finishers.

The complete event schedule can be obtained along with information about each of the competitors at seattlecomedycompetition.com