London, Ep. 54

November 5, 2015 — In what we hope to make an annual spectacular, Literary Death Match headed to St. James Studio for our "Best of Edinburgh Fringe" showcase featuring some of the most talented performers on the planet that finished with Viv Groskop outdueling Sarah Morgan in Literary Spelling Bee III, winning Groskop the LDM London, Ep. 54 crown. 

But before the finale was even a thought, the night kicked off with a clash of prose vs. oddballetry, with the brilliant prose coming from Tom Salinsky, actor, improviser, co-creator of The Spontaneity Shop, co-writer of EdFringe hit Impossible, and the wise-cracking oddballetry coming from Morgan, comedy writer for The Tracey Ullman Show and Newzoids. 

The mic was then handed to our all-star trio of judges: John Henry Falle, EdFringe Comedy Best Newcomer Nominee, improviser for The Beta Males; Stevie Martin, improviser for Massive Dad and Debrief staff writer; and Trygve Wakenshaw, EdFringe Comedy Award finalist (Nautilus) and Perth and Adelaide Fringe winner (Kraken). The three praised and quipped before making the night's first impossible decision, as Morgan was advanced as the night's first finalist. 

Then the brilliant London eve zipped into Round 2, with a comedic non-fiction versus comedic non-fiction battle of the startlingly good Groskop, star of EdFringe's Say Sorry to the Lady and author of I Laughed, I Cried, followed by hilariously enchanting work of Tom Allen, multiple award-winning comedian, actor and writer. 

Again the mic was handed to the judges who delivered oddballetry, wisdom and laughs before making the night's second impossible decision, naming Groskop the night's second finalist.  

Then up stepped LDM creator Adrian Todd Zuniga, who announced the night's finale: Literary Spelling Bee III, in which Groskop and Morgan took turns spelling more and more complicated author names — with audience volunteers in town. And after several tense rounds it was Groskop and her faultless assistant who nailed the final letters, winning her the Literary Death Match London, Ep. 54 medal and literary immortality to go with it.