Marcus has to win. Anything else would be a big surprise.
Jeff Dye was second best, I liked Jim Tavare, sad to see Sean Cullen leave, and I was glad to see Ron G and Adam Hunter out.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
I cast my votes for Marcus, but I'd be surprised if he won. The audience didn't get to see him do standup *at all* between the semifinals and this week's show, and then he went early in the show this time. Big disadvantages.
I'd be reasonably happy with anyone left winning except Jeff Dye. And it's not even that I really dislike Dye; he did a good set this week, but overall hasn't made me laugh. Jim Tavere has really grown on me as the competition went on; Louis Ramey has an interesting, intelligent approach, and Iliza has been really, really good, although she wasn't nearly as good on the finale. I mostly agreed with the eliminations, so I give the voting public a good grade so far.
I've noticed something; there seems to be a direct correlation between the number of times the phrase "takes the stage" is used and how funny the show is. Jay Mohr used to use it all the time in the show's glory days. The last couple seasons it had mostly been MIA, and so have the heavy laughs. This week's show had at least 5 of them, and they really brought the funny.