Florida’s funny people

STOCK PHOTO Florida has become the butt of jokes nationally – think “Florida, Man,” but it’s Florida’s comedians who are getting the last laugh. Los Angeles and New York might be the capitals of stand-up comedy, but Florida’s comedy scene is sending more and more comedians to the big leagues. “New York s always going to be known as the place for stand-up comedy. It s the birthplace of the Improvs. California is going to follow right behind it. But Florida has had some amazing success stories in the past10 years,” said Myke Herlihy, a long-time Orlando-based comedian. Kam Patterson, now a performer on “SNL” and a co-star in Kevin Hart’s new movie “72 Hours,” was an unpaid performer doing open mics in Orlando four years ago. Preacher Lawson, who did well on “America’s Got Talent,” started in Orlando. Cam Bertrand, who often opens for one of the hottest comedians, Matt Rife, started doing comedy in Tampa, Herlihy said. Florida has its advantages over New York and Los Angeles for comedians