Though he’s originally from the south side of Chicago, comedian Ty Barnett got his start on the stage of the Seattle Comedy Underground.

Touring the Northwest and the West Coast early in his career he started to gain the reputation as a “someone to watch.” Then, he was voted Up-and-Coming Comedian of the Year at the 2002 Las Vegas Comedy Competition, and soon thereafter he was named an “outstanding performer” at Montreal’s “Just for Laughs” festival, attracting the eyes of Hollywood.

Numerous TV appearances with the late night likes of the Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Ferguson and Jay Leno, in addition to his own Comedy Central special and an amazing run on “Last Comic Standing,” have helped to cement his place as a burgeoning 21st century comedian — offering his hilarious, edgy and thought-provoking antics on everything from race to religion to politics.

This weekend, he’s bringing it back to where it all began, sort of, as Bremerton’s Admiral Theatre hosts its annual “Best of the Seattle Comedy Competition” show, 8 p.m. March 21, 515 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton. Veteran Seattle-area stand-up comic Jan Barrett, joining Barnett and Duane Goad. Tickets are $20-25, mature audiences only.

Info: www.admiraltheatre.org, or call (360) 473-6743 for tickets. See www.tybarnett.com for videos and more.