Sean Cullen voted off TV's Last Comic Standing

Canadian comedian Sean Cullen has been eliminated from the American reality TV series Last Comic Standing.

The Peterborough, Ont., comic, known for his trademark porkpie hat and improvised songs on stage, was one of three finalists sent packing in Thursday night's episode, broadcast inCanada by Global.

The trioreceived the fewest telephone and online votes from the public following last week's episode in which the finalists competed in a stand-up showdown in Las Vegas.

Five comics are left standing on the NBC show. One will receive the $250,000 prize in next week'sseason finale.

The winner, as chosen by viewers, also gets an exclusive talent deal with NBC.

Judges scoured the globe earlier this year to find talent for this sixth season of Last Comic Standing, hosted by Bill Bellamy.

Cullen made it to the top eight and lived in a house in Las Vegas with the rest of the finalists, competing in such challenges as creating funny bedtime stories for Playboy Playmates.

The bug-eyed funnyman rose to fame as a member of the comedy troupe Corky and the Juice Pigs. The group toured around the world, releasing albums and performing eight times at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.

In 1998, Cullen went solo, appearing on various late-night talk shows. He has also starred in a Canadian stage production of The Producers, written two novels for young adults and hosted the CBC radio show Simply Sean.

Other Canadian comics who have fared well on previous seasons of Last Comic Standing include Debra DiGiovanni and Gerry Dee, both from Toronto.