So, what happened to the Showdown, you’re asking? It was everyone’s  favorite head to head challenge between two of Atom’s best videos each week!  The problem was, it was OUR favorites that were in the Showdown, not YOURS, and it was only two at a time. That’s not very internet of us, now is it?

So we hatched a new plan, a new way for you guys to compete for cash, Atom swag, and those coveted slots on Atom TV (on Comedy Central). We needed a solution that was more open, more democratic. We knew you, our viewers, and our friends at the L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival needed a solution. Our answer? Atom’s World Famous Cash-Money Internet Comedy Tournament!

Starting Monday, there are a few ways you can win stuff in the Tournament:

Top Plays – It’s pretty simple. Each week beginning this Monday the 19^th, the top three recently uploaded original comedy videos with the most plays win cash prizes (500 bucks for first place!) and Atom swag. They’re eligible for three weekly Tournaments, and have a chance to win each week.

Atom Picks – Just like it sounds. We’ll regularly pick videos that are so awesome and hilarious that they deserve Pro Video status here on Atom, 500 bucks, and oh yeah, wider distribution to places like mobile phones and Atom TV on Comedy Central!

Shout Outs – Finally, me and Andrew are always looking for videos that stand out, or are totally outrageous, for things like production value, gross-out humor, low budget, sexiness, and general WTF-ness all or whatever else that makes your video funny and special. When we find ‘em, we’ll give them a shout-out badge some cool Atom swag.

So get to it, amigos. Upload your videos, tell your friends, reap the rewards. Again, competition starts Monday. For more info, you can check the Tournament Coming Soon page and the Official Rules, and for a different take on the tournament, check out the news pieces from TheWrap.com and NewTeeVee.

Got something we should feature on the blog? Send a link to tips@atom.com.