Mitch Hedberg performed at the Stamp Student Union two weeks ago.
He got on stage. He spat out a string of jokes. He got it over with.
And everybody loved it.
Stand-up comedian Mitch Hedberg had students bursting with guffaws and rolling out of their chairs at a sold-out performance last night at Stamp Student Union’s Grand Ballroom. Student Entertainment Events started selling tickets March 9 and sold almost 1,000 tickets for the event.
Hedberg was like a happy hour at the end of a long day. His relaxed attitude, combined with an honest, tell-it-like-it-is style, made his comedy almost an addicting one. It wasn’t just his jokes but the way he presented them with his Midwestern/Cajun accent and random gestures, such as hitting the mic against the stand, that appealed to students.
“I’ve been listening to Mitch for four years now, even before he was big,” junior finance major Kenneth Kramek said. “I even brought my brother and made a family trip out of it.”
The Grand Ballroom was apparently not up to par with Hedberg’s usual comedy clubs. “This f—ing stage is cheap and looks like it was built today,” Hedberg said with a chuckle along with a roaring laughter erupting from the room. He walked around the stage and balanced on the edge of it in between jokes.
Hedberg grasped onto empty straws to take up time. He ripped on things raging from country-style curtains, to chandeliers he called “f—ing gothic,” to even two photographers. “Get the f— out of here,” he yelled at the photographers before calling them back to say. “OK, I want a picture of me doing something crazy!” He even announced to the crowd “This is college, I can try new ones [jokes] … f— it” as he continued a series of bad, cheap jokes.
Although he was the lovable, laid-back, crowd-pleasing comedian he’s known as, it was disappointing to see Hedberg on stage reading from his notes. The show was not like his polished, perfectly-presented Comedy Central stand-up routines, but instead seemed unprepared and rushed at times. He does whatever he wants — as he demonstrated by taking out a pipe and taking an audience member’s lighter, then bringing her on stage.
“I’m a weird, over-your-head comic, you don’t get me,” Hedberg said.
He may not always be easy to understand, but Hedberg has made a name for himself in tough business. He has appeared several times on The Late Show with David Letterman as well as on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He has also had his own spot on Comedy Central Presents. Other stints have included That 70’s Show and Almost Famous. Having no college education, he directed, produced and starred in his own independent film, Los Enchiladas.
“Letterman is great, but so short,” Hedberg said in a phone interview a day before coming to the university. “Comedy Central is nice because it’s more time on stage, gives you a chance to spread your wings a bit.”
He’s familiar with the college circuit and has gigged at about 30 campuses this year. Talking about this university, he said, “The basketball was good [there] for a couple years. I can’t wait, man. I’m so excited about coming. I love touring colleges because I’ve never been [to college].”
Opening for Hedberg was Doug Stanhope, best known for his stand up on Comedy Central’s The Man Show. Although many audiences find his crude humor about drugs and sex funny, some students were unimpressed.
“I hate Doug Stanhope,” sophomore business major Sean Engles said. “I think he ruined The Man Show. “I’m here for Mitch.”
Hedberg’s material, in contrast, was much more on the safe, clean side. His new material was not something to discredit. He kept the room engaged with jokes such as, “I listen to XM and in XM there aren’t any commercials, so after half an hour I’m like ‘What the f—, should I buy?’” Others were the typical, quick Hedberg humor, such as “A hamster is a gerbil who’s a hippie.” However, the shine was somewhat lost when he stopped to jot them down.
“That’s a good one, I gotta write that down,” he said a few times before writing down jokes he came up with while on stage.
A standing ovation showed the approval students gave to Hedberg’s nonchalant nature, but it was obvious the university was not a top priority on Hedberg’s list. The students seemed more like test subjects rather than paying customers, but he did what he came to do. He was comedy — Hedberg style.
