Comedy Night a Big Hit

Rachele Kloppe, Corner Post staff
Photos by Casey Buckman

Intense was the action at the front of the stage during the opening act of Ag Week Comedy Night. "From Donkey's to phone pranks, there was always something to laugh about!" exclaimed one student as CAFNR students Jason Hayes and Matthew Essner watched the show.

Sept. 26, 2002 - College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) students kicked off Ag Week 2002 Thursday night with Comedy Night at Déjà Vu Comedy Club in downtown Columbia. Judging by the crowd's reaction, it was a "can't-miss" event.

The Ag Week Steering Committee "decided to change up the program a little and add a little variety to all of the other fun and exciting Ag Week activities that were already on schedule," Jennifer Bloss, committee member of Comedy Night, said.

"We felt that it would be in our best interest to have Comedy Night be the kickoff event for the week," Bloss said. "It also worked well because, as we all know, Thursday night here in Columbia is the prime time to go out."

Comedy Night featured two comedians: Flip Schultz and Kirk Noland. Schultz has been featured on HBO and in Tim Allen's recent movie, "Big Trouble." Although Schultz might be more recognizable, Noland was the headliner of the night.

Emcee Ryan Montague announced Schultz's act. The lights were dimmed and "Mambo No. Five" played over the speakers as Schultz went on stage.

Schultz captured the CAFNR audience with his extreme movements while on stage and his ability to make the audience laugh. However, he said he was embarrassed about his performance. He's used to doing an eight- to 10-minute set instead of a 25-minute act, so Thursday's experience was new for him.

Schultz said it was only his second performance at the Vu, and his first performance was with Noland as well.

Noland, however, performs at the Vu a couple times per year. His performance began with the lights out. Loud music boomed as Noland's recorded voice came over the loudspeakers. Cheers and applause sounded as he made his way to the stage.

Noland greeted the crowd with a crude, "Welcome to my world." He later added that his world is, "not politically correct."

He proved this to be true, for his main act was prank phone calls. He called Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne, and although Payne did not answer, his machine did, and Noland acted like Satan.

Noland then called Sideline's, a sports bar near Troy State - MU's football opponent this weekend. The crowd listened to elevator music and an advertisement for English              Photo by Rachele Kloppe
muffins before hearing the voice         Opening act Flip Schultz entertains
of the bartender at Sideline's.              the crowd at Deja Vu Comedy Club.
                                                             Comedy Night, a new event in the
Noland went through some "mama"     Ag Week line-up,was held at the
jokes but ended with a kind, "I love      Vu and seemedto be a huge
you, man."                                            hit with CAFNR students.

Next was the highlight of the night - a phone call to Assistant Dean of Academic Programs Jim Spain. In this call, Noland pretended to be a midget. Spain, however, played along and also used a high-pitched voice. Spain said to Noland, "I think you're a crazy midget." The crowd roared with laughter. Noland later said that if he were to have recorded the call, it would definitely be on his next CD.

Both performers have websites. Noland can be found online at www.midgetcalls.com and Schultz at www.flipschultz.com.

The committee for Comedy Night trusted Déjà Vu's owners in choosing comedians who relate to and entertain diverse groups of people. The Steering Committee felt "this night was a wonderful success, especially with it being in its premiere season," Bloss said.