After watching a YouTube clip of comedian Brooks Wheelan telling the story of bringing a girl home only to have a Furby doll that was hidden in his closet start speaking, University of Idaho student Camille Awbrey said she laughed out loud for days.
As the Vandal Entertainment Lectures and Performing Arts Chair, Awbrey”s job involves bringing speakers, comedians and other performers to campus. She said video clips like the one about the Furby convinced her to invite Wheelan, a former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, to the university.
“I try to find one large comedy act a semester,” Awbrey said. “He really stood out. I”ve watched his YouTube videos a bunch of times and he”s hilarious.”
Wheelan will perform at 7 p.m., Tuesday in the Vandal Ballroom of the Pitman Center. The show is free for students and $5 for the public.
Wheelan, who is from L.A. by way of Iowa, began performing comedy at the age of 19 while attending the University of Iowa.
“I just did it once and then I was like, “I want to do this everyday,”” Wheelan said. “It took six years. I had to move to L.A. to make it happen.”
While he has performed at a variety of different venues, the comedian said he has enjoyed visiting colleges in the past and looks forward to coming to Moscow for the first time.
“Every show is different. I like doing colleges because they”re fun,” Wheelan said. “It”s really loose, everyone is having a good time.”
Awbrey said students often need a break from the daily stressors of university life and comedians in particular can provide just that.
“Comedians add a little lightness to the campus, you know?” Awbrey said. “It”s something you go to for fun, you don”t have to go, you always leave with a smile on your face.”
Beyond the light-hearted environment comedy provides, Awbrey said she believes Wheelan”s particular comedy style will appeal to a wide range of students.
“He has a very silly sense of humor, it”s good college humor,” Awbrey said. “It is kind of raunchy, but not too bad. It”s really funny situational comedy and, I mean, I think he”s going to appeal to most, if not all, audiences.”
Wheelan said his inspiration largely comes from his own life and he tries to look for the humor in every day situations.
“I write about my life, it”s whatever happens, I write about, like yoga yesterday,” Wheelan said. “I talk about myself. I”m really weird.”
Although it can be difficult to find a comedian who appeals to a diverse group of people, Awbrey said she believes students from a number of different backgrounds will enjoy Wheelan”s show.
“He”s a really funny guy and I think he”ll be right for our campus,” Awbrey said. “Sometimes it”s hard to find the right comedian, but I think he”s a really good one.”
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @CorrBond