Spring Break
Student ignites laughter at Comedy Show
Fred Rich
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
A line extended from the inside of the Main Building to the slate steps outside the front doors for CAB's ninth-annual Fall Comedy Show Nov. 7, as people gathered to watch the talents of Kenan Thompson, Owen Benjamin and Drexel University's Diego Panesso.
Kicking the show off was Panesso, the victor of Drexel's amateur comedian competition held in conjunction with Late Night Series. Audience expectations were high. Once on stage, it was difficult to believe that this performance was anything but natural for a freshman civil engineering major. Almost instantaneously, intense laughter ensued. Panesso's jokes ranged from poking fun at his Columbian heritage, the Handschumacher equipping its food products with laxatives and the seemingly scarcity of public restrooms-just to name a few.
Next up was Benjamin, who had just recently played his first role in a motion picture film "House Bunny." The onstage piano received much attention from Benjamin's impersonations of Nickelback and Timbaland's minimal contribution to the song "Apologize" by One Republic. Relationship problems, always having a camera on-hand, and differences between male and female restroom interactions were just a few topics Benjamin humored during his set. However, the audience found it especially humorous when Benjamin made random remarks to the stage background-the enormous organ pipes.
Lastly, the man of the night, Thompson, took the stage. Thompson began his television career starring in Nickelodeon's "Kenan and Kel" and "All That." Since then, he has held roles in many films; the most recognized being "Fat Albert" and "Good Burger." He began his routine by mentioning some of his movie personalities, which could not be completed without a famous "Good Burger" quote. Thompson continued with Saturday Night Live-like skits, a dream about Sen. John McCain and poking fun at audience members. At one point in the show, a group of three attendees exited the auditorium, apparently not satisfied with Thompson's stand-up role.
Though some did not seem enthused with Thompson's performance, those who stayed until the end gave a generous round of applause. Although not the poster-boys of the Comedy Show, the audience reacted better to the two openers as opposed to the headliner, showing once again that the underdogs can prevail - especially when invoking laughter.
Kicking the show off was Panesso, the victor of Drexel's amateur comedian competition held in conjunction with Late Night Series. Audience expectations were high. Once on stage, it was difficult to believe that this performance was anything but natural for a freshman civil engineering major. Almost instantaneously, intense laughter ensued. Panesso's jokes ranged from poking fun at his Columbian heritage, the Handschumacher equipping its food products with laxatives and the seemingly scarcity of public restrooms-just to name a few.
Next up was Benjamin, who had just recently played his first role in a motion picture film "House Bunny." The onstage piano received much attention from Benjamin's impersonations of Nickelback and Timbaland's minimal contribution to the song "Apologize" by One Republic. Relationship problems, always having a camera on-hand, and differences between male and female restroom interactions were just a few topics Benjamin humored during his set. However, the audience found it especially humorous when Benjamin made random remarks to the stage background-the enormous organ pipes.
Lastly, the man of the night, Thompson, took the stage. Thompson began his television career starring in Nickelodeon's "Kenan and Kel" and "All That." Since then, he has held roles in many films; the most recognized being "Fat Albert" and "Good Burger." He began his routine by mentioning some of his movie personalities, which could not be completed without a famous "Good Burger" quote. Thompson continued with Saturday Night Live-like skits, a dream about Sen. John McCain and poking fun at audience members. At one point in the show, a group of three attendees exited the auditorium, apparently not satisfied with Thompson's stand-up role.
Though some did not seem enthused with Thompson's performance, those who stayed until the end gave a generous round of applause. Although not the poster-boys of the Comedy Show, the audience reacted better to the two openers as opposed to the headliner, showing once again that the underdogs can prevail - especially when invoking laughter.
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Beneta Davis
posted 2/15/09 @ 10:38 PM EST
I am a writer for the Pococno Record in Eastern Pa.I wanted to give kudos to Dieggo Panesso as well.I am featuring him in an upcoming article in the Eastern Pocono Community News. (Continued…)
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