Expect topics that range from one comedian's distaste for spaghetti to his yearnings to, just maybe, one day, put on a beret. Expect a total lack of transition between bits. Expect a lot from tonight's Spring Comedy Show featuring Mitch Hedberg, presented by the Entertainment Board, but do not expect to leave disappointed.
Those in attendance tonight will recognize Hedberg from appearances on late night talk shows such as "The Late Show with David Letterman" and the now-defunct "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn." Hedberg, a St. Paul, Minn. native, has also lent his voice to Comedy Central's puppet prank call show "Crank Yankers," and has appeared on the station's "Premium Blend," which showcases various standup acts.
Hedberg's 1999 debut album "Strategic Grill Locations" brought him to prominence at college campuses nationwide. His laid-back, sometimes admittedly "hit-or-miss" approach filled with bits on fire exits, instant oatmeal and cinnamon buns gathered a cult following, allowing him to consistently play to enthusiastic crowds that always leave with his "stoner-esque" voice drilled into their minds - in a good way.
The comic's cult following is an understatement on the Tufts campus, as the buzz before tickets went on sale a week ago was considerable. According to Entertainment Board co-chairs Aaron Gest and Elizabeth Siteman, tickets to the show in Cohen Auditorium sold out in less than six hours on Thursday.
Gest and Siteman aren't too surprised by the enthusiastic response. "Entertainment Board chose Mitch Hedberg to headline our Spring Comedy Show because of his unique style, hilarious one-liners, and consistently creative and new material," they said. "Mitch Hedberg is one of the top comedians currently on tour, making headlines wherever he performs, and we are thrilled to be able to bring him to the Tufts campus."
Tonight's packed house at Cohen will likely hear a mixture of material from "Strategic Grill Locations," Hedberg's 2003 follow-up "Mitch All Together," and new material, some of which Hedberg might refer to as "throwaway jokes." Despite this label, some of these "throwaway jokes," often inserted when the wheels seemingly come off his act, actually tend to draw the best crowd responses.
According to the Entertainment Board co-chairs, Hedberg's sets usually last between 60 and 90 minutes, and he will be the headliner following two opening acts, the names of which have yet to be released.
The ticket demand for the Hedberg show was so great that many fans were simply too late. Although there were posters advertising Hedberg's appearance in buildings across campus by late last week, there were rumblings among those who could not get tickets that the show was not publicized well enough.
"Entertainment Board is very concerned that some people were not made aware of the Spring Comedy Show," co-chairs Gest and Siteman said in response to complaints. They encouraged disappointed Hedberg fans to e-mail them and to recommend additional performers they would want to see on campus.
And for those unfortunate enough to miss out on tickets to tonight's show: fear thee not. As many friends of Hedberg fans already have experienced, his quips and one-liners are irresistible to repeat, with many attempting to mimic the comic's trademark voice. With a fresh batch of wannabe-Mitches certain to be among the sold-out crowd at Cohen this evening, expect the Medford/Somerville campus to be infected with "Mitch-itis" all the way through Spring Break.
"P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like if 'Q' and 'R' were eliminated."-Mitch Hedberg.
