Aziz Ansari took the stage at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium last night for a crowd of more than 1,600 people to deliver his brand of high-energy standup comedy to Athens.
Ansari set the tone for the night before the opening act — comedian Joe Mande — even took the stage.
As the lights began to lower for the first time, Ansari’s voice filled the auditorium, and he introduced himself as a stage manager named Bob Zamboni. Zamboni reminded the audience not to take photos during the show.
After Ansari’s announcement, Mande took the stage to get the audience warmed up and ready for Ansari’s set. He drew laughs from the audience after referencing The Indian in the Cupboard and joking about the sexual lives of vegans.
Upon taking the stage, Ansari gave audience members the chance to snap a photo of him in a pose that made it appear he was telling a joke in the hopes that no flash photography would interrupt the show.
“I want to thank the university for bringing me here,” Ansari said after the photo session ended. “I know you have the choice of many comedians, and I’m flattered you chose me.”
Throughout the show Ansari kept audience interaction high by asking questions and then crafting jokes based on peoples’ responses.
After a series of jokes about marriage, Ansari asked an engaged audience member how old she was and how long she had known her fiancé. When she replied that she was 23 years old and had known her fiancé for three years, Ansari burst into laughter.
“We’re all laughing because we know you’re getting divorced,” he said.
Ansari’s rant about how people were getting married too young was a favorite among audience members.
“I loved his rant on marriage,” Juliette Rocheleau, a junior studying English, said. “Overall I thought it was a really good show; it was amazing.”
Much of the audience was familiar with Ansari’s previous work on Parks and Recreation and in movies such as Funny People. When he returned for his encore the audience yelled out their favorite bits including “Treat yourself,” “Li’l Sebastian” and “Randy.”
“I have one of his standup CDs, and I love his work on Parks and Recreation,” said Jacob Orn, a 30-year-old who traveled from Parkersburg, W.Va., for the show. “I really liked the way he can improvise and talk to the crowd.”
In addition to his direct crowd interactions, Ansari’s set last night included references to his common joke topics, including his “little, chubby cousin Harris” and the singer R. Kelly.
“I loved when he talked about Harris,” said Jared Henderson, a junior studying philosophy. “I love that running joke.”
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