The annual comedy blitz went down Friday night in Asplundh Concert Hall. This yearʼs headliner was Finesse Mitchell of Saturday Night Live and the opener was Tim Young from NBCʼs other stand-up show Last Comic Standing.Young came out tailoring his entire set to the college demographic, which brought up the topics of 8 a.m. classes, freshman girls, roommates and going to class and not knowing about a test.
“This is the only time you can put less than a dollar of gas in and write a check,” Young said as the audience erupted into laughter.
Along with jabs at college life, Young handed out drinking tips to the audience.
“Never drink as many drinks as you are old — unless you are five,” Young said. However, some of his material seemed to be recycled from the last season of Last Comic Standing.
Young played to the audience for about half an hour before introducing Mitchell, who felt compelled to give a formal
introduction.
“I am the new black guy on Saturday Night Live,” he said with a laugh.
After introductions, it was down to laughing. Whereas Young had played
to the audience, Mitchellʼs routine was more reflective of growing up in Atlanta and other experiences he has had.
Mitchellʼs routine went on for about an hour and a half, which at times
seemed a little long. It appars that even the performer felt it too, leading him to field a few questions from the audience — not to mention check his watch a handful of times.
Mitchell fared best when he was talking about growing up with a single
teenage mother raising him and the problems that can arise. Unlike previous “SNL” performers, Peter Boyle in “Everybody Loves Raymond;” David Hyde Pierce in “Frasier;” Sean Hayes in “Will & Grace.” And the winner is…David
Hyde Pierce. It may not be fair because a series end gets the most
attention, but he deserves it for his comedic longevity.
Supporting Actress in a comedy series: Doris Roberts in “Everybody Loves Raymond;” Kim Cattrall in “Sex and the City;” Kristen Davis in “Sex and the City;” Cynthia Nixon in “Sex and the City;” Megan Mullally in “Will & Grace.” And the winner is…Kim Cattrall, for being the most sexually blunt character on television.
Outstanding Comedy Series: “Arrested Development;” “Curb Your Enthusiasm; ” “Everybody Loves Raymond;” “Sex and the City;” and “Will & Grace.” And the winner is…”Curb Your Enthusiasm,” an HBO original that is earning its place in the stationʼs including Jim Breuer last
fall, Mitchell talked about his experiences in the show, but
he never got into any kind of character that he has done on the
show. Maybe itʼs because he is the new guy and is trying to develop a fan base of his own, or perhaps he feels no one has connected with
his characters yet.
One strength that Mitchell was able to demonstrate a few times during his act was his ability to interact with the audience well. He asked for the house lights to be turned on twice so that he could look out into the audience.
Mitchell and Young seem to be a well matched comedy duo and both are likable enough. Mitchell, although still funny, is one of those not quite ready for prime time comics who is still trying to feel out his own niche.