8A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Working in the funny biz
Visiting comedian Alex Thomas discusses his career's roots
BY BRANDY ENTSMINGER bentsminger@kansan.com
Comedian Alex Thomas started writing professionally for "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and worked on movies and television shows such
as "The Jamie Foxx Show" and "Family Guy." Tonight, he will bring his stand-up act to Woodruff Auditorium for an event sponsored by Student Union Activities.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
were like, "Look it up". Next thing I knew, dancing was done and I was on stage telling jokes.
Q: How challenging is it to find jokes in every day life?
"There's no bad part of being on stage. The best thing is, it's a great feeling to go up in front of a crowd of people..."
A: I take stuff that I'll just be
ALEX THOMAS Comedian
O: I know
A! it was kind of a natural progression because I was always the silly guy, I could dance, but I was always silly. That's how I met Keenan Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans and they were like, "You can dance, but you're hysterical. You should try stand-up comedy." And I was like, "Do comedians get paid?" and they
you got your first big break as a choreographer on the show "In Living Color." What was it like to make the transition to comedy?
that I'll just be having a conversation about and next thing you know, there's these two or three people laughing their butts off and I'm like, "Oh my gosh I gotta take this to the stage. I have to take this to the stage." So it's not nec-
sarily the situation that's funny; you find things inside that are hysterical
Q: What has been your favorite part of performing?
A: I love being in front of the camera. I love movies the most. Stand-up comedy is great because it's the instant gratification by an audience laughing, but there's nothing like when people recognize you for movies.
Q: What's been your most
memorable performance as a comedian?
A: My most memorable performance as a comedian was opening up for Bill Cosby — you know, a comedy legend. And I opened up for him at the Lincoln Center in New York, and it's a world-famous, one of the most prestigious, theaters in the history of theaters. I did 15 minutes to open up for him so that was a big deal. You know, that's like if Kobe Bryant met Michael Jordan for the first time or when P. Diddy met Michael Jackson for the first time. For comedians, Bill Cosby is like Jesus.
Q: What are the best and worst parts of being onstage?
A: There's no bad part of being onstage. The best thing is, it's a great feeling to go up in front of a crowd of people, huge or not, and make them smile and laugh. If comedy is known as the toughest thing in the entertainment business, it's like we're natural psychologists. It's like I have to go into a room full of two, three hundred people I don't know. I don't know what you've been going through with your life. I don't know what you went through in your day, but I gotta make you smile and laugh.
Get a front row seat and catch all the action at the Dole Institute of Politics.
All Programs at 7:30 p.m. Free and Open to the Public
September 17 The Electoral College: Historical, Political, and Constitutional
September 23 Campaign Cash 2008 Show Me the Money
October 15
The Final Debate:
What Do the Undecideds Think?
October 1 Train Wreck: The End of the Conservative Revolution
October 8
One Month Out:
Strategists Look
at Obama-McCain
October 22
October 22
Media Coverage of
Campaign 2008:
Magic or Misguided
October 28 Politics and the Law: Ballot Security and Other Roles
I love performing in front of college students because of their energy, you know? A lot of them, it's their first time being in front of a comedian, in front of a live performance. You know, they're away from home, they're just eager to laugh and it's just great.
Edited by Kelsey Hayes
The show will begin at 7 p.m. and is free for KU students.
Q: What can we expect from Wednesday's show?
A: Just getting the opportunity to hang out with the students, you know what I mean? Getting that youthful energy. I love that. It's therapeutic for me.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about coming here?
A: Oh my God, tell everybody wear a diaper because they're guaranteed to pee on themselves. I'll tell you they'll have a ball. Tell everybody to come out and buckle up because they're going for a funny, funny ride.
Obama ridiculed McCain's calls for more regulation as an eleventh-hour conversion for one who has long championed deregulation.
"The shot that has been called by the Feds — it's understandable but very, very disappointing that taxpayers are called upon for another one," Palin told reporters during a visit to delicatessen in Cleveland.
Both McCain and Obama advocated cracking down on freewheeling Wall Street practices and for tough new regulations on financial institutions.
In Israel, Tzipi Livni wins Kadima Party's primary
JERUSALEM — Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won a clear victory in the Kadima Party's primary election Wednesday, TV exit polls showed, placing her in a good position to become Israel's first female leader in 34 years.
Obama talks directly into the camera in a new, two-minute television ad on how he'll fix an economy in which "paychecks are flat and home values are falling." McCain and running mate Sarah Palin softened opposition to government bailouts, accepting the U.S. takeover of the nation's largest insurer as unfortunate but necessary to protect ordinary Americans.
POLITICS McCain, Obama turn the economy into major issue
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — With economic anxiety rising, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama scrambled Wednes day to adjust their messages to connect more directly with financially struggling voters.
whi thin not on be fi ber
It this as K Big]
K Sout than offer more sive play thro
So time
up S
the s
sure
H enlist town la Br
Su footh to lo as m that t forge 12 pl