CAB welcomes comedians to Jack’s Corner

By Samantha Ferraro
Lycourier Staff

Clapping and long bouts of laughter could be heard all throughout the Wertz Student Center on the evening of January 26. Jack's was rather full with tons of students who were there for the delicious smoothies and comedic entertainment.  Both comedians even made cracks at the ever-going blender sounds that echoed through the room and the crowd was engaged and receptive of comedic acts that were relatable to everyday college life.

The night opened with Adam Newman's jokes, which featured topics such burritos, Disneyland rides, and the reflexes of a cat.  “What's the worse thing you can launch into a crowd of people at a sporting event?” Newman asked.  His response: “A burrito.” 

Newman proceeded to inform the audience of a time in which this strange occurrence really did happen to him and how he was both excited and horrified to have a blend of meat and cheese wrapped in tortilla-y goodness being launched at his face. 

He had mixed emotions on the subject.  “It took a unique sense of humor to not be offended by some of the jokes,” noted Lyco freshman Sheryl Nelson.
Comedian Steve Hoffstetter
Later in his skit, Newman also asked the audience what they felt was the meaning behind the expression, “reflexes like a cat.”  He argued that, “sure, cats can land on their feet when falling from trees, but can they flinch away from a ball being launched at them?”  Or maybe a burrito? Cats are quick with their landings, but they're not the wisest of creatures. 

Once being hit with the ball, cats tend to venture over and investigate what had just hit them.  No human with any sense of reflex would allow something to willingly hit them, so Newman decided he'd “rather have the reflexes of...well, a human.”

Though some of the jokes were subdued and simple, others were meant to stir up some controversy and get people really thinking.

 Both Newman and Steve Hoffstetter knew what they were talking about when it came to issues with the world.  It was clear in their performances that both of them were well educated on their material and could bring light to popular social issues through humor in an interesting way.

 “Some of the jokes were a bit edgy, but nothing that half of us probably weren't thinking,” added freshman Cara DiSandro.

After Newman finished with a brief stint of well thought out jokes, Steve Hofstetter took the stage bringing forth jokes about the Williamsport area as well as his own take on the controversies and humorous issues and happenings in everyday college life. 

For instance, Hofstetter poked fun at his red hair, noting that nothing annoyed him more than “being called a 'ginger.'”  He notes that only other redheads can refer to each other as 'gingers,' just as members of the rap community have certain things that they refer to each other as, as well. 

Another of the jokes that stood out was the safety of the security at airports.  Hofstetter had a lot to say about those working as a TSA.  He shared a personal story explaining how he found out that snow globes are apparently not allowed on planes, and can't understand why shampoo can't be brought onto a plane in a bottle over the size of three ounces.  If weaponry can be made of snow globes and shampoo, we have larger issues to worry about.

There were about forty members of the audience who had come out to see the comedians at work, which made for a more involved show. 

Hofstetter took the time to get to know the audience by asking them a series of questions and poking fun (in a gentle way) at some of their answers.  He was quick to come up with jokes off the top of his head, showing his improv comedic skills, which both comedians proved to be very good at.

Overall, the comedians were both very witty with material that both entertained and educated those who were present for the show.  It was a good time to be had by all and everyone in the audience was both responsive and involved in what was being critiqued and played upon and it was safe to say that the evening was a lovely break to a dull, study-filled night.