"COMEDY CENTRAL LIVE" IN DC

by MATT KINNEAR

The Terrapin Times Staff Writer

           The “Comedy Central Live” Tour, starring Dave Attell, Lewis Black and special guest Mitch Hedberg made a stop at the historic Warner Theatre in the heart of Washington D.C. on Monday, Oct. 20.  

             Each member of the trio brought their own distinctive styles to the show.  The headliner, Dave Attell, following the same crude and uncensored style that characterizes his show Insomniac, which the Los Angeles Times described as “foul-mouthed, sophomoric, tawdry, and fun,” a hit, managed to insult as many people as possible in his short one hour set. 

With a Budweiser in hand, he shocked the audience with jokes about R. Kelly, homosexuals and an obnoxiously long list of midget jokes.  Attell made no effort to tone down his crude sexual material.  It seems as if he was having a contest to see how many jokes he could tell about masturbation in as little time as possible.   

Black, a disgruntled and angry man hailing from Silver Spring, took a more intelligent approach to comedy.  He poked fun at the many moronic occurrences in American society and challenged the political leaders of the day, proclaiming that California should lose statehood for electing a movie star.  However, Blacks’ comedic genius was in his delivery.  His angry, loud and offensive outlook on popular issues turned even the most apathetic person into an outraged citizen.

Both Attell and Black seemed comfortable and at ease on stage, while Mitch Hedberg struggled.  Hiding behind his long hair and dark glasses, he frequently tried to kill time by teasing the lighting technician.  This did little to hide the awkward silence that often filled the tiny theatre.  Mitch is comparable to innovative comedian Stephen Wright, telling random jokes that have little or nothing to do with anything.  He lacks, however, the intelligence and inquisitiveness that made the legendary Wright famous. 

The “Comedy Central Live” Tour lived up to all expectations, that is, if you were expecting raucous, crude humor aimed at college guys.  The tour continues until late December.  Dave Attell’s CD “Skanks for the Memories” and seasons 1 and 2 of Insomniac are available in stores now.