Kreisler performed at 7 p.m. Saturday in the French Auditorium to an audience of about 35.

Race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, politics, Charlie Sheen and the Yankees were just a few of the topics Kreisler touched on.

“Most of my stuff was political,” Kreisler said. “And it was a bit more left-leaning than usual.”

Kreisler has been doing shows sponsored by College Democrats for a while now. He is also the winner of the Bill Spirit Hicks Award and has appeared on IFC, MSNBC and Comedy Central.

“College kids are interested in this kind of stuff and can relate to it,” Kreisler said.

Utica junior Lance Hay compared the comedian’s satirical humor on politics to that of “The Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show.”

“I wasn’t sure which topics he would cover but I was happy with what I heard,” Hay said.

Hay said he wished Kreisler would come back again with a more diverse crowd.

Kreisler’s jokes were met with both laughter and some less emphatic responses.

“Trickle economics is when the rich urinate on the poor,” Kreisler said.

Besides politics, Kreisler tailored his material to the college crowd.

“School is expensive,” Kreisler said. “You’ve got tuition, you’ve got books and you’ve got ping-pong balls.”

Kreisler showed a video of a fake infomercial to promote his book, “Get Rich Cheating.”

Some of the university’s faculty attended the comedian’s performance.

“I enjoyed the whole range of topics he touched on,” said Charles Novitski, associate professor of Biology. “It’s always fun to hear someone poke fun at hypocrisy and dishonesty.”

Aside from the jokes, Kreisler took a few moments to point out important issues as well.

“There are problems in our political system,” Kreisler said. “They capitalize on ignorance.”

At the start of the show, Cease said he was amazed to see the small audience, about 150 people. He said the size of the crowd made the show very intimate, and said he could have a lot of fun with the group.

Cease started with stand-up comedy and transitioned into playing the piano and singing.

“I was shocked to see a piano on the stage before the act, because I didn’t know what he would use it for,” said Pontiac freshman Chelsea Moss. “He played the piano really well, but he made it funny at the same time.”

This is Cease’s third time visiting Central Michigan University, this time during his “Wake Up College Tour.”

Throughout the show, Cease interacted with students from the audience. He picked Warren sophomore Alex Gibson to join him on the stage.

Gibson sang a part of The Commodores’ “Easy,” while Cease played the piano and sang along.

“At first, I was just wondering what he was going to make me do,” Gibson said. “I have to say this is my most memorable college moment so far.”

After playing the piano, Cease kept the crowd laughing with his version of a magic show. Cease then switched things up again by giving a motivational speech.

“I thought the show was phenomenal,” said Midland sophomore Zane Isenhart. “I liked how he did comedy and the inspirational piece.”

In his speech, Cease advised students to be positive about their futures.

“We live in a society that doesn’t realize that they are completely being used,” Cease said. “Society turns you into a consumer, then you start hearing that you can’t do things.”

Cease began performing stand-up comedy when he was in second grade. At age 15, he started performing shows for corporate parties at places like Sears, Nintendo and Microsoft.

“My comedy comes from truly being in the moment,” Cease said. “The truth is the jokes come out in a natural place, I just have to allow it to happen.”

Cease has a new Comedy Central CD called “I Highly Recommend This Album.” He is also working on a book, “Wasn’t Next Week Great.”

“Whatever happens, if it’s movies, stand-up, podcasts or books, all I want to do is create,” Cease said.

Kasey McFarland, Bay City junior and comedy chair of Program Board, said Cease’s message to students is positive and helpful.

“Kyle has been very successful in the past at CMU and students request him a lot,” McFarland said.

Because of a contract deal with Comedy Central, Swardson’s Saturday performance in McGuirk Arena has been canceled, said Steve Lewis, Program Board president.

“I was shocked when I first heard about it, but now I understand that he got the TV contract that he wanted,” said Lewis, an Allegan senior. “That’s good for him but we want to give the best possible outcome from this for CMU’s students.”

There is still a possibility for the show to be rescheduled, he said, if not this semester then possibly at the beginning of fall.

“If we can’t get him we would want to get someone even bigger, possibly Louis Black or guys from College Humor,” Lewis said.

Swardson was originally booked because of the interest expressed by his fan base on campus.

“Students voted on a poll on Facebook and the Program Board and he was the overwhelming favorite,” Lewis said.

The cancellation came as disappointing news to Shelby Township freshman Joe Wirth, who purchased his ticket in March.

“I was upset when I found out it was canceled because I have never been to a comedy show and I was excited to see him perform,” Wirth said.

Wirth planned on going with his friend, Shelby Township freshman Dylan Valko.

“I was kind of (angry) when I found out, but since we are getting refunds it’s not that big of a deal,” Valko said.

Both Wirth and Valko plan to repurchase tickets if the Swardson performance is rescheduled.

Troy freshman Lindsey Siroonian said she was glad she narrowly missed buying a ticket.

“I went to the box office last week to buy a ticket, but they were closed,” Siroonian said. “I guess that ended up being a good thing so now I don’t have to go and get a refund.”

Tickets, which cost $8 to $15 depending on the seat, will be refunded starting Apr. 12 at Ticket Central in the Events Center. Students will need their ticket and student ID to receive a full refund.

Swardson, who is well known as “Terry Bernadino,” the roller-skating male prostitute in Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!” will perform at 7 p.m. in McGuirk Arena, with doors opening at 6. The opening act has yet to be determined.

Program Board President Steve Lewis said tickets will go on sale Wednesday. They will be $15 for floor and lower bowl seats, $12 for upper bowl seats and $8 for seats in the bleachers.

The Allegan senior said Swardson was chosen as a result of a Facebook survey.

“He was the overwhelming favorite,” he said.

Lewis said the Program Board attempted to bring Swardson to perform on campus two years ago, but it never came to fruition.

He said he is excited to see Swardson perform and enjoyed the movies he has seen him perform in.

Program Board Vice President Crysta Heckman said Swardson sold out an event Michigan State University a few years ago.

“We’re hoping for a big turn out,” the Pinconning senior said. “We know more people are going to go to a concert than a comedy show, but we are expecting (3,000) to 4,000 people.”

Lapeer graduate student Brad Irvan enjoys Swardson’s comedy but he probably will not be able to attend the show.

“He definitely has some funny standup,” Irvan said. “Were it not for my financial situation, I would probably pay $15 to see him.”

Andrew Fergus wants to spend his weekend in the company of two of the biggest personalities in television humor.

The Holland sophomore is looking to attend the “Rally to Restore Sanity” and “March to Keep Fear Alive,” hosted by Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, respectively, in Washington DC.

“I instantly wanted to go,” he said. “But I had no idea how I would get there.”

That was where New York resident and Web designer Numaan Akram came in.

Fergus first found the DC Rally Bus website when he was researching the “Rally to Restore Sanity” and the “March to Keep Fear Alive.”

Akram is the creator of DCRallyBus.com, a website devoted to coordinating luxury charter buses for people who want to attend the events.

“I want to help as many people as I can to get to Washington,” Akram said.

Akram decided to set up the DC Rally Bus website, which works with several bus organizations from around the nation, because he feels it is an important event for his generation.

“Jon Stewart is one of the few people on TV that I admire,” he said. “I’ve been watching from the beginning and feel very connected to the event.”

Tickets range in price, but usually are around $100. Akram said if 40 people reserve tickets from Mount Pleasant by Oct. 20 there will be a confirmed charter bus from the city.

Currently, the only confirmed bus leaving from Michigan is from Ann Arbor, with tickets at $110 a person.

Fergus said he is strongly considering purchasing a bus ticket because he feels it is an important event for modern politics.

“We live in an age with extreme polarity in politics,” Fergus said. “I think we have another political class that isn’t heard because they aren’t screaming, and that is the moderates.”

As of Thursday night tickets for the bus from Mount Pleasant are priced at $115 according to the DC Rally Bus website,

The buses will arrive in Washington by 9 a.m. on Saturday and leave between 6 and 9 p.m. on Saturday night,Akram said. It is a one day trip, with most leaving the day before the rally and getting home the day after.
Ben Greene, a member of College Republicans and a Grand Rapids junior, said he likes the idea of the twin gatherings. But his support comes with a few reservations.

“You have to take everything they do with a grain of salt,” Greene said. “People tend to forget that what they do is satire. But my biggest issue with it is the fact that they are adding to their own legend. In the end, it is self-promotion.”

Stephen Johnson, College Democrats communications director, said he thinks the rally is a great thing for politics.

“I think it’s exciting and a great way for people who don’t usually get into politics have their voice heard,” the Southgate senior said. “There is a large minority that still wants normal, rational discourse.

However, they absolutely, positively did not lecture about show business.

“I don’t know why they billed it as a lecture,” said Black before the presentation. “There will be no educational content whatsoever. If they asked how much learning will be going on, I would have said zero. Zero learning.”

Instead of talking about the process of creating their Comedy Central show “Michael and Michael Have Issues,” they riffed on each other with jokes about feces, race, Purdue Chicken and cats for more than an hour.

And that seemed perfectly fine with the audience, as they laughed and clapped and cheered with the comedians.

“It was hilarious, and I could almost not stop laughing,” said Alma resident Christine Smith. “I’ve been a fan of them since (Comedy Central show) ‘Stella.’”

Included in the performance were video clips from Black and Showalter’s appearance on a morning news show at a Detroit Fox affiliate several weeks ago. In the clips, they teased the anchorwoman, made apple crisp, and presented the weather forecast.

Black said if they had just talked about the show, the event would not have been as entertaining.

“There’s nothing to say,” Black said. “It’s just not interesting.”

Program Board lecture chairwoman Nikki Burnstein said although the event was sold to them as a lecture, she and Program Board were happy with the event.

“I thought it went really well,” the Farmington Hills junior said. “It ended up being more comedy, which wasn’t what was expected, but it still went well. I didn’t expect it to be educational, but … I was still happy with it.”

Program Board faculty adviser and Coordinator of Student Activities Damon Brown said the event cost a total of $20,000.

Burnstein said the turnout for the event was good, and that the lower-level of Plachta Auditorium was nearly full.

“The bottom (of Plachta) holds 700 (people),” she said. “ I don’t think it was at 700, but it was close.”

Showalter, who was sick the day of the performance, said he thought it went well, and enjoyed it nonetheless.

“(Sickness) kept me behind the podium, more than anything,” Showalter said. “But in a sense, it made me a little goofier than I normally would have been.”

“Yeah, you’re so goofy,” Black chimed in teasingly.

Black said his one hope with the performance was to simply make people laugh.

“Whatever your present circumstances, no matter how much trouble you’re in with the law, simply receiving the gift of laughter will make them all go away,” Black said. “Even problems with the law. Especially problems with the law.”

The stars of Comedy Central’s “Michael and Michael Have Issues” will lecture about making a television show at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

“They’re going to talk about the behind-the-scenes of being on TV and making their show (‘Michael and Michael’),” said Program Board comedy chairwoman Nikki Burnstein.

The Farmington Hills junior said although the lecture is not primarily a comedy show, the audience can expect some laughs.

“It’s going to be more humorous,” Burnstein said. “I feel like it’s not going to be what you would expect from comedians, and it’s not what you would expect from a lecture. It’s kind of in between.”

Burnstein said she has heard a lot of positive feedback about the planned event, and is expecting a good turnout Wednesday.

“This one, I have a lot higher expectations,” she said. “I always hope to sell out Plachta but, this one, I feel a lot more potential to see that happening.”

As well as “Michael and Michael,” Black and Showalter have worked together on Comedy Central’s “Stella,” MTV’s “The State” and the film “Wet Hot American Summer.”

Burnstein said she is most familiar with Black as a panelist on VH1 shows such as “I Love The ’80s,” which Showalter also appeared on, albeit less prominently.

“Michael Ian Black has been on all the ‘I Love The’ series on VH1, and I personally think he’s pretty funny,” Burnstein said. “He seems personable. It feels like he’s talking to you.”

Lake City sophomore Craig Johnson said although he is not familiar with Black’s and Showalter’s comedy, he may attend the lecture with friends if his schedule permits.

“I know they’re pretty well-known comedians,” he said. “I know a few people who are going, and they are really excited.”

Comedians Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter will lecture on making a comedy television show at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

Journalist and author Chuck Klosterman will talk at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in Plachta Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public.

Program Board lecture chairwoman Nikki Burnstein said although Black and Showalter are not performing stand-up, their presentation will contain comedy in it.

“I thought it was interesting, because it’s a little different from a normal lecture, because they’re comedians,” the Farmington Hills junior said. “But they’re promoting their tour as a lecture series, and they’ll be talking about what it’s like to make a TV show.”

Black and Showalter have appeared in MTV’s “The State,” the film “Wet Hot American Summer,” Comedy Central shows “Stella” and their current “Michael and Michael Have Issues.”

“I’ve seen a lot about them on Comedy Central,” said Coordinator of Student Activities Damon Brown. “They’re taking their act and turning it into a lecture, so that’s really interesting.”

Burnstein said she is expecting a large audience turnout for the comedians.

“It’s focusing on their show ‘Michael and Michael Have Issues,’ and they’re going to go into the behind-the-scenes of what goes into making a comedy television show,”

Burnstein said. “It’s in Plachta, so I would hope they have to open up the balcony for the show.”

The author

Brown said although the Klosterman lecture has been planned for some time, the Black and Showalter lecture is a recent addition.

“We’ve had the Chuck Klosterman (lecture) booked, we’ve been working on that since the summer,” Brown said. “Then the Showalter and Ian Black one, they just started touring. That’s one that just kind of fell into our laps. We really wanted to get them in this semester — it was a great opportunity to bring folks of that caliber to campus.”

Klosterman has written for Spin and Esquire magazines and is author of the books “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto,” and the upcoming “Eating The Dinosaur.”

“He’s an author, and I thought it was an interesting (lecture),” Burnstein said. “It’s a very opinionated thing, and it’s very interesting to hear people’s views on life and pop culture and things like that.”