Robinson, a Chicago native, plays the character “Darryl Philbin” in the hit NBC comedy series.

His opening act was Canadian comic Dylan Mandlsohn, who delivered a rousing performance full of amusing impressions and edgy witticisms.

Robinson began the show by sitting down at a keyboard and playing an instrumental version of “If You’re Happy and You Know it,” only breaking his silence to upbraid the
audience for clapping their hands when they should have stomped their feet.

At one point, he asked what the Central Michigan University nickname was, which several students answered exuberantly.

“That is slightly more intimidating. ChippeWAAUGH!” Robinson said.

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‘I think a lot of people go to Los Angeles, thinking the big prize is going to be there, without having to put a superhuman effort into it,” said Mandlsohn, who moved to Los Angeles from his hometown of Toronto three years ago. “I honestly believe that work ethic is the new talent.”

Mandlsohn is opening for fellow comedian Craig Robinson at 7 p.m. Saturday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

“Craig and I have never performed together before,” Mandlsoh said. “This will be our first time working together.”

Mandlsohn began doing comedy more than 11 years ago, and has been performing full-time for eight years.

“I’ve been doing comedy since I was 17,” Mandlsohn said. “I was doing comedy while I was at university. I would be on the road, writing ten-page papers on hotel scratch pads.”

He studied to become a teacher, and teaches as a substitute when in Toronto.

Mandlsohn described his comedy as controversial, without being vulgar or unintelligent.

“I do talk about religion, I talk about education. I talk about relationships and sex, without being shocking,” Mandlsohn said. “I like to be smart, and have a point of view. I think when people watch me, they can understand where I’m coming from.”

Mandlsohn performs at a variety of venues, and said he will soon perform at a wedding reception for the first time, and is also booked to perform at a strip club for the first time.

However, he said he most enjoys performing for college audiences.

“I just turned 29 years old, I have two university degrees,” Mandlsohn said. “I know the experience, I know what they’re going through. It’s still somewhat of the same peer group.”

Mandlsohn said he also enjoys performing in Michigan, and considers the state a fertile ground for up-and-coming comedians.

“I think it’s the one state in America with the most amount of comedy opportunities, as far as performing,” Mandlsohn said. “(It has) the most amount of comedy clubs in one state, or at least that was the case a few years ago. It’s mainly a blue-collared state, so these guys have gone through suffering, compared to performing to a bunch of rich people who can’t really identify as much.”

For more information on Mandlsohn and his comedy, visit dylancomic.com.

Comedian Craig Robinson, a regular cast member of “The Office,” will perform a stand-up comedy performance at 7 p.m. Saturday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium to wrap up the week’s homecoming events.

Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for the public, and are available at the CMU Box Office or at cmuboxofice.cmich.edu.

“We saw movies he was in and looked into him and thought he would be a great act to come to us. Some of it was students talking about him, and we thought it would be a good way to end Homecoming week,” said CMU Program Board junior comedy chairwoman and Pinconning junior Crysta Heckman.

Robinson may be a familiar face to some, for his role as Darryl, the warehouse manager in “The Office,” and appearances in films such as “Knocked Up,” “Pineapple Express” and “Zack and Miri Make A Porno.”

Robinson also will appear in four movies in 2010, one of which will be “Shrek Forever After,” and the upcoming 2009 release, “Post Grad.”

“He’s pretty popular in movies within the last year and students are excited to see a familiar face on campus,” Heckman said.

The appearance of Robinson seems to have generated interest among students.

Heckman expects attendance at around 500 for the performance.

“As far as I know, he will be popular — he’s from a well-known show and the feedback so far is that people are looking forward to the show. It not only provides the students, but alumni with something to do later in the evening,” said Coordinator of Student Activities Damon Brown. “The program tries to bring in big names, like Demetri Martin, and we always want to bring in names students know.”