'SNL' comedian Nealon to perform on campus

So when is John Belushi going to show up? Social Planning and Events Committee officials said yesterday that "Saturday Night Live" castmember Kevin Nealon will be then next in a string of comedians from the show to perform on campus. Nealon, a veteran castmember, will play Irvine Auditorium on April 16 for $2 per ticket, becoming the fourth "SNL" star to perform at Irvine in two weeks. David Spade, Adam Sandler, and Rob Schneider are scheduled to take the stage in tonight's Comic Relief show. Most noted for his role in the "SNL" Hans and Franz skit with co-star Dana Carvey, Nealon is a four-year veteran of the show. He has also appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show." He also appeared with Steve Martin in the movie "Roxanne." Half of the proceeds from the concert, which is co-sponsored by Pontiac, will benefit "Students Against Driving Drunk," a national organization which encourages young people to drink responsibly. SPEC Comedy Club leaders, who are helping to organize the event, said they consider the show a "countdown to Spring Fling," which will begin three days after the show, on April 19. "We thought it would be good for this [event] to kick off Spring Fling," said Wai-Sum Lee, director of the SPEC Comedy Club. Event organizers yesterday said the performance is part of a national "Comedy Caravan," which brings comedians to college campuses around the country. The University was selected due to its "population and popularity," according to event promoters. "SPEC was presented with an opportunity to bring a big-name comic to campus," said SPEC president Lisa Nass. "As the social planning committee for the University, we felt that we couldn't turn it down." She added that the recent success of other SPEC Comedy Club productions, including a comedy competition and an open mike night at the Underground Cafe, convinced leaders that students would want SPEC to bring the event. "Students have shown this semester a great interest in comedy," Nass said. "We are pretty sure that students would like to see more professional comedians on campus." SPEC is responsible for selling tickets to the event, publicizing it on campus, and running it on the night of the show, Nass said, with national event organizers handling the rest. SPEC will bear only a "very minimal cost," she added. Nass said that the concert, despite close proximity to Spring Fling events, which this year feature the Indigo Girls, will increase excitement for the annual April fete, "especially since there is not a comedian [performing]." "People wait for Spring Fling all year long," she said. "We don't have any doubt that Spring Fling will do very well this year." Tickets for the 1800 seats in Irvine Auditorium will go on sale Monday on Locust Walk, and will continue through the day of the show.

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