The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit.

Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site.

'SNL's' Horatio Sanz and the Upright Citizens Brigade perform last night for a crowded Zellerbach Theatre.[Eric Lee/The Daily Pennsylvanian]

Offering everything ranging from free T-shirts to panda porn references, the Underground Comedy Tour featuring Saturday Night Live cast member Horatio Sanz launched the start of its tour last night in Zellerbach Theatre.

Overall, attendees enjoyed the experience, which was sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee, T Change and Simply Chaos.

"I found it very interesting and very unanticipated," Engineering junior Iqram Magdon-Ismail said. "I thought it was really good."

The first skit began with members of the Upright Citizens Brigade -- a New York-based improvisational comedy group -- performing a mock attempt to break the world record for number of times being kicked in the groin.

After the first skit was performed, comedian Mike Birbiglia -- who has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and Comedy Central's Premium Blend -- took the stage to perform his signature stand-up routine.

The crowd laughed at jokes poking fun of his last name, rap music, his love for Tom Cruise and even making a mention of "panda porn."

After Birbiglia's routine and another sketch, the laughter was set aside for some musical entertainment by Julian Velard, who played the piano and sang three songs.

Following a short intermission, Saturday Night Live star and headliner Sanz took the stage with the UCB -- an ensemble Sanz co-founded and whose members have been on shows such as VH1's I Love the 70s and Comedy Central's Straight Plan for the Gay Man.

Sanz got the audience involved in the show by hitting wiffle balls into the crowd, at one point pegging an unlucky viewer.

"What's not funny about losing an eye?" College senior Hillary Lazarus said, praising the antics.

After Sanz was introduced along with the other members of UCB, the group broke into improvisational acts ranging in topics from gangster situations to summers at Cape Cod.

College freshman Dvorit Mausner was impressed with the group's performance.

"I thought the timing of the improv was very impressive," Mausner said.

Mausner added that although she and her friends had hoped that Sanz would perform his own routine, they were pleased with the night.

Praising the event, Lazarus said she was surprised by Birbiglia's performance.

"I have never heard of him, but I thought he was hilarious."

Comments powered by Disqus

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.