ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: Life

Comedian Buzz Sutherland entertains the crowd with his wacky antics.

Comedy was center stage in the Ballroom this past Friday as college and corporate comedian Buzz Sutherland was in town. As a steady stream of people entered the Ballroom throughout the beginning part of the show, they looked upon the stage to see a man with a mic and number 12 ISU football jersey on.

In a comedic style similar to Jim Gaffigan, Sutherland had voice impersonations galore. In one instance he was talking as a baby, in another the voice of a duck. At times he would act like a kid, often portraying himself at a younger age or as his son now, while other times he was lip-syncing a Pussycat Dolls song with his hand (shaped like an imaginary puppet). A unique feature about Sutherland's act, which more than likely appealed to the large conservative student body here on campus, is how he takes pride in is his ability to use "clean comedy," meaning he doesn't swear. While he may tell drunk or love-making bits from time to time, his comedy never hits an R-rated level.

Buzz Sutherland has an impressive resume. Here are a few accomplishments taken from his website at BuzzSutherland.com. He has been named "Comedian of the Year" by the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) for the last five years the award was given, including being named "Overall Entertainer of the Year" the last year it was given. The Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) named Sutherland "Comedian of the Year" four times and "Overall Performer of the Year" twice, he was on HBO's comic relief and MTV's half hour Comedy Hour. With over seven years on the comedy circuit, Sutherland knows how to entertain.

Topics for his ISU act included his love for the shows "Cops" and "The Crocodile Hunter;" he pointed out many mannerisms we've all come to know from both of these TV hits. He talked about guys hoping there was some sort of "relationship duct tape," a tool they could use in order to fix everything. Sutherland was able to personalize the show with tidbits about ISU and the surrounding area; for example, he shared his experiences with the "high quality" airplanes coming in and out of the Pocatello airport. Perhaps the most unique part of his show was when he brought a few audience members up on stage and made them dance with him. One lucky guy got to dance with Sutherland in complete darkness while they both provided the audience with a colorful light show.

There was one moment where Sutherland's interaction with an audience member didn't turn out at all the way he expected, probably turning into one of the biggest foot-in-mouth experiences of his career. With multiple apologizes, free Blues Traveler tickets, and a show dedication in honor of this audience member, Sutherland managed to somewhat redeem himself. Luckily, the audience member took it all in a gracious stride with a big smile.

The ISU Program Board succeeded in offering Pocatello a chance for a Friday night out of the norm. Sutherland came to ISU and brought his clean comedy act, covering everything from sad movies to Winnebago's, all while sporting an ISU jersey. While everyone left remembering different parts of the show, one thing was universal- everyone ultimately had a good time.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools