Standout stand-up lineup to perform at CSUEB

Sam Benavidez,
Arts and Life Editor

Associated Students, Inc. will host a comedy show at the University Theatre on Tuesday, Mar. 10 at 7PM, featuring Saturday Night Live cast member Leslie Jones.

Booking a national act can be a challenge, but ASI Program Coordinator Marc Cochran’s team thought she would be fit for a campus comedy show, so they pursued the idea.

“I thought that East Bay was overdue for a female headliner,” said Cochran. “March being the month that we celebrate women made it a good fit. Booking Leslie Jones was strategic because she is currently on the rise. Plus, rumor has it that she’s one of the women that will star in the iconic remake of Ghost Busters.”

Jones does not have an extensive role on Saturday Night Live, but drew public attention and criticism for her role in a Weekend Update sketch where she jokingly discussed her relationship status; she claimed that she would not be single if we were in slave times, because of her size and strength.

Jones, a communications major from Colorado State University also played basketball at the school. She pursued stand-up comedy in the Southern California club scene. She was originally hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live, but soon after, auditioned for a cast member role.

She has also been featured in smaller roles in films such as “Lottery Ticket” and “Top Five.” She was also featured on Katt Williams’ “It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’” tour.

Comedians Kabir Singh, Karlous Miller, and Lewis Belt will also perform at the show. Singh, a graduate of San Jose State University, was named “The Next Big Indian Comedian” by newspaper India West. Singh tours all over California, and has performed at well-known clubs such as Cobb’s and Punchline in San Francisco, as well as The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Karlous Miller is known mostly for his work as a cast member on MTV2’s Wild ’N Out show hosted by Nick Cannon that has run off and on since 2005. The Atlanta-based comic currently tours currently across the nation and will perform on Tuesday.

Though mostly full of national acts, the CSUEB Comedy Show does feature another local comedian, Lewis Belt, who will take the opening slot. His recent YouTube video “Marshawn Lynch & Sonniebo in Beast Mode in Oakland” has already racked up 10,530 views in 2 weeks.

The video, which features Seattle Seahawks running back Lynch, and Belt, follows him as he performs as his energetic alter ego Sonniebo around the house and in an Oakland billiards bar.

“The plan is to run this event like a comedy club,” said Cochran. “The emcee will be Bay Area’s voice Blu, this is the same guy who did [Showtime at the Apollo.]”

The comedy show will also feature a CSUEB student, Ben Lal.

“I’ve been pursuing stand-up part-time,” says Lal, a CSUEB student and pizza delivery driver. “Since the month I graduated high school, so almost 2 years. Right now I hit about three to four open mics a week, and maybe one to two shows a month. I wish I wasn’t so busy so I could go out and get some more stage time.”

Lal, who also recently performed at CSUEB’s Showtime at the Apollo event during homecoming week, draws inspiration from his personal life, poking fun at himself and those around him.

“I talk a lot about my insecurities, what I find funny about myself,” said Lal. “I make fun of my family, young people, my girlfriend. I talk about social media and hip-hop, I really like those topics. Then I say a lot of stupid things. A lot of my jokes are dumb, but I love them.”

“I can’t take credit for discovering him,” remarked Cochran, “But this was his second year at Apollo. I can really say that Ben Lal has grown a lot.”