News
‘Community’ star cracks up students in comedy show
Students lined up outside of Graham Chapel two hours prior to Donald Glover’s Thursday-evening performance to ensure themselves seats in the later filled-to-capacity audience.
“How many of you know me from my show ‘Community’?” Donald Glover asked the audience, near the start of his set. “Well this is going to be nothing like that….It’ll be a lot dirtier.”
Campus Programming Council (CPC) and Student Union brought Donald Glover, the star of NBC’s show, “Community,” to host CPC’s Spring Comedy Show. DC Pierson, Glover’s long-time colleague from Derrick Comedy, opened the show. Both performers evoked laughs from the crowd.
“He is attractive, dope and talented—the qualities of a Renaissance man” freshman Quinlan Maggio said of Glover.
Donald Glover began his rise to fame through his Internet sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy. Donald Glover was discovered by one of the creators of NBC’s “Community” after he wrote and starred in the film “Mystery Team,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. On “Community,” Glover plays Troy Barnes, a former high school star quarterback who now attends community college. Glover has also written for “30 Rock” and has appeared on “Conan” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
DC Pierson warmed up the crowd, making sure his jokes catered specifically to the Wash. U. community.
“What’s controversial for you guys? What are people sensitive about?” DC Pierson asked the audience.
A student responded “Bristol Palin!” to which Pierson replied, “Bristol Palin as a spokesperson for celibacy? That’s like Chris Brown being the anti-choking spokesperson!”
Students really enjoyed having the show tailored to their interests.
“I think it was awesome that both DC Pierson and Donald Glover included the audience in their acts. They came across really talented and seemed to care about the audience,” freshman Emily Meyers said.
Donald Glover followed with jokes about Justin Bieber. He also brought up a controversy over casting a black actor for the next Spiderman movie —and this event’s equivalence, Michael Cera as the star of the film “Shaft.” Glover even responded to a student’s shouted request for him to “bust a freestyle.”
Audience member and freshman Daniel Friedman said, “I was a little skeptical at first, but after seeing him in person, I am now convinced that Gambino [Glover’s rapper name] is a mastermind.”
To end the show, Glover performed his hit song, “Freaks and Geeks.” In response to the excitement of the audience, Glover offered another of his songs—“Lights Turned On”—during which the audience turned the Graham Chapel seating arrangement to resemble the crowd of a concert.
Co-president of CPC Morgan Loewith said, “I was blown away. It was better than I thought it could’ve been. I’m so thankful for everyone coming out for it, especially Donald Glover himself.”