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----- Watch an exclusive backstage interview with Bobby Lee here. It will open in a new window. -----
Sept. 25, 2007
Members of the audience saw a lot more than just a stand-up comedy routine from actor-comedian Bobby Lee, who performed Monday night at the Bell Memorial Union.Lee is well-known for the humorous roles he has played over the past six years as a member of the "MadTV" cast. His onstage antics were reminiscent of the animated, sometimes goofy characters, he plays on the show.
In the most unexpected fashion, Lee opened the show by stripping off his shirt and teasing the audience as if he were going to take off more clothing. He then moved on to showcase a skill he shares with many successful comedians - the art of making fun of audience members.
Although it doesn't happen very often, Lee has been performing stand-up routines at colleges for about seven years, he said.
The crowd erupted with laughter as Lee put forth a succession of self-deprecating jokes. He ranted about conversations with Southerners and dismissed his own sexual ability, all the while rubbing his belly as if it were a preview of what was to come.
After an airport joke was interrupted by an audience member, he went back to picking on the crowd of more than 450 people sitting in the auditorium.
Lee stood on the stage garbed in jeans, a black T-shirt and messy hair, telling stories about his forgetful friends and irrational father before he responded to another heckler.
Between telling jokes and chatting with the audience, Lee enthusiastically followed one audience member's demand that he "strip" onstage. He quickly walked offstage and into the audience and pulled the embarrassed, young heckler from the crowd so that he would have someone to strip for.
Lee then called upon another audience member to come on stage and be the "pole" for him to strip on. The two men stood onstage laughing uncontrollably until they realized Lee was serious. He emerged from backstage in nothing but his underpants, which seemed to barely hang on as he danced on chairs throughout the crowd.
"I don't have a lot of material ... I get bored of talking." Lee said about the bit after the show. "Tonight, it kind of backfired."
Lee's performance provided Chico State with a night of comedy that proved to be more entertaining than anyone could have expected.
Sergy El-Morshedy can be reached at semorshedy@theorion.com
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