Legendary comedian Damon Wayans performed for 150 ASU students at Stand Up Live in downtown Phoenix on Aug. 30.
From the moment you walked into Stand Up Live you could tell this was not going to be your average comedy show. A disc jockey had his turn tables set up next to the stage and played music for the audience as they were seated by staff.
The show opened with Oxnard, Calif. comedian, JayMac, a YouTube sensation most famous for his "Sh-t Gangsters SHOULD NOT Say" series. Less than a minute after being on stage JayMac took a chicken wing from an audience member in the front row, saying, "Let me borrow this for a moment," as he ate it and put the bones back on the man's plate.
Toward the end of his set, JayMac called for anyone who was celebrating their birthday to join him on stage. The audience went wild as JayMac made the two ladies who joined him on stage have a dance competition. Mac's crowd-engaging set and energetic joke delivery sat very well with the audience.
The night continued with Dallas, Texas comedian, Jerry Rocha. The audience had mixed reactions as Rocha covered many cliché comedy topics, like race and sex. Rocha was very funny but could not match the energy JayMac created before him.
The crowd gave a standing ovation as Damon Wayans took the stage. Wayans had a mismatched wardrobe, wearing a black beanie with a white button down shirt and workout shoes. Many of the members in the audience seemed puzzled by Wayans' abstract attire.
"He dressed 'bummy' for a guy as rich as he is, but his muscles made up for it," Janncy Ruiz, 18, a social work major from Reseda, Calif. said.
Wayans seemed very enthusiastic to be performing for the audience. Wayans explained he missed giving life performances because telling jokes on Twitter wasn't satisfying for him.
Wayans' jokes covered all kinds of topics, from raising kids, health issues and growing old. The room was filled with laughter with every joke. This laughter turned to shock when Wayans told the audience he was in his early 50s. Many people were whispering to one another, "He doesn't look older than 35-years-old."
Wayans received another standing ovation as he left the stage at the end of the night.
The crowd was laughing and retelling jokes from the show as they left Stand Up Live, and it was easy to tell everyone in attendance had a great time.
Wayans will be performing at Stand Up Live until Sept. 1. This event is 18 years or older.
Reach the reporter at cmgaray@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @ghost1effect
