CAB names Oswalt as fall comedy headline

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Written by: Dan Merica

In an interview with The Vanguard, Kevin Penley, the Campus Activities Board comedy chair, announced that comedian Patton Oswalt will be coming to Bentley University for the annual Fall 2009 CAB Comedy Show.

An entertainer with a variation of talents, Oswalt has seen success in a multitude of outlets. On the big screen, Oswalt played the lead voice of “Remy the Rat,” in Disney-Pixar’s Oscar-winning blockbuster Ratatouille, as well as “Paul Aufiero” in the 2009 release Big Fan. In addition, Oswalt played the role “Spence” on the Emmy-nominated CBS series King of Queens for nine consecutive seasons.

Oswalt, who began performing standup comedy in the late 1980’s, has released three CDs worth of material, the most recent being “My Weakness is Strong.” His topics vary greatly, ranging from the lighthearted to the serious, with select bits even touching on such controversial topics as politics and religion.

It was that range, of both talent and catalog, which drew the CAB Comedy Committee to Oswalt. “I hope that Patton’s national fame and Comedy Central acclaimed talent in addition to his latest movie, Big Fan, will attract students to the show,” said Vice President Mariela Spillari.

Penley specifically noted that his role on King of Queens and his numerous comedy CDs were reasons for the interest from CAB. “People know him from a broad range of things,” said Penley, “not just from Comedy Central specials.”

Oswalt’s appearance later this semester will mark the second year of a new format for CAB’s comedy performances. Before the fall of 2007, CAB structured their comedic budget so that Bentley students were privy to one comedic show per year, with names like D.L. Hughley and Bob Saget playing the expansive Dana Center.

In 2007, CAB reformed their comedy budget, moving the shows to the smaller, more intimate Koumantzelis Auditorium. It was this move that allowed CAB to add one more comedy show to their yearly schedule. Last year, CAB invited Stephen Lynch in the fall and B.J. Novak in the spring, and both events were major hits with the student population.

“Since moving to Koumantzelis, the comedians have been sold out,” said Penley. “I have felt that the auditorium has added to the shows, you are right there, it feels like more of a comedy club.”

With the overwhelming success of last year’s two comedy shows, Penley and the rest of CAB were given a heavy act to follow this year.

The decision on Oswalt, which goes through “a vote of different board members,” according to Penley, was not completely unanimous. CAB President Andrew Leffler admitted to The Vanguard that he would have preferred a different comedian.

When asked, Penley refused to divulge the names of other considered comedians, saying “I don’t want to give any of them away, because we may get them for the spring.”

Penley and the rest of CAB are confident that the success seen last year, with both comedy shows being near sold out, will be repeated this year.

Oswalt will perform at Bentley on October 17, 2009, with the Koumantzelis Auditorium doors opening at 7:00 p.m. and the show starting at 7:30 p.m. The show is free for Bentley students courtesy of the Student Activity Fee and five dollars for the general public.

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