When comedian Finesse Mitchell sauntered across the stage, he thanked the crowd for inviting him to perform on the anniversary of Syracuse University’s founding. People in the crowd clapped as they talked among themselves and to their neighbors, trying to confirm the news. But shortly after, Finesse admitted the truth.

“Now I just made that whole thing up,” he said. “Y’all are paying too much money and don’t know sh*t about the school.” The crowd erupted in laughter.

Similar reactions rang throughout the entire “Laugh Till You Turn Blu” comedy show, held in Goldstein Auditorium on Saturday night. Hosted by the Theta Xi Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., the event featured performances from comedians Spoken Reasons, Finesse Mitchell, Wil Sylvince and Marlon and Shawn Wayans.

The night kicked off with a DJ playing music for the first hour, as the actual comedic acts started late. But when the performances began, the show opened with John A. Baker Jr., a young comedian from Bradenton, Fla., who goes by the stage name Spoken Reasons. He used to be known mostly for his YouTube videos, during which he breaks down everyday social topics with blatantly honest opinions, like Twitter and Instagram problems and tramp stamps. But most recently he can be recognized for his small role in the film “The Heat” alongside Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

During his time on stage, Spoken Reasons gave audience members a taste of all his talents, from the most obvious of making people laugh to playing the piano — singing for just a moment to a special audience member who he brought on stage. He even performed some spoken-word poetry.

“My least favorite would have to be Spoken Reasons, even though I thought some parts of his act were funny. Overall his would have to be the lowest on the scale for me,” said Javaughn Loftman, a freshman communications and rhetorical studies major.

Still, with all of his different acts, Spoken Reasons managed to rile the crowd up for one of the highlights of the show, Finesse Mitchell. Most known for his roles on “Saturday Night Live,” “A.N.T. Farm” and other comedy appearances, Mitchell kept the crowd entertained and engaged.

His performance included jokes about the price of attending Syracuse University, first-year crushes in college and a memorable sketch about girls’ nights, in which Mitchell followed jokes with a feminine, high-pitched chorus of “ooh ooh’s.”

“Finesse was definitely my favorite overall. I could not stop laughing,” Loftman said.

The second half of the show proceeded with more of an explicit and raunchy type of comedy. Before bringing up Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Wil Sylvince, another new comedian from New York City, delivered an unannounced performance. There was some confusion as he came onto the stage because some thought he was replacing the Wayans brothers. But after a few jokes, he said what everyone in the crowd was waiting to hear: “… Everyone give it up for Marlon Wayans.”

Marlon and Shawn Wayans come from a family of hilarious people, but the two are best known for their show “The Wayans Bros.” on Comedy Central and their many hilarious movie roles, including “White Chicks” and the “Scary Movie” saga.

The two comedians made the crowd feel — for the most part — a lot more “grown-up.” Shawn Wayans’ entire ending segment was in reference to “doing it” correctly and a maybe not-so-funny ridicule of a deaf girl at the club. Meanwhile, Marlon Wayans demonstrated to the audience exactly what it meant to get dunked on by the great Michael Jordan.

Markia Hughes, an undeclared sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the show was “hilarious” and “left her in stitches.”

Whether it was adopting the girls’ night catch phrase, witnessing Spoken Reasons’ many talents, seeing TV favorites perform live or jumping up and down in Spoken Reasons’ and Finesse Mitchell’s Instagram videos, the crowd seemed to think Phi Beta Sigma’s evening of comedy was a success.

Each comedian, although different in their styles of entertaining and telling jokes, made a mark and left the crowd with a series of memorable catch phrases and jokes. As students exited Goldstein Auditorium, they even used Finesse Mitchell’s girls’ night catch phrase “ooh ooh” to joke with one another and share a few more laughs.

Published on November 11, 2013 at 12:50 am

Contact Bodeline: bkdautru@syr.edu