Comics ‘Stand’ Our Questions

Harvard students will be piling into Sanders Theatre this Saturday, not for a lecture on Locke’s property rights, but to see five comedians from across the nation cracking jokes for charity. On Saturday Oct. 20, at 8 p.m., the Harvard Concert Commission will present its third annual benefit stand-up comedy show, “Comedy for a Cause 2007.” All proceeds will go to Kiva.org, a microfinance not-for-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in the developing world.

We asked each comic to answer two questions any way they saw fit:

1. “What course should be added to the Harvard curriculum?”

2. “If Harvard were to change its motto, Veritas, what should it be?”

Here are their answers:

LISA LANDRY

1. BECOMING A CELEBRITY: MAKING YOUR OWN SEX TAPE FOR MEDIA RELEASE. Taught by Rick Solomon.

2. SEMPER UBI SUB UBI

Always wear underwear.

May not be grammatically correct, but always good advice. And could somebody teach Latin to Britney?



Lisa Landry is known for her Comedy Central performances, starring in her own special “Comedy Central Presents Lisa Landry,” and has appeared on the network’s “Premium Blend.” Also a commentator on E!’s “Forbes Top 100 Celebrities” and a contributing writer to US Weekly’s “Fashion Police,” she performs as often as she can, having become a regular at the Comic Strip Live, Gotham Comedy Club, and the Comedy Cellar in New York City.

TIM YOUNG:

1. How about “Unstructured Time 101: Enforced Idle Behavior for the Type A personality.”

2. Considering the size of your endowment, I think it just needs a little bling: “$$Veritas$$.”



Tim Young proclaims that he was “raised in a strip mall by arcade attendants,” according to his Web site. He travels all over the country, performing at colleges and clubs, and has a penchant for visiting every Wal-Mart he encounters to test all of the deodorants. He’s performed at The Montreal Comedy Festival, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival, and the New York Comedy Festival. Though he has had his fair share of on-air time with appearances on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” “Shorties Watching Shorties,” and “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” he laments about not having made it into the house on the second season of “Last Comic Standing.”

CARLOS ALAZRAQUI

1. How The Hell Do We Get Out Of This Mess in Iraq: 101

2. Big Pappi!



Carlos Alazraqui is known for his role as Officer James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911.” He is also a seasoned voiceover artist, providing his talent to Rocko on “Rocko’s Modern Life,” Mr. Crocker on Nickelodeon’s “Fairly Odd Parents,” and to the ever-famous “Yo Quiero Taco Bell” Chihuahua of the fast-food chain’s campaign. He starred in his own half-hour stand up comedy special on Comedy Central and performs live at the Hollywood Improv, The Ice House, The M Bar, and The Knitting Factory.

LOUIS C.K.

1. I would add a course that I would teach, called “How to give me $100,000,” wherein each student would learn how to deposit $100,000 into my personal account. This course will prepare young undergrads for a long career of giving me money throughout their futures. Space is limited to 40 million students. Extra credit can be obtained by giving me $200,000 and some ice cream. I will offer a second year course called “How to blow people who are me.”

2. I would change Veritas to “Seriously, Veritas,” so that folks will really know that...Veritas.



Louis C.K. took his first mike on-stage in Boston more than twenty years ago. Now, with an Emmy Award win, multiple appearances on “Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and numerous accolades under his belt, he has expanded his talents beyond stand up. Hired as a writer on “Conan,” “Letterman,” and the “Chris Rock Show on HBO,” he also directed and wrote the movie “Pootie Tang,” starring Chris Rock. His most recent project was the creation of his HBO sitcom “Lucky Louie.”

JON FISCH

I would like to combine my answers and say a good course to add would be “Come up with a new Harvard motto 101.”



Jon Fisch appeared on “Last Comic Standing 4,” on which he was the chosen “Audience Favorite.” He has been invited to perform at the 2007 HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and is a host of “3 Men and a Chick Flick” on the WE network this season. Chosen as one of Comedy Central’s “Fresh Faces of Comedy” and named one of Back Stage Magazine’s “10 Standout Stand-ups,” he also performs at NYC’s Gotham Comedy Club and the Comedy Cellar.



Enjoy the show!



—Staff writer Victoria D. Sung can be reached at vsung@fas.harvard.edu.