The Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival swung through Dallas' Gexa Energy Pavilion Sunday night on its last stop of a nationwide tour. And the comedians didn't let anyone in the audience forget it, as they reflected on their last night, last night, LAST. NIGHT. set after set.
The show provided a packed evening of laughs and oh-my-gods building to headlining performances by buzzy up-and-comers Aziz Ansari and Amy Schumer. Comedians peppered their segments with Bill Cosby and Caitlyn Jenner jokes, but there were a few surprises -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo made a guest appearance to introduce Schumer to the stage. Here are the highlights:
Aziz moves beyond Parks and Rec
The best thing about seeing so many funny people side by side is comparing their various comedic styles. Ansari is an obvious natural with smart and thoughtful assessments about the ridiculousness of reality. For example, he skewered the people who came out of the woodwork when the Black Lives Matter movement took hold, the white folks who needed to be reassured they could still use the water fountain, as he put it.
"There are more Ferris wheels than minorities in the audience," Ansari said of the twinkling Texas Star behind the amphitheater.
Ansari seems to have grown beyond his $30K millionaire playboy role in the TV sitcom Parks and Recreation, though his delivery is no less quirky and hilarious. And although he joked about books (read more books and less Internet) and relationships (he's two years committed, ladies, don't get any ideas), Ansari failed to mention his own book about relationships, Modern Romance.
The actor's next project, Master of None, premieres Nov. 6 on Netflix.
Amy Schumer, the girl next door
Schumer said it right off the bat: "It's been a weird [expletive] year for me."
She's risen to the top of the crop among female comedians with a refreshing confidence and candor that makes her one of America's most relatable famous faces. At least, that's how many young women feel. Still, Schumer says there are others who expect her to show up "with a margarita in on hand and a dick in the other."
The New York native's style is brash and zesty without being self deprecating, and it's earned her a Peabody Award, People's Choice Award and several others in the process.
Delightful surprises
With so many performers on the bill, I didn't expected to be wowed by all. I was, in fact, surprised by a few openers who brought their A-game.
- The overtly wacky and raunchy Bridgette Everett wasn't afraid to go there with original songs, nip-slips and a finale that saw her sitting on an audience member's face.
- Nick Thune spent almost the entirety of this time recounting of a near-death story about the time his dog ate a huge weed brownie.
- Dallas served as Jak Knight's first and last performance on the Oddball tour, and the guy voted most likely to be the father in high school made the most of it.
Between the laughs, there were few jokes that fell flat. Unfortunately for Silicon Valley fans, T.J. Miller missed the mark despite the fact he had soaked himself with water by the end of his time. But he did have one line that resonated:
"Dallas, you make Houston look like San Antonio face-[expletive] Austin." We'll take that as a compliment.
