Stephens Auditorium is normally home to exuberant performances from the high arts of theater, ballet, and classical music. Nonetheless, from his opening words – “Calm the fuck down!” – comedian Lewis Black had the full-capacity audience at Stephens back in black on Friday.

Ordinarily, this kind of start to a lecture would seem vastly inappropriate. But when it came from Lewis Black, who has appeared on “The Daily Show” and “Comedy Central Presents,” the crowd seemed entertained and stayed that way throughout the 90-minute performance.

In his first-ever performance in Iowa, Black seemed ready to explain himself to the Ames crowd packed into Stephens Auditorium.

“I’ll warn you. I say `fuck’ a lot. In New York City, `fuck’ isn’t even a word; it’s a comma,” Black said.

Black passed on jabs and went at topics like airline security, politics and Iowa with right hooks.

Though he regarded Iowa as a fine place that he “just wished was flatter,” Black showed his true feelings towards Rolla, Mo.

“I performed in Rolla this year, because my life is a rich, full tapestry. If you’re thinking of killing yourself . ,” Black paused, adding “Rolla.”

When talking about corporate greed, Black was a man with a mission who seemed like a non-partisan Ralph Nader or Michael Moore, scoffing at the idea of Vice President Dick Cheney being objective towards “Big Oil” after a $20 million gift.

He challenged the crowd to figure out what they could possibly spend $132 million on, settling on his own gift to himself – a personal testicle-washer.

“He is absolutely brilliant. I was laughing the whole time,” said Travis Putrah, senior in psychology. “My favorite part was about the personal ball-washer. I enjoyed that immensely.”

Black’s take on politics was decidedly non-partisan, as he trash-talked by telling the truth about President Bush and U.S. senators and the recent tax cut.

“Let me remind you: The only thing dumber than a Democrat or a Republican is when they work together,” Black said.

Even with national news topics, Black kept the perspective on the level of his audience.

“I knew [the tax cut] wouldn’t work because I took economics. The only problem was I took it at 8 a.m.,” Black said. “You can only learn so much through one bloodshot eye. I asked the professor `Why are you teaching at this ungodly hour? Are you trying to keep it a secret?’ “

As several in the crowd held back their laughter at the jokes directed towards President Bush, Black explained, “Listen. That’s the way it works. This is what I do for a living. You’ve certainly given me someone who’s just way beyond what I’d ever imagined.”

For the most part, Black had the audience agreeing with everything he said, even going so far as to scoff at anyone who disagreed with the idea of global warming. Nonetheless, the crowd laughed along, and if there were any dissenters, they were a silent bunch at best.

One of the loudest laughs came from the segment when Black remarked that the United States was foolish not to sign a treaty on global warming.

“Countries that couldn’t even read the treaty signed the treaty. We had to explain it to them, `Brr, brr; sweaty, sweaty; sign.’ “

While the crowd roared at Black’s take on airline security, it seemed reluctant to laugh at his commentary on who could take advantage of “the end of the universe” – a Starbucks across the street from another Starbucks – those with Alzheimer’s.

Despite the reluctance, it was clear that Black’s style had great appeal to the packed house.

“I thought he was really straightforward, and I think that any college student can really appreciate that,” said Adam Kuban, sophomore in meteorology.

At the end, to celebrate Black’s birthday, Black was presented a birthday cake and a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” which he warmly greeted with two middle fingers raised in salute.

“I couldn’t think of any better way to spend a birthday,” Black said as he left the stage, pausing to add “Oh, I can, but it would cost money.”

He began to walk off, turned back to the microphone, and shouted, “Beat Kansas!” to a standing ovation from the crowd.