Review: T.J. Miller hooks Great Hall with laughs
October 9, 2017
Last Friday night, T.J. Miller performed in the Great Hall in the Memorial Union. Though it took a while to start, the show was well worth the wait.
the opening acts, one being ISU grad Andrew Lopez and the other Nick Vatterott, were extremely different in their approach to comedy. Andrew focused on the social issues of the day in his performance, inserting advice into his comedic material. Vatterott, on the other hand, spoke more about strip clubs and porn to get the audience to laugh.
Once T.J. came on stage, there was no going back. Miller used the audience to his advantage, asking questions and pointing out people whose answers would spur on comedy gold. Hie performance ranged from the art of burp farming to the best and worse feelings in the world.
Miller uses the environment around him as the basis of much of his improvisational material. To begin this hilarious process, he brought out a giant metal hook. Where did that hook come from? A huge wall of hooks he frequently pilfered during the show to add to the comedy. Two different sized stools? Perfect for water bottle bit sure to leave the audience in a spray of laughter.
I fell it is safe to say that Miller is a comedian who does not rely on one form of comedy to make his audience laugh. This is a trait people should admire. From the moment he walked on stage to the moment he got off, Miller implemented improve, situational, set, and pure physical comedy into his show.
Miller tied in the audience every chance he got. When someone in the audience had a interesting reaction, he would improve material stemming from and building off it. This was not excluding the people in the light and sound booths. Darren, I am sorry buddy, but your first day on the job was hilariously awful.
Overall, T.J. Miller is an extremely talented comedian who entertains as well as interacts with his audience over a variety of different comedy styles. No matter what your comedic taste, Miller’s command of the sheer absurd is enough to make even the toughest soul laugh.