Campus erupts in laughter

That was just one of many memorable quotes from comedian Jim Norton, who performed Thursday night during a University Program Board presentation to a full house at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theater.

Norton is a regular on late-night talk shows, has written two books, and had his own comedy special on HBO last year.

His performance at Drew was a big hit, making the audience laugh with his clever commentary on current events, pop culture and more.

Norton opened up his hour long show with his take on the recent Tiger Woods debacle. He twisted the usual take on the story by stating that he found Tiger much more relatable as an unfaithful man, than as a flawless golf star. This smart opener led to his insightful commentary on celebrities and why the public refuses to give them the privacy they deserve.

Of course, this was in strong contrast to Norton’s own act, in which the comedian was certainly not afraid to reveal extremely personal details from his own life. In fact, he doesn’t seem to be afraid to say anything, as long as it gets a laugh. This brutally honest approach to comedy was definitely successful, as there wasn’t a single joke that didn’t result in roaring laughter from the Drew audience.

Norton made a clear statement concerning his feelings on political correctness, and how it managed to hurt the majority of comedy seen on television today. He discussed his love for classic television shows such as "All In The Family," in which Archie Bunker could refer to his son in law as a "Polack." Audiences could laugh at his ignorance and prejudice, rather than simply be offended and complain.

This mentality definitely made itself clear throughout the night, as much of the act featured graphic sex stories, and plenty of words and phrases that can’t be printed here.

Fortunately, Norton does not rely on shock value to engage a crowd, as his smart jokes were the real draw of the show. Other topics covered by the comedian included heckling politicians, poor presidential gifts, "Jersey Shore," and how to protect yourself when confronted by a bear in the wild. Jim Norton brought a level of preparedness and professionalism to the stage with his wide variety of memorable jokes.

Lenny Marcus—also a hilarious comedian and a crowd pleaser—opened for Jim Norton. He warmed the audience up with his half-hour set, which featured his practice of "giving people a zero" for misbehaving, and his crusade against the word "dude."

After the show, Marcus and Norton were selling books, CDs and DVDs in the building. They also made themselves available to meet people, sign autographs and answer questions. It was clear from their attitudes that they really enjoyed performing and interacting with all their fans.

There’s no question that Jim Norton gave a great performance during his visit to Drew. The event was well-organized and made for a very entertaining way to spend Thursday evening. Here’s hoping that the UPB continues to book such talented, high profile comedians in the future.