Funny Man

Comedian Seth Meyers, head writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live, will headline Student Entertainment Events' Spring Comedy Show on March 14, according to SEE representatives.

Meyers, in his 10th season with SNL, is currently the show's longest-running cast member. He has been the show's head writer and the anchor of "Weekend Update," SNL's popular satirical news segment, for five seasons.

"I love doing college shows, just because students are really energetic and they're ready for a good time," Meyers said. "Life hasn't beaten them down yet; they're not jaded, broken people."

Meyers' stand-up show will start at 8 p.m. in Stamp Student Union's Grand Ballroom; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are limited to two per person, are $10 for students, $20 for the general public and go on sale at noon Friday in Stamp's Hoff Ticket Office.

Meyers, who said his set will feature both jokes ripped from the headlines and personal stories, will be one of the most established comedians to ever perform at the campus' spring show, according to SEE comedy director Eric Feldman. Previous spring performers included Gabriel Iglesias and Zach Galifianakis — "before he got big," Feldman said.

"He's a steal for the spring because he's big enough to play homecoming," he said.

Unlike the homecoming comedy show, which featured Aziz Ansari and took place in October in Cole Field House, Feldman said SEE is holding its spring show in the 800-seat Grand Ballroom because of high rental costs in venues such as Cole and Ritchie Coliseum. SEE's goal is to have multiple shows throughout the year, not just two big comedy shows, he said.

Should the Grand Ballroom sell out, SEE has an "expanded viewing option" for Meyers' performance, said Lance Billington, SEE's public relations director. Students who don't get a ticket will be able to go to the 550-capacity Hoff Theater for a live video feed of Meyers' show, free of charge.

Feldman said that out of a list of five comedians in a SEE student survey last year, Seth Meyers ranked nearly as high as Ansari, who is known largely for his role on NBC's Parks and Recreation.

Ansari's fall appearance was the "largest homecoming show ever," Billington said. He added that he thinks hosting Meyers this spring is keeping up SEE's track record of bringing big-name comedians to campus, and he said the entire booking process "fell into place" without any glitches.

Many students are excited to see a familiar face at the show next month. Colleen Wilson, a sophomore journalism major, said because Meyers has been on SNL for so long, he's well-known to college audiences.

"Seth Meyers is someone we've all grown up with," Wilson said. "I've seen him for at least the last five years."

Christina Neidlinger, a sophomore individual studies major, said she is impressed with SEE's willingness to bring celebrities that students want to see.

"They're paying attention and working hard to get them to come," Neidlinger said. "They're getting people who we want to hear."

Meyers said that for him, comedy has always come naturally.

"I sort of grew up loving comedy; my parents introduced me to it at a young age," Meyers said. "It's great to laugh, and to be able to laugh is something that I never take for granted. I can't believe it's a thing I get to do for a living, because it's never boring."

raghavendran@umdbk.com