Known for his cutting-edge political commentary on “The Daily Show,” John Hodgman will be performing an intellectual comedy set this weekend at the Madison Comedy Festival. Hodgman has an easily recognizable face, either from his Mac vs. PC commercials for Apple, or his various appearances on popular TV shows like “Bored to Death,” “Community,” “Flight of the Concords” and “Battlestar Galactica.”
Few comics are able to sustain a popular career with jokes stemming from Ayn Rand impressions and deconstructing the state of the Union, but John Hodgman executes it with great success. Alongside fellow (and now ex) “Daily Show” correspondent John Oliver, Hodgman has garnered a reputation as a politically and socially conscious comic, often breaking down complicated issues into simple, humorous concepts.
Before starting comedy and shortly after graduating form Yale, Hodgman was a professional literary agent for Writers House in New York City, where he represented such prominent figures as Bruce Campbell and Darin Strauss. After entering the comedy scene as a humorist writer, he established himself as an expert satirist. Hodgman’s reputation landed him a spot as the headline speaker at the 2009 “Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association” dinner in Washington DC, and color commentator at the 61st and 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also hosted two of his own TED talks, one about aliens and love and the other about the broad concept of design.
His comedy speaks to all ages, recounting popular culture from his youth and comparing it to the millennial generation’s culture. Hodgman often revels in audience participation and bringing people onstage to help develop jokes and improvise one-liners.
This Sunday, at 8 p.m., Hodgman will be performing at the Barrymore Theatre centered in a youthful, post-graduate neighborhood tailored towards his comedic style. Located across the street from iconic Monty’s Blue Plate Diner on Atwood Ave, the Barrymore books some of the most talented comedic acts such as Hannibal Buress, Tim & Eric and Hodgman himself (multiple times). He will be joined by actors/special guests Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy. Tickets are still available at madisoncomedyfest.com, but are selling quickly.
Be sure to come see his performance, one guaranteed to be a riot of laughter, an impressive exhibition of current events, and personal anecdotes about how he became the genius he brands himself as, all told through a highbrow comedic lens.
