The University of Indianapolis Campus Program Board hosted comedian Josh Johnson in the Schwitzer Student Center at 9 p.m. on Feb. 16. Johnson has performed at colleges and festivals all over the country, as well as the world famous “Laugh Factory,” according to the description of the event on myuindy.edu. The winner of the 2015 Snubfest in Chicago and the Devil Cup in New York, and one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch, Johnson traveled from Chicago with his opening act, comedian Bobby Hill.
Hill addressed racism and racial terminology, drugs, run-ins with the police and what it is like to be a six-foot tall man.
Johnson took the stage about half an hour later wearing a blue flannel shirt and jeans. His comedic set spoke of his theatre background, poor football experiences, small stature, encounters with beautiful women and rejections via text-message.
“If you’re looking at me, and you think, ‘This looks like a guy that’s been mugged,’ you’re right,” Johnson said at the beginning of his performance.
He talked about his many encounters with women, primarily in a self-deprecating fashion. The comedian spoke of his southern roots and his family as well,
but many of the stories described his love life, or lack thereof.
Josh Johnson performed at UIndy on Feb. 16. He was named one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch. Photo by Maddie Hays
“I need a girlfriend now, not even for companionship,” Johnson said. “I need someone to shame me back to reality. I need someone to go, ‘Ew!’ so I’ll wash myself…. I got in the shower the other day with an umbrella just to see how it would feel… It did feel like rain.”
Johnson did not disappoint sophomore criminal justice major Hailey Oldham. She read about the event on the flyers distributed around campus.
“I like coming to events like this,” Oldham said. “It’s a good distraction from school and work.”
Sophomore experience design major Jensen Swaim is the live performance chair for CPB. She said that a handful of CPB members attended showcases hosted by the National Association for Campus Activities.
“We sit through [NACA] showcases to pick what we [want to] book on campus,” Swaim said.
NACA offers programming entertainment to fit all budgets and believes that campus engagement develops student involvement, according to its website.
The next CPB performer is magician Michael Kent, who is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25, at 9 p.m. in UIndy Hall A.
