VH1 comedian to perform at The Funny Bone

He’s been on “Chappelle’s Show,” “Best Week Ever” and “Comedy Central Presents.” Now comedian Christian Finnegan is bringing his stand-up to The Funny Bone.

“As I will be in Bloomington, I will make a point to throw a chair across the stage and maybe choke an audience member,” Finnegan said, referring to former men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight’s infamous displays of temper. He said he will perform entirely new material, so fans won’t simply get recycled TV Finnegan.

Co-owners of The Funny Bone, Jared and Dayna Thompson, said they think his style will be well-received in Bloomington.

“I just feel like he’s very deadpan,” Jared Thompson said. “He’s got the whole package.”

Dayna Thompson said his comedy is easy for anyone to enjoy.
“He seems like just a regular guy, like the kind of guy who would sit in the back of class and make jokes,” she said. “No matter what, he’s the kind of comic who’s going to come in with a lot of energy and the kind of humor that appeals to a wide variety of people.”

Finnegan describes his comedy as a low-brow take on high-brow subjects and a high-brow take on low-brow subjects.

“I like to say smart things about stupid people and stupid things about smart people,” he said. “I can do a really elaborate fart joke, like if I can work in the word ‘thrice.’”
Finnegan said he likes to make pop-culture jokes, and he plans to mention his observation that college women cannot high-five correctly.

“The sheer law of probability implies that you are an awful high-fiver and you high-five at inappropriate times,” he said, adding that this is not really a problem because women don’t realize they do it, and men will block out the “dork factor” if they find her attractive.

Other topics will include his wife (fellow comedian and his producer, Kambri Crews), his supposedly traumatic childhood and chihuahuas.

“They’re basically an ear and eyeball caddy,” Finnegan said of the dogs. “An eyeball display case that walks.”

Finnegan will also begin filming a new DVD this month, tentatively titled “Au Contraire!” It will be a live taping of his performance at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia, according to the comedian’s official Web site. He said his Bloomington performance is like a final run to see what jokes work.

“It sort of sums up my life,” Finnegan said.

Since The Funny Bone opened Sept. 25, Jared Thompson said the weekend crowds have exceeded expectations.

In a new twist, winners of The Funny Bone’s weekly Wednesday open-mic nights, “Bloomington Last Comic Standing,” will get to emcee for the next weekend’s performer. This week, senior Ashley Bullington won, so she will emcee for “Last Comic Standing” veteran Amy Schumer on Thursday through Oct. 18, Jared Thompson said.