Barker tickles the Funny Bone

Cracking jokes about the recession, global warming and love-making, Arj Barker kept the audience laughing during a two-hour set Thursday night at the Funny Bone Comedy Club.

Barker, who portrays Dave on HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” performed five times in Bloomington this weekend. Performing with him was Andi Smith, who appeared on Comedy Central’s “Last Comic Standing.”

About 50 people attended the weekend’s first show. Brian M. Frange was the emcee for the night, opening with jokes about reality TV.

“If it was a perfect world, there’d be a show that would prevent people from dating Flavor Flav,” Frange said.

While trying to get the crowd going, Frange called out individual members, mixing them into the opening routine.

Pointing to Bloomington resident Jack Hanek, Frange called out, “You remind me of sick people.” Then catching himself, he added, “Hopefully he’s not sick, that’d be bad. You can tell after the show and I’ll give you money.”

With a beer in hand, Smith took the stage next. Smith covered a range of topics, including coal-mining incidents, breast implants, suicide, handicapped people and anime pornography.

About an hour into the show, Barker took the stage, starting off with a rant about the recession and the bailout bill.

“Dear government bailout adviser, I am hella broke,” he said. “Any ideas?”

However, Barker said the real problem lately has been pirates.

“I thought for some reason that we had taken care of the pirate situation several centuries ago,” Barker said. “Because my rule of thumb is, once something’s a ride at Disneyland, then I assume it is no longer a threat in real life – which is why I don’t expect to be attacked by a giant teacup anytime soon.”

When his jokes didn’t go over as well, Barker indulged in some self-deprecating humor.

Barker later blamed global warming on the sun, saying it really wasn’t Earth’s fault.

“All I’m saying is, when I burn my toast, I don’t blame the bread,” Barker said.

Hanek, whom Frange called out in the beginning of the show, said he saw some advertising for the show and decided to come in and see it.

“I thought it was good.” Hanek said. “I especially liked the ending.”

Josh Anderson, a digital media producer for the Kelley School of Business, saw flyers around campus and decided to see the show with his wife Heather. Both said they enjoyed the show and Barker but thought Smith was the real surprise of the night.

“In this little town when we get big acts like this, it’s great.” Anderson said. “You still have to get out and laugh off the week.”