Riggle, Albanese joke about past

September 10 marked a special day in IU history: the firing of Bobby Knight. And comedian Rob Riggle didn’t take the occasion for granted.

“Had to let him go,” Riggle said Friday during his performance at the auditorium. “You can’t go around hitting kids.”

He smiled. “But in honor of you, Bobby,” he said as he launched a stool across the stage, sending the audience into an uproar of laughter and applause.

Riggle and fellow comedian Rory Albanese’s performance Friday was sponsored by
Union Board.

Known for his intense personality and knack for appearing in comedy blockbusters, including “The Hangover” and “Stepbrothers,” Riggle mocked a range of topics including his single day as a hippie, his dislike of the elderly and his college survival tips.

“Establish roommate dominance now,” he said. “Or it will cost you ladies.”
Albanese, Riggle’s former colleague on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and current executive producer and writer, opened with nearly an hour-long set before Riggle took the stage.

After Riggle’s performance, Albanese joined him onstage to field questions from the audience for an additional 40 minutes, discussing anything from “what Jews really do” (Albanese is Jewish) to Riggle’s performance in “The Hangover.”

“I have a rather more serious question for you,” one student began.

“Oh, are you going to ask about how ‘The Daily Show’ speaks for political commentary and blah, blah blah?” Albanese asked. He and Riggle then proceeded to alternate between miming defecating on stage and postulating about political theory.

Sophomore Brandon Wojcik, a “Daily Show” and self-professed standup comedy fan, said both Riggle and Albanese played off the audience well.

“Sometimes comedians don’t ever interact with the audience because it’s not how they deliver their jokes,” he said. “But Riggle and Albanese both spent time talking and mocking the crowd, which I think worked really well.”

Sophomore John Yoo said he had never seen Riggle or Albanese perform, but after the show ended, Yoo said he had become a fan of both comedians.

“I saw Riggle in ‘The Hangover’ and thought he was really funny,” he said. “And he definitely carried that over into his standup. He was more than I expected, which I can
definitely appreciate.”