BreUniversity

In the depths of the Mullins Center on Friday night, Jim Breuer paced the hall, sang metal, played air guitar, imitated the PA announcer at Shea Stadium and pumped himself up, while 3,000 people found their seats. Breuer brought his current college tour, BreUniversity: An education on LIFE!, to a sold out crowd at the University of Massachusetts. Following a riveting introduction from members of UPC (University Programming Council), Breuer took the stage to a rousing ovation. Right away he connected with the crowd by pointing out a common passion, which was met with cheers. "I'm a Long Island boy, and I like Massachusetts because we share one thing in common," Breuer said. "We both HATE the Yankees. I'm a die hard Mets fan, and I feel like the Red Sox are my brother." He continued to talk sports with impressions of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez and a split reaction to the Super Bowl. Breuer then touched on the material everyone expected. The crowd ate up stories about being on "Saturday Night Live" and his experience shooting "Half Baked." "'Saturday Night Live' drove me out of the bars," Breuer said. "People came up to me all the time and were like, 'Hey man [drunken attempt at a goat noise].'" Mentioning "Half Baked" drew a major reaction from the Mullins Center. "I was in a comedy club in New York and Dave Chappelle approached me," Breuer said. He continued using a Chappelle impression. "Hey man, you gotta be in my movie and play my brother Brian man. With those eyes, you're gonna blow up!" With the crowd fully behind him, Breuer transitioned into the main focus of the tour, being a father, a son and a husband. The BreUniversity tour represents a change in stand-up for Breuer. "I still can't get over it man," Breuer said. "I always start with the expected goat boy and 'Half Baked,' but when I start with being a father and a son people can really relate to that. I've done eight shows and had eight standing ovations." With his father in attendance, Breuer told stories about bringing the kids to gymnastics, petting zoos and being woken-up at 5 a.m. by his kids to play. "I wake up, and my kids are staring at me," Breuer said. "'Daddy, you're the bad guy, and you have to get us.' And as they are running and taunting me, 'you can't get me, you can't get me,' something snaps and now all I want to do is scare the crap out of them. I forget they're my kids." The focus on the new aspects of his life in his act is a leap that has paid off.

Breuer even got a bit political, comparing politics to pro-wrestling. "All politics are like wrestling. They come out in masks and capes and fake fight, then leave and get paid just to f*** with us." With a mention of YouTube, Breuer dusted off a classic bit entitled "Party in the stomach," which was met with raucous applause. "This is to help you guys, especially freshman," Breuer started. "Drinking is like having a party in your stomach. Your stomach's the bouncer, you don't want to piss him off. Don't mix the crowd up." The bit goes on to include human representations of various brands of beer, Jack Daniels, Scotch and a fuzzy navel. Once tequila joins the party, everything goes to hell. "All right that's it. Everyone get out," Breuer said impersonating the stomach. "You first ham and eggs, no not that way, the way you came in." Breuer even broke out an older routine that he saves for receptive crowds. Getting down on one knee he demonstrated a handful of finger gestures on a stool including the three-armed umpire, an adult's first time on a trampoline, the 80's (moonwalk and break dancing) and dog taking a crap. He encouraged the crowd to pay close attention because he knew they would be trying them later in the night after some liquid stimulation. He even did a recap of the hand gestures for those who were already trying them. "I can tell some of you are spacing, stay with me," Breuer said. "You are going to be doing them wrong ­- 'No man it was like this; I was there.'" Breuer ended the night by signing autographs and taking pictures with anyone who wanted to hang around. A bootleg copy of the UMass performance was also available.

Ryan McAskill can be reached at rmcaskil@student.umass.edu.

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