Saturday Night Live may be going through some changes, but Ferris’ comedy equivalent returns as strong as ever.
Improv comedy event Carlos Hardy, named after the event’s founder, is comprised of comedic skits making fun of current events on campus as well as pop culture. It’s a familiar conceit, but this will be one of the few times such an event will have its eyes trained on Ferris.
This kind of comedy is vastly different from that which Ferris is usually given. Rather than the usual outside standup, people who actually know the university and its students will work together to provide a comedic experience that is rare at Ferris.
The event will be held on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in West Campus Community Center.
Carlos Handy is sponsored by Black Leaders Aspiring for Critical Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K), an organization on campus whose purpose is to unify young black people with other cultures through academic excellence. One of their main goals is to organize and participate in activities that promote developmental and growth opportunities.
Jordan Holiness, the President of B.L.A.C.K, enjoys the amount of effort and imagination that goes into the creation of Carlos Hardy.
“My favorite part is the planning stage and hearing everybody’s’ creativity,” Holiness said. “You see how funny it’s going to be.”
This year, the show will be made up of around ten skits taking familiar tropes and wedding them to the university. Topics will range from Ferris pawn to a fake reality show: “Real Husbands of Ferris.”
“They have one segment where it’s like a news channel. They report what’s going on on Ferris State’s campus,” business administration senior Lauren Johnson said.
Not only are there live skits, but recorded ones as well – think digital shorts with lower production values.
The event will last about two hours and is normally viewed by about 70 students. The skits are done by members of B.L.A.C.K., as well as outside students from the university.
“It’s diverse. You get a taste of everything,” Johnson said. “Who doesn’t want to laugh? I guarantee you’re going to.”