Four comedians from the NBC reality television show "Last Comic Standing" will be invited to UA to perform a comedy show on campus aimed to promote sexual responsibility, ASUA leaders announced last night.
The Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate approved offering a bid of $27,000 to The Last Comic Standing Tour to perform Feb. 9 at Centennial Hall during National Sexual Education week.
Second City, a group of comedians that do theatrical improvisations, will be offered $9,100 to open for The Last Comic Standing Tour, said Fernando Ascencio, ASUA Speakers Board director.
The Last Comic Standing Tour and Second City have until Dec. 9 to accept the bid.
Ascencio said he is confident The Last Comic Standing Tour will accept the bid.
"We feel the offer is substantial," Ascencio said.
Other comedians considered bringing to campus included Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Tina Faye and Ellen DeGeneres. They weren't chosen because they were either too expensive or unavailable, Ascencio said.
Although the ASUA Senate approved submitting bids to The Last Comic Standing Tour and Second City, the senate also needs to approve the contract signed by the acts and the ASUA Speakers Board.
Some senators expressed concern during last night's Senate meeting about making the financial ends meet and aren't sure if they will vote to approve the contract if the acts agree to the bid.
Ascencio projects the entire show will cost about $46,000 and expects revenues from tickets to pay for around $23,000 of the comedy show. The ASUA Speakers Board would pay the remaining cost of about $23,000.
Ascencio said tickets will cost $10 to $12 per student and about $25 for community members.
Figures for projected ticket revenues are based on 60 percent capacity, but some student leaders weren't sure if that many students would attend the comedy show.
Sara Birnbaum, executive vice president of ASUA, urged senators to think carefully about approving the contract if the comic acts agree to come to the UA.
Stephanie Hartz, an ASUA senator, voiced concerns during the meeting and is not sure the show will get as many students to attend as the Speakers Board predicts.
Andrew Record, ASUA director of special events, said if the comedy show were finalized, it would be a unique way to target sex issues that affect students.
"It would be sexual responsibility and a comedy show rolled into one show. A kind of bait-and-switch," said Record, a political science sophomore.
The comedians will be aware of the show's theme and Record said it would be up to them to integrate those themes into their performances.
"We're not asking them to change their normal standup routine," Record said. "Artists tend to be picky when you tell them what to talk about."
Record said sometime during the show, an undetermined person would address audience members about the importance of sexual responsibility. The person they will ask to speak, if the comedy show is approved, will be a member of the Tucson community with knowledge about sexual problems students face.
Audience members might even get to submit questions regarding sex issues and have them answered sometime during the show, Record said.
ASUA Pride Alliance and the Student Health Advisory Committee would participate in the comedy show by handing out pamphlets and answering questions.
The Last Comic Standing Tour includes the show's comedians Dave Mordal, Ric Vos, Cory Kahaney and Tess.
Second City came to the UA and opened for Andy Dick last year.
The comedy show, if finalized, is set for 7 p.m.