After previewing his new animated series, Freak Show, David Cross said he felt sorry for subjecting his audience to such a tasteless show.
"We can only apologize so much for what you saw tonight," Cross said in Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge last night.
Jon Benjamin and Cross, the show's creators, fielded questions from students after previewing two episodes of their new Comedy Central show, which follows a group of carnival freaks who are members of a superhero group.
Cross is perhaps best known for his role in Arrested Development, a now-canceled show on Fox.
Benjamin discussed the process of creating the show.
"It's a free-for-all - a party: lots of coke, speed, acid," Benjamin said.
When asked to compare working for Fox and Comedy Central, Cross and Benjamin said arguments over content were similar.
"Wal-Mart was a big issue," Benjamin said, noting they had to make an anagram of founder Sam Walton's name to avoid offending the company.
There were other difficulties as well.
"The Jews, forget it. We can't make fun of the Jews," Cross said.
Cross said the message of the show's humor was different on a joke-by-joke basis.
"We're not trying to say certain things," he said.
It was clear that Cross, not Freak Show, drew much of the audience.
"Discussing the legal aspect of making the show was interesting," College freshman Kevin Koplan said, adding that Cross "is a very funny guy."
Tickets for the screening were awarded by lottery, and there was a "huge turnout," Social Planning and Events Committee Film co-Director Charles Wolf said.
Students came for a variety of reasons but most seemed interested in getting to meet Cross.
"I really like Arrested Development," College sophomore Sarah Lu said. "It seems like Penn is a big Arrested Development-fan campus."
Others came because they were familiar with Cross' other work.
"I'm here because of his stand-up," sophomore Tim Naughton said. "He says what's on his mind and attacks the right-wing."
Benjamin said they were launching a "two-college tour" at Penn. They will also be visiting New York University.
Students said Freak Show was good, but Cross was hilarious.
Freak Show "had its moments," College freshman Ben Eisenstat said. "But David Cross was the star attraction."
