Comedians keep 'em laughing at Irvine

Penises were the common theme in last night's charity comedy concert, Stand-Up Against Homelessness. The four nationally-known comedians' humor ranged from comparing friends' penis sizes to telling masturbation confessions, and most of the approximately 1400 people at Irvine Auditorium lapped it up. Apart from penis humor, the four featured comedians, each close friends, offered a wide range of comedy styles and made themselves at home during last night's Stand-Up event, which was sponsored by Comic Relief, Kappa Alpha Psi and Tau Epsilon Phi. The first performer, Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider threatened to hijack the show, staying on stage almost ten minutes longer than Apatow, the night's emcee, wanted him to. Schneider spoofed his "Makin' Copies" skit from SNL in introducing the University -- "University of Pennsylvaniaaaaa. . . The Pennmeister is coooool. . . Penn-o-ramaaaaa" -- and performed his widely-known "Elvis on a fishhook" impersonation. Near the end of his performance, Schneider tried new jokes while flipping the audience off when they did not laugh enough. SNL cast member Adam Sandler, back from taping last night's Late Night with David Letterman, tried out a new character, Opera Man. Opera Man sings a near-intelligible but highly expressive tenor, acting out improvisational scenarios Schneider and members of the audience suggested to him. He received his loudest applause in his closing joke, imitating a cross between Axl Rose and Edith Bunker singing. David Spade's act contained several impersonations, including one of Michael J. Fox -- "he's the same in everything, that's what makes it so funny" -- and one of Tom Petty, complete with hat, sunglasses and beard. Closing the show -- and drawing the most sustained laughter of the night -- was MTV's Remote Control host Colin Quinn. Quinn spoofed Irish wakes, a Friday night with the guys, and a "white man's fight," two men in a bar fighting because one looked at the other. Leona Smith, a Philadelphia homeless-rights advocate who was herself homeless for a year, spoke eloquently on the stereotypes surrounding homelessness, telling the audience most homeless people have jobs where they do not make enough to afford housing or health care. "We're the sons and daughters of somebody," Smith said. "I get frustrated when people pretend we're not there." Event organizer Thomas Reynolds said the event went "exceptionally well," adding he hoped the event could be hosted annually. "The comedians had a great time," Reynolds said. "They really wanted to do it." Quinn said after the show he was impressed with the event. "I've never seen [an event like this] before," Quinn said. "It's great they're actually trying to do something -- I know it's not the norm." All proceeds from the show go to the Philadelphia Health Care for the Homeless. Reynolds said last night organizers did not know how much the event made.