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OUT & ABOUT
The Red & Black | Thursday, November 9, 2006 | 5B
COURTESY NICK SWARDSON
▲ Comedian Nick Swardson wrote the script for 2003's “Malibu's Most Wanted” and
plays Howie in “The Benchwarmers” as well as Terry on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!”
Swardson relates to co-eds
By MANDY RODGERS
mrodgers@randb.com
Comedian Nick Swardson,
best known for his roles in
films like “Malibu’s Most
Wanted” and “The
Benchwarmers,” is coming to
the University for his only
college show of the year.
“I love touring. Especially
colleges. I always party after
and stuff,” Swardson said.
“I’ve puked at many a frat
house. I can’t party at UGA.
Unfortunately, I have to get
on a plane and be back on
set the next day, but I’ll be
back.”
Swardson began his come
dy career in 1996 doing
stand-up, but his real break
came when Comedy Central
gave him a half-hour comedy
special in 2000.
“I never thought I would
do comedy as a profession. I
always liked comedy — that
sounds stupid. Everyone
likes comedy except for
maybe terrorist robots, but I
kind of fell into it,” he said. “I
did it on a fluke at an open
mic, and I got hooked. It was
like crack.”
After his successful spe
cial, Swardson worked with
Jamie Kennedy on the 2003
film “Malibu’s Most Wanted,”
which grossed triple its cost
at the box office and pro
pelled his career.
“It was Jamie’s idea. He
asked me to write it,”
NICK SWARDSON
When: 8 Tonight
Where: Georgia Hall
Cost: $10/students, $15/general
public
Swardson said about the
“Malibu” script. “I was such a
fall-down drunk he actually
paid me out of his pocket,
and I crashed on his couch.
He wanted me to focus and
get it done.”
The Entertainment
Division of University Union
asked Swardson to come to
the University and perform a
comedy show.
“They (Entertainment
Division members) watched
clips of different comedians,
and Swardson seemed to
relate better with the college
students,” said Marc
LaMotte, the program advis
er for University Union. “He
just has a goofy attitude for
the college crowd.”
“What makes Swardson
unique and funny is his abili
ty to essentially become the
character he is portraying,”
said Todd Sapp, a pre-busi
ness major from Athens, who
bought his ticket for the
show as soon as they went on
sale. “No matter what role he
plays, he is able to make it
comical and entertaining
because he seems to hold
nothing back.”
After his stand-up per
formances and zany charac
ters in films and TV’s “Reno
911!,” Swardson has devel
oped a devoted and rapidly
expanding following.
“I’m a big fan of ‘Reno
911!,’ and so I first became
familiar with Swardson when
he played the character Terry
on the show,” Sapp said. “He
has to be my favorite charac
ter Swardson portrays
because he is so outrageous
and ridiculous, you can’t help
but laugh.”
Next year will be a huge
year for the comedian with
his comedy tour during the
summer, a college tour in the
fall and a host of new movies,
including the “Reno 911!”
movie in February, “Blades of
Glory” with Will Ferrell in
March and “Chuck and
Larry” with Adam Sandler in
July.
“And I’m writing three
more movies — a follow-up to
‘Grandma’s Boy’ and a star
ring vehicle for myself,”
Swardson said. “I’m also try
ing to make ‘Benchwarmers’
into an off-Broadway porno.”
With or without the off-
Broadway porno addition to
his resume, Swardson defi
nitely has a lot going on, and
his popularity seems des
tined to rise.
“He’s one of the funniest
guys that we’ll have, so I
think everyone should come
out,” LaMotte said.
Price and participation may vary.
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