Date:
4/5/2006
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—Comedians Adam Hunter and Steve Hofstetter will perform a free show in the Campus Union Ballroom at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11. The show is open to everyone.
Hofstetter, 26, is an author, columnist and comedian. He is also the host of Four Quotas, which airs twice per week on Sirius Satellite Radio. One of the main faces of Comedy Express, National Lampoon's forthcoming TV Network, Hofstetter is also the network's Director of Acquisitions, making him one of the youngest television executives in the world.
He has appeared on NBC's "Ed," "Law and Order," and "Last Comic Standing," been featured by the New York Times, and been an in-studio guest of the Bob & Tom Show. Most notably, Hofstetter was one of the comedians featured during NBC's tribute to Johnny Carson.
Hunter can be seen on three VH1 Specials: "Robbing the Cradle," "Britney vs. Christina," and "16 Candles—Behind the Movie." He just filmed the comedy show "Funny is Funny" and had a guest starring role on "Yes, Dear." He was the subject of the MTV show "True Life: I am a Comic" and the show "Facebiters." He has a Craig Kilborne taping coming up and this summer is filming "Premium Blend."
On stage Adam talks about his issues concerning relationships, his dysfunctional family, and other life observations. He brings his most painful experiences – mother abandoning the family when he was 3, his family history with substance abuse, his issues with women, religion, pop culture and more to the stage.
At 18, Hofstetter co-founded "Sports Jerk of the Week," an irreverent Website featured by press like USA Today's Baseball Weekly, Sports Illustrated, and CNN. At 20, Hofstetter took a year off of school to head up Web content for the New York Yankees.
ENMU Interview with Steve Hofstetter
Q. Your new CD is called "Cure for the Cable Guy." Can you please explain this title?
A. Aside from "Cure for the Cable Guy" being funny, I chose the title because I'm sick of dumbed down comedy being so popular. And while plenty of comedians do the easy, racist, trite garbage, I feel like Larry the Cable Guy is the current head of that movement.
Q. Your humor has been described as "thinking man's humor." How does this description differentiate you from most other comedians?
A. Some comedians believe that the purpose of comedy is to make you forget about your problems. I believe that the purpose of comedy is to make you laugh through them.
Q. What role, good or bad, do you think organized religion plays in world affairs, and how do you deal with it in your show?
A. Organized religion is responsible for most of the wars that have ever been fought. And it's responsible for a lot of election results, too. I don't have a problem with the concept of organized religion. I have a problem with people who do awful things in the name of a higher being. In my show, I have a number of jabs at those types of people - the people who misinterpret the idea of religion by only being moral about certain things.
Q. What are your political views?
A. I think it's ironic that the administration is tapping our phone calls but can't seem to hear what else we're saying. My views are that consensus builds negativity. Mob mentality is an awful thing. We're now dealing with a HUGE consensus on a lot of powerful issues, and so few people are standing up to think for themselves. My views are that you vote for issues, not candidates. And candidates, not parties. Anyone who thinks they support a party 100 percent has never done research on that party.
Q. What are some of the topics that students at Eastern New Mexico University can expect you to address?
A. Race, religion, politics, body image, sure. But I'll also talk about more mundane things like relationships and facebook. My act is about the world and everything in it, from the basest detail to the most complex issue.
Q. Do you tailor your show for different audiences? In other words, can students at ENMU expect a slightly different show than you might give at a non-college venue?
A. Sure, I might make more references that college students get, and I might ad-lib about my surroundings. But my voice and my point don't change from stage to stage.
Q. How would you describe your stand-up style? Do you involve audience members, pick on them, etc.?
A. I am willing to go into a crowd, but I never attack someone unless they hit me first. If they do, well, they're dumb enough to pick on a professional so they deserve every bit of what comes at them. When I go into a crowd, it's to involve people and personalize the show, not to get laughs at someone's expense. I am a satirist and a preacher, a silly observationalist and a social critic. My style on stage is my style in life - the guy that complains a lot, but you tolerate it because it's funny when he does.
Q. What is the most unusual special item that you will require in your dressing room?
A. Someone recently asked me what I need to go on. I said, "a microphone and silence." I always ask for a postcard with the school's name on it as a souvenir. But beyond that, I just want a good attentive crowd and I'll take care of the rest.
Q. You've played in Portales before. How do you feel about your return?
A. I never like to stereotype a town - I believe there are intelligent, forward thinking people everywhere. And that's the most insulting thing about what Larry (the Cable Guy) does. Not everyone who lives in a rural town is a racist or a homophobe or a gun-toting, gravy-swilling good-ol-boy. Most people in places like Portales are much more intelligent than Comedy Central is giving them credit for. And I'm not saying all smart people like my comedy, but all people who like my comedy are smart. Because even if you don't agree with what I'm saying, it takes an intelligent person to still like the fact that I'm saying something.
Q. Other thoughts?
A. I had a great time last time I was in Portales - one of my favorite shows of the year. I'm looking forward to coming back, especially with Adam Hunter, who the crowd will love.