Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News

Tom Bickham, sophomore communication major, gets an odd call from his father during his performance at University Board's "Last Comic Standing" event at the 7th Street Underground on Friday night. (John Bailey / The Daily Eastern News)

Matt Caponera's motivation to participate in Friday's "Last Comic Standing" event was simple.

Caponera, a sophomore communications studies major, said he was sick of "sitting and rotting in his apartment alone, drinking Keystone Light."

University Board sponsored the event, held in the 7th Street Underground.

Caponera, first-place winner of the event, joked about topics ranging from Facebook to Jewish concentration camps to pedophiles throughout his routine.

He also made a joke about how he tried to beat up the rest of the contestants because he wanted to be the "last comic standing," but was told that was against the rules.

The other contestants were Tom Bickham, Matthew Hagaman and Paul Teresi.

Teresi, a senior history major who finished in second place for the event, was the first to take the stage.

He performed impersonations of Harry Caray, Jack Nicholson, Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby and Dr. Phil.

Bickham, a sophomore communications studies major who was awarded third place for the event, talked to his parents on his cell phone onstage and played an acoustic guitar while telling jokes.

Hagaman shared dialogue about having epiphanies and told the audience that he was "nobody special" but just wanted the chance to perform. The junior elementary education major received fourth place.

Caponera received an iPpod Touch, gift cards to Positively Fourth Street Records and the EIU bookstore, and the chance to open for the last University Board-sponsored comedy show of the semester that will feature three professional comedians.

Danielle Buenting, sophomore political science major, said he agreed with the judges' choice.

"I actually did think (Caponera) was the best, and I enjoyed the show a lot more than I thought I would," Buenting said.



Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or at haholm@eiu.edu.

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