For stand-up comedian Robbie Printz, jokes from old age to exorcisms were fair game.
“She gets possessed at three o’clock in the morning. That’s when Satan strikes, so be careful,” he told a crowd of Boston University students, commenting on The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Stand-up comedian Robbie Printz generates a night of laughter from the audience at BU Central’s LOL: Comedy Series Saturday evening. Printz was named Boston’s Best Comedy Act in Improper Bostonian’s “Best of Boston” 2003 issue and has been featured in Comedy Central, NBC, and MTV. JUSTINA WONG/DFP STAFF
Printz performed at BU Central on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., bringing more than 50 students to the venue.
Printz, who has has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC and MTV won the Boston Comedy Festival in 2002. He was named Boston’s Best Comedy Act by Improper Bostonian in the 2003 Best of Boston issue.
The comedian’s performance is part of BU Central’s LOL Series, said staff member Tim Duffy, a College of Arts and Sciences senior. The series will also feature comedians Myq Kaplan in February and Andrew Ginsberg in April.
In an interview with The Daily Free Press, Printz said he enjoys performing at universities, especially because he doesn’t have to alter his performances like he would while performing at a high school.
“They’re adults, right?” he said. “Well, they’re supposed to be adults.”
Printz began performing stand up at Bentley University, from which he graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems in 1990. He said gets new ideas when he performs in front of college crowds.
“It’s where I started,” he said. “It makes me feel old, but it keeps me thinking young.”
Printz said he encourages students with a knack for comedy to pursue the interest, regardless of whatever criticism they may receive.
“Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t,” he said.
The show opened with College of Communication junior Cody Brotter, who was voted BU’s Funniest Student in 2011. Brotter started with jokes about the Boston accent.
“Accent is just a really nice way of saying speech impediment,” Brotter joked.
Brotter said opening for Printz was a great opportunity, but also intimidating to have such a long time slot to fill.
“People have no idea how long 20 minutes is,” he said.
Parts of Printz’s performance focused on everyday absurdities, including his hatred for motion censor toilets and his love of his GPS. He also talked about the recent snowfall and airport security lines.
“I’m not that deep,” Printz said.
Prinz, 43, also cracked jokes about his old age and warned students that getting old “sucks.”
At one point, Printz stopped to comment on a student in the back of BU Central who was cracking up and actually knee-slapping.
“He was a natural,” said CAS sophomore Annie Lissandrello.
“I almost fell off my chair at one point, quite literally,” said School of Management sophomore Bethany Murphy.
Brianna Bloodgood, a CAS sophomore, called Printz hysterical.
“The best was his material on airport security, and his jokes about how he felt himself turning into his parents,” she said. “Things you could relate to on some level.”
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