PROF YUKS IT UP; JUDGES EAT IT UP.Byline: Mark Baker The Register-Guard Al Stavitsky is a stand-up stand·up or stand-up adj. 1. Standing erect; upright: a standup collar. 2. Taken, done, or used while standing: a standup supper; a standup bar. guy. Oh, he's not the only stand-up sort in Eugene. Just the funniest. At least that was the opinion of the local celebrity judges at the ninth annual Laff-Off, held recently at Actors Caberet of Eugene. Stavitsky, an associate professor in the University of Oregon's School of Journalism & Communication, gave the eight judges belly aches with his topical humor, said Leigh Anne Jasheway, a stand-up comedy  This article or section may deal primarily with the U.S. and may not present a worldwide view. teacher and writer who organizes the event that raises
money for the Greenhill Humane Society's domestic violence
assistance program.
The 47-year-old Stavitsky, a former radio and television anchorman who specializes in teaching radio and TV courses at the UO, left the judges and the audience howling with his political attack ad aimed at the 19 other amateur comics in the competition. "I never really thought I was going to win," Stavitsky said by telephone from his hotel room in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , where he was attending the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association. "Before the show, I didn't feel particularly funny." But he did let the judges know he was out "to win this thing" after never finishing higher than fourth in four previous tries. "Especially when I heard, if you finish first, you win the dog," he said at the beginning of his routine, referring to the large barking dog that accompanied Jasheway on stage at the show's start. The event raises about $1,500 every year for Greenhill, which provides a home for the pets of battered women staying at Womenspace, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Stavitsky, holding the microphone close to his mouth and speaking in a deep, ominous voice, started his attack ad off with this line: "The other comics want you to think that they care about you. But listen to their jokes. ..." "It was really funny," said Jasheway, whose Lane Community College stand-up comedy class is where Stavitsky got his comedic start about five years ago. "It had a highly topical nature to it." Stavitsky is well known for his sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour at the UO. "Al is always funny," said Tim Gleason Tim Gleason (b. January 29 1983, Clawson, Michigan) is a professional ice hockey defenceman for the Carolina Hurricanes. Gleason was drafted twenty-third overall from the Windsor Spitfires in the first round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. , dean of the School of Journalism & Communication. "He's doing stand-up all the time." Stavitsky, who ended his "Laff-Off" routine with a hysterical rap song, lets his Mass Media and Society students earn extra credit by holding a "Mass Media Poetry Slam poetry slam n. A spoken-word poetry competition. " at the end of the course. Students write and perform rap songs or haikus on current events. "I try and stay up with popular culture and I try and use comedy as a teaching tool," Stavitsky said. Only one person, Stavitsky's 10-year-old daughter, Zina, saw his routine before the show. She timed it. And she laughed, but not much, he said. "There was a lot of eye-rolling," Stavitsky said. His other daughter, Ariel, 15, picked out his wardrobe of jeans, Hawaiian print shirt and baseball cap. Stavitsky split his winning $100 check with his daughters, he said. The other prize, a plastic king's crown king's crown see calotropis procera. , sits upon a stuffed animal in Zina's room. Gleason, a New York Yankees  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. fan who, like Stavitsky, grew up in New
Jersey, said his colleague really has no choice when it comes to being
funny.
"He has to have a sense of humor," Gleason said, "because he's a lifelong New York Mets
A COUPLA LAUGHS The following two bits, a mock political attack ad aimed at the competition and a Baby Boomer rap song, helped University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. journalism professor Al Stavitsky clinch the ninth annual Eugene Laff-Off. "The other comics want you to think they care about you. But listen to their jokes. They make fun of the sanctity of marriage. They demean de·mean 1 tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class. our commander-in-chief. They work day jobs as Internet spammers. But not Al Stavitsky. Al is an educator. A parent. And the owner of two dogs. He uses humor to teach children, to increase their self-esteem and to bring Eugene together. So vote Al Stavitsky. He's laughing WITH you." "Yo, baby, baby - you know I'm a damn fine man. I get my playa's style from watchin' C-Span. I get my groove, hear me bust some rhymes Drawn from the pages of The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times. Baby, try them other gangstas I dare ya Cuz then ya gonna bring it on home To the professa' with ten-ya'" |
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