The talk-show phenomenon hit Penn State with little fanfair as Tony Bern launched his pilot show last night.

There were plenty of empty chairs in the HUB main lounge as Bern (junior-history) started up his latest comedic attempt. The former WEHR-FM host staged his show at a Student Union Board's Coffee House.

Frequently referring to his firing from WEHR, Bern broke new ground nervously. Combatting a floor-level stage and a sparse audience, Bern looked to his influences for inspiration.

"I've always been a David Letterman and Johnny Carson fan and grew up watching them," Bern said. "They'll always influence what I do in this medium."

After Bern's monologue, which included jokes about anything from Lorena Bobbitt to celebrity inflatable dolls, and a top ten list of The Daily Collegian headlines that would throw State College into a panic, Bern's guests proceeded to steal the show.

Bern's first guest, WQWK-FM (97QWK) morning personality Ed Wenck, broke the ice.

"Right now, Tony is sweating through his eyeballs," Wenck said. "You're moving up there, Tony --from East Halls Radio to a TV show without cameras."

Gary Cattell, better known as the Willard Preacher, also entertained the crowd as Bern's second guest. Cattell dished out his theories on abortion and sexual orientation in addition to his ideas about "bopping" virgins.

"Since virgins are an endangered species we need to push a law -- anyone trying to bop a virgin should be subject to a $10,000 fine and if there were a lot of virgins left we could open a hunting season to bop 'em all," Cattell said.

Wenck said despite the shaky start Bern has potential.

"He's got a natural ability -- he's really raw," Wenck said. "I think he's gonna do well with it if he changes the environment he's in."

Shelly Stangl (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she liked the idea, but Bern's delivery took away from his guests.

"The guys he interviewed were pretty interesting, but I think (Bern) was more nervous," Stangl said.

Highlighting the one-hour pilot was Bern's house band, the Implants, covering anything from Frank Zappa to Social Distortion --not to mention giving Cattel a song about Jesus going to New Orleans for a segue.

Todd Leister, the board Coffee House co-chairman, said Bern approached the board with the idea.

"It's the beginning of the semester and we needed to get some new acts," Leister said. "We figured we'd give it a try and see how it works."

Tracy Farmer, who has been helping Bern book acts for future shows, said the show could help fill a large entertainment gap at the University.

"I think this campus needs an entertainment like that," said Farmer (senior-health policy administration). "Most entertainment is geared toward the over-21 crowd and Greeks."

Although Leister said the board did not have the funds to finance Bern's plan to tape the show for possible broadcast on WPSX-TV or in the HUB Eateries, Bern has high hopes for the project, shooting for "your good old, American talk show."