Patton Oswalt doesn't normally perform on college campuses, but he enjoys students because they don't have as many expectations.
"Their opinions aren't calcified," he said, "I'm free to roam around."
Oswalt, an actor and stand-up comedian, will present his material to a packed crowd tonight in Alumni Hall. Tickets sold out at noon Nov. 3, only a day after they went on sale.
Oswalt said he was deeply flattered at the success of the event.
"I better give a better set than what I was planning," he said. "I need to get more focused."
Performing the night after another comedian came to campus -- Daniel Whitney, also known as Larry the Cable Guy -- Oswalt said he was confident that his stand-up would give students something to laugh about.
Student Programming Association (SPA) LateNight chairman Kenny Verbos (sophomore-behavioral health) said he was surprised by the initial success of the event.
"I had a bit of doubt," Verbos said. "It's hard to program events for 40,000 students."
Verbos explained the LateNight committee had a few days on their calendar where it wanted to host larger scale events. The committee made a list of its top comedians and lucked out when one of them, Patton Oswalt, came through.
Although Verbos was surprised the show sold out so quickly, he knows it was because of Oswalt's celebrity. He's known not only for his stand-up but also for his role on "The King of Queens."
"I'm not as sophisticated and subtle as Larry the Cable Guy," Oswalt joked, "but I really can't think of a style for what I do, besides standing on stage, pacing, talking into a microphone."
Oswalt said he feels little "burnt out," and is really looking forward to a vacation -- LateNight is his last gig until December.
Sankalp Nagpal (senior-health and policy administration) is the director of events for SPA and last year's LateNight chairman.
Nagpal said SPA always loves to bring out comedians that attract a large audience and especially one that attracts a crowd to LateNight.
"It is a great program we have that many students don't take advantage of," he said. "I am hoping that this event will build some popularity."
This is Verbos' first big LateNight event and he said he still has reservations. But veteran Nagpal said he expects a successful evening.
"I think there is a mutual expectation between the crowd and Patton," he said.
