Dueling brands bring rising stars of whimsy to a college campus near you

Remember the old days when you tried your darnedest to impress college campus social directors at conferences such as NACA, then hit the road for a series of well-paid one-nighters? Well, those days are still here. But more and more, the big corporate brands are doing their own thing. I've heard friends go on college tours sponsored by Comedy Central. This month, we're seeing Funny or Die pair up with Axe for a "Twisted Humor Tour," while Bonnaroo is leaving the Tennessee tents for a series of college dates in sponsorship with U.S. Cellular, because yeah, sure, why not.

Both tours feature the the types of rising comedy stars that a friend of mine calls "whimsys" (or is it whimsies). That made me laugh out loud.

Maybe these comedians will do the same to you, you college kids, you?

The Bonnaroo College Comedy Tour kicked off yesterday, and features Pete Holmes, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani, with Reggie Watts and Joe DeRosa at selected stops.

Funny or Die's Axe Twisted Humor Tour also kicked off last night with a show at the school of laughs known as The Laugh Factory. It features Nick Kroll, Chelsea Peretti, Whitney Cummings and Donald Glover, with dates and locations yet to be announced. Hey, why not? Announce already. Instead, they tease us with a video. Roll it.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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