What do O.A.R, the Steve Miller Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd have in common? If you said that none of them have been relevant for more than a decade, you're only partially right. They were also the last three headliners for Gator Growl. You'd think that the world's largest pep rally would have a little more to offer than bands so dull even your dad would be embarrassed to be caught listening to them.
Well, finally they do.
Ditching the "band as headliner" angle, Friday's Gator Growl is kicking off stand-up comedy style. This year, in classic Gator Growl fashion, there will be one up-and-comer (Dan Levy), one long running main-stay (Kevin Hart) and one gigantic super nova of star power (Aziz Ansari). Here's your crash course on Friday night's kings of comedy.
Comedian: Dan Levy
Bio: After winning "Funniest College Student in America," a title also held by UF Alumni Calvin Cole, Levy has toured college campuses for the larger part of the last decade, along with several appearances on CollegeHumor.com. Being the least exposed comedian on this year's ticket, he will probably blow up soon, ala Mitch Hedberg and Daniel Tosh.
Pro: Just edgy enough to make you laugh but not enough to make you sick to your stomach.
Con: Leevy? Levvy? How the hell is his last name pronounced?
Shining moment: Appearing on Disney's "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody," in which he plays a game show host who does his best to make Zach and Cody cry and tries to woo Ashley Tisdale.
Comedian: Kevin Hart
Bio: For a guy who starred in every "Scary Movie"-related film after "Scary Movie 2" (including "Epic Movie" and "Superhero Movie"), Hart is surprisingly hilarious. However, at just 5-foot-4, you may need to bring your field glasses to keep an eye on this pint-sized bundle of joy.
Pro: It's like somebody took the racial humor out of "Def Jam" and replaced it with jokes about being scared of dolphins.
Con: Seriously, he was in so many bad movies it's almost unforgivable.
Shining moment: He played the guy who tries to start a fight with Romany Malco in "The 40 Year Old Virgin." This 30-second stint makes up for all of his previous faux pases.
Comedian: Aziz Ansari
Bio: I remember seeing Ansari playing an angry racist on "Flight of the Concords" three years ago and thinking, "If there were any justice in the world, this would be the most famous person in the world." Then in 2009, he landed a part as Dane Cook parody Randy Springfield in "Funny People" and blew up overnight. Ansari is arguably the biggest name in stand-up comedy right now.
Pro: He's like a little Asian fireball, constantly moving and talking and jumping and thrusting his crotch.
Con: Randy!
Shining Moment: His Comedy Central special "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening" blew all of our minds all over our faces.
