Johnagin gets laughs without the cursing

Comedian Tommy Johnagin will be bringing laughs to campus March 6.

Johnagin, who doesn’t curse onstage, describes himself as an autobiographical comedian with a little sarcasm mixed in. He began taking advantage of open mics when he was 18, and his stand-up career has evolved from there.

“I’ve known I’ve wanted to do this since I was like, eight,” Johnagin said. “So, when I was 18, I was old enough to actually get into clubs and do it.”

The 24-year-old native of Benton, Ill. has appeared on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” and CMT’s “Comedy Stage”. He has also performed at comedy clubs and college campuses across the country.

“It was really fun. Comedy Central was one of my first TV appearances, but I’ve done stuff since then,” Johnagin said. “I had a good time. As a comedian, you wanna be on TV; it’s like a little feather in the hat.”

Johnagin says he pulls his material from everyday life and tries to write daily.

“Sometimes you’ll build a balance and only have one new joke,” he said. “But then sometimes you’ll go a week and somehow come up with three or four jokes. It kind of varies.”

It’s the “making people laugh” aspect of stand-up that he really enjoys, and Johnagin says he plans on telling jokes until he can no longer talk.

“I don’t have a giant fan base. But everybody I have, they’re there for me,” he said.

More information on Johnagin can be found at his website www.tommyjcomedy.com. He will be appearing at CAB comedy night at 7 p.m. on March 6 in Webster Auditorium.

“He is really funny and can keep the audience participating,” said Cynthia Patrick, senior public relations major. “I can guarantee if students show up to his show, they won’t be disappointed.”