Mirman Comedy Fest Nerds Out Opening Night

via onwardstate.com
Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a rare thing: a scientific mind, and an expansive one at that, who can captivate a crowd. At any point, you might hear him speak in the cadences of a rock star, a boxing announcer, a smack-talker, and, finally, probably the most passionate professor you ever had.

He can be somewhat funny, but funny's not really Tyson's schtick. He does, however, as an over-the-top, carnival barking nerd, make a great foil for comedians. Good choice, then, for last night's opening show of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival at the Bell House.

Hosting a live recording of his radio science show, Star Talk, Tyson discussed things geek with a panel composed of Mirman, Kristen Schaal (of Flight of the Conchords and The Daily Show), and Scott Adsit (30 Rock). Oh, and Tyson brought Hawkeye along, too. A born showman, Tyson overshadowed Mirman's comedian introductions by trotting out a surprise presence -- the unmistakable voice and old-hippy-cool of Alan Alda. Appropriately, Alda got even more enthusiastic "Whoos!" than either Mirman or Tyson from the, as Mirman put it, "ululating" pack of giddy science and comedy geeks.

Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History (and notorious breaker of schoolchildren's hearts), presented a live version of his radio show, which regularly pits his science-addled cerebrum against pop culture celebs. Clearly understanding the proclivities of the Bell House's Six Point-swilling audience, Tyson described his show as not necessarily for people already into science. "We wanted to reach people who had never been touched." The "whoos" were as joyfully immature as you might expect.

The broadcast/discussion explored four topics, starting with aliens, of course, and moving on to "Death and Destruction: All the Ways the Universe is trying to Kill You," the weird science of Relativity and string theory, and, finally, the dangers of pseudoscience. Alan Alda's friendly, 60's crunch came in for a ribbing on the opening topic. Criticizing talk of terraforming Mars, he asked, "How do we know Mars isn't some crucial cog in an interplanetary ecology." I mean, seriously -- how do we?

"Oh Alan, don't be such a Mars hippy," Kirsten Schaal said, summarizing, as good comedians do, what we were all thinking -- but with more wit and funnay nasal voice.

But, to leave you with perhaps the most memorable moments from the night -- Tyson mused that aliens would communicate in some strange way, perhaps like whale songs, prompting the panel of comedians to raise whale-ish voices in a chorus of low moos. It was even more beautiful than you're probably imagining.

The festival continues through the weekend at both the Bell House and Union Hall (tickets from $10 to $20).