Master of the awkward at home in comedy CD

by Abel Horwitz

Daily Lobo

There's something special about

the comedy of Mike Birbiglia.

In interviews he comes off as

charming and a little bit shy, answering

questions with uncertainty

and in a slightly neurotic way.

His comedy revolves around this

neurosis and his constant pursuit

of making awkward situations

even more awkward.

"I enjoy observing awkwardness,"

Birbiglia said. "I think

that's a funny thing. One time I

was moving a bed into my new

apartment and a tenant held the

door open for me. She said, 'I'm

not worried that you're a rapist,

because a rapist wouldn't have a

bed like that,' and I said, 'You'd be

surprised.'"

Birbiglia wanted to be a comedian

since he was 16 when he saw

Steven Wright perform stand-up.

"It was really a transcendent

moment for me," he said. "I

thought, 'Wow, I could do this. I

could be a comedian.' I then started

writing Steven Wright-esque

one-liners at home."

Now, at 27, Birbiglia's star is

quickly rising. Last week he released

his third comedy album,

Two Drink Mike, which he recorded

live in December in Washington,

D.C. Birbiglia talks about

everything from the diffi culties

telemarketers face when they try

to pronounce his last name to his

adventures with the opposite sex.

"I wish I were better at drinking,

because I love sex, which is

weird, because I usually only love

things I'm good at, like badminton

and drinking hot chocolate," he

said on the album.

On March 3, Birbiglia is coming

out with a television special for

Comedy Central. He's previously

been featured on Comedy Central

shows such as "Shorties Watchin'

Shorties" and "Premium Blend,"

which are included on a bonus DVD

that comes with Two Drink Mike.

Though Birbiglia is gaining

popularity, he has trouble putting

a finger on how to label his

comedy.

"I have no message, for starters,"

he said. "I'm obsessed with

so many things that I never have

to sit down and think, 'Hmm, now

what should I be obsessed with?

I'm obsessed with eating pizza

and seeing bears. My comedy

kind of runs in contrast of a certain

kind of macho comedy that is

somewhat predominant today. I

talk about my personal life experiences.

I tell stories. At the end

of the day as a comedian all you

can talk about is what you think is

funny."

Birbiglia is thrilled people are

coming to his shows on purpose.

"If you're familiar with my comedy

and you like it, I hope that

you buy my album," he said. "I

hope that you have a computer so

that way you can burn it for your

friends. They're trying to crack

down on that, but who cares? It's

like, if I could steal candy off of the

Internet I'd be on twix.com every

day. When I'm listening to music I

like to have a snack."