By Maureen Cowhey ‘19
Staff Writer

Claremont whipped out the jean short-shorts and lined up at Bridges Auditorium in anticipation of Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee David Cross on Wednesday, January 27. The nearly sold out show on Cross’s “Make America Great Again!” tour brought both students and the general public together for a night of laughs.
Cross, most known for his HBO series “Mr. Show” and his role as Tobias Fünke in the comedy series “Arrested Development,” is touring for the first time in six years. Pomona College was the second stop on his highly anticipated worldwide tour with 51 shows nationwide.

After taking time off from his standup, Cross announced his latest comedy tour on the Daily Show and on his Facebook page. Cross wrote, “I was very busy writing for The View, but now that the kids are off to college, my wife’s regiment has been transferred to McMurdo Station in the South Pole, and I’m near completion on Fallout 4, it’s time to start up the bus and bring my patented, fart-inducing laugh winces to a town near you.”

Despite his six-year absence from standup, Cross’ comfort and experience on stage was evident. Named one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Standup Comedians of All Time, his act took highly politicized topics such as gun violence, police violence and the presidential election and made social commentary that made the audience roar with laughter.

The “Make America Great Again!” tour is a jab at both Donald Trump’s campaign slogan as well as the current state of our country. Cross joked about serious topics including school shootings, religion and gay marriage. Rather than making light of weighty situations, his jokes pointed out the flaws in our society, hitting close to home in many instances. Saying things that only a comedian can, Cross’ standup was more than a Matthew McConaughey impersonation and some funny one-liners.

Cross also interacted with his audience, getting off the stage to talk to someone in the audience and poke fun at Pomona College. He noted the large space between the stage and the audience, claiming that he did not ask for it and that it felt ‘elitist.’ He also commented on the handicap section of the auditorium, saying how illogical it was to make a handicap person walk all the way to the front. He told the security guard that Pomona College should be able to afford wheelchairs in their auditorium. The crowd loved this adlib section, cheering at all the jokes at the college’s expense.

Cross was the first of many highly anticipated events at the Bridges Auditorium this semester. Pomona College will also be hosting the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Southwest Quarterfinal on February 6, Michael J. Fox on February 12, Bryan Stevenson on March 29, and Shen Yun on April 8 and 9.

For more information on upcoming events as well as tickets please visit the Bridges Auditorium Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or call 909- 607-1139.