Aaron Karo (www.aaronkaro.com) is coming back. On February 17, the comedian, Wharton alum, and author of college classic Ruminations on College Life (as well as the more recent follow-up, Ruminations on a Twentysomething Life), which he started writing from his frat house at Penn, will do two shows at World Café Live. In fact, the show will be recorded for a DVD. Get your tickets now, because they’re going fast.
We caught up with Karo in L.A. to talk about comedy, Hey Day and Penn girls.
So how long has it been since you were around these parts?
Last time I was in Philadelphia was April 2004 for Spring Fling. This is actually the longest I’ve ever been away since I first came to Penn in ’97. But I’d been to eight Flings in a row, dating back to when I was a senior in high school. Sometimes, you just gotta hang up your keg tap and retire.
Do you think it’s changed much?
Like every major city, Philly probably hasn’t changed much save for every single bar closing and re-opening as a very similar bar with a new name. As far as Penn’s campus goes, the one thing I’ve always said is that, you have to admit, the school ain’t shy about spending money. Every time I go back, there’s a new building with some rich person’s name on the side. Penn will build a bridge that doesn’t connect anything if someone donates enough. Oh, and my old frat house is now temporarily a dorm. That’s just sacrilege.
What do you miss most?
I’d love to wake up in the Quad one more time. In fact, I just might.
Why did you pick Wharton?
I grew up the son of a toy company executive. If you remember the Tickle-Me Elmo craze in the mid-90s - my dad was very much involved in that. In fact, in my family we like to say that red, furry, little freak paid for college. Literally. As I got older, I started to wonder where all those free toys were coming from. My dad taught me about his job as a salesmen. From there, I knew I wanted to study business. Ergo, Wharton. Yes, I just said "Ergo."
How did you not fail out?
The details of my lack of academic prowess have been greatly exaggerated. This is no doubt partly my fault as my first book, Ruminations on College Life, sort of implies that I never studied once. In fact, I was quite studious at Penn and graduated magna cum laude. I did do my fair share of partying, descriptions of which took up a large majority of the book. But I believe in working hard and playing hard. It’s just that no one wants to read a humor book about studying.
What were your favorite bars in Philly?
I mostly hit the bars on campus. However, Buddakan is still my favorite restaurant of all time. In fact, I’m coming back to town in May for my fifth-year reunion, and me and my buddies already have a 25-person reservation at Buddakan. I feel bad for anyone else who’s there that night.
Did you know Smokes is still around?
There will also be a place at Penn for a dimly-lit bar that’s stuffy and overcrowded.
Rumor has it that the swanky Mar-Bar has taken its place. Thoughts?
I’ve heard of this Mar-Bar joint. Despite the prevalence of Northeasterners at Penn, I’m not sure a quasi-New York-style swanky lounge has much place there. I’ll take beer pong in my frat house over that shit any day.
Fondest Penn memory?
Tie - Hey Day, which is the last day of junior year where the juniors officially are declared Seniors. You get up at 8 a.m., drink heavily, wear Styrofoam hats, beat each other with canes, and yell “Show your tits!” at the school President. Awesome. That’s tied with delivering the commencement address at the Wharton graduation ceremony. Less drunken, and no beating with canes, but a memory I will have forever.
Give me your description of a typical Penn girl.
This is a loaded question which I will tactfully sidestep. Let’s just say that somewhere out there, a Penn girl owns my virginity, so thank God for them.
And what’s the best way to pick up said Penn girl?
"I’m in this frat. Wanna go upstairs?"
How do you pick up said L.A. girl?
"I’m a producer. Wanna go upstairs?" (Don’t use if you live on the top floor.)
Hottest sorority on campus when you were here?
Good lord, you’re really testing my memory now. I guess it was Theta. But I really haven’t been keeping track of Penn’s sorority rankings. Lately, anyway.
Has anyone ever yelled at you for what you’ve said about them in the newsletter/book/stand up?
People love getting mentioned in the column. It’s a badge of honor. You know how much ass Triplet #1 pulls by way of Ruminations these days? I think the only one who is sick of it is my old roommate Brian. But I dedicated my last book to him, so I’m calling it even.
Has anyone ever told you your web site is simultaneously eye-catching and extremely complicated?
Don’t talk about my baby like that. Yeah, the site is pretty advanced. It’s a magazine where you can actually flip the pages with your mouse. It freaks people out at first, but it’s actually pretty each to use. I mean, I gotta have a dope site. I’m a comedian, not the postal service!
Being single again, tell the lovely ladies of Philadelphia why they should come to your show.
It’s very simple. I tell it like it is. During the second half of the show, I’ll be delving into what twentysomething guys are really thinking when they’re hitting on girls and when they’re in the midst of hooking up. It’s some really intense, really funny shit. Girls come up to me afterwards and thank me for telling them what guys are really thinking. And that’s when I bang them. [Laughing] Just kidding!
Being a Penthouse advice columnist, give guys one tip on how to pick up your sloppy seconds after the show.
If you’ve read my advice column in Penthouse, you’d I know I don’t actually give any usable advice.
Why did you decide to film this particular show for your first DVD?
I get requests to perform all over the country, but I obviously can’t get everywhere. I figured putting out a stand-up DVD would be the next best thing. And what better place that my old college stomping crowds? So we’re gonna film these shows in Philly, and if all goes well, put out an awesome DVD of all my best material in the fall. Plus in Philly I know I’ll have a pretty well-behaved crowd that won’t get too drunk.
Seriously?
Of course not! I’m sure everyone in the audience will be a mess, just the way I like it.
Aaron Karo
World Café Live (www.worldcafelive.com)
3025 Walnut St.
February 17, 2006
Two shows: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
$15
