Mitch Hedberg signs a CD for a member of the Student Center Programs Council. The council was responsible for organizing Hedberg’s sold-out performance at the Ferst Center on Monday. Despite some last-minute logistical problems, the show was a resounding success.

Watching one of his stand-up routines is somewhat like sitting around at 3 a.m. talking with a bunch of friends while they’re all drunk. It’s hilarious, but it makes absolutely no sense. Still, it’s a good time.

Having been featured on the Late Show with David Letterman and Comedy Central, among others, Hedberg has gathered quite the cult following and is becoming an increasingly big name in stand-up comedy.

For those unfamiliar with Hedberg’s style, his stand-up routine is mainly comprised of one random one-liner after another combined with a bit of aimless wandering around the stage and the occasional funny story without a punch line.

Regardless of this rather unfavorable-sounding synopsis, his reckless and random style somehow not only works but also has earned him massive popularity.

This past Monday, Hedberg performed in front of a sold-out crowd at the Ferst Center. Local comic Stewart Huff warmed up the audience with his high-energy storytelling style of comedy.

Huff’s style is a contrast to that of Hedberg’s in that Huff follows a more traditional formula for stand-up by telling a series of jokes and stories which segue well into each other.

Huff was not originally scheduled to perform, but Hedberg’s flight into Atlanta was delayed and an opening act had been added to the billing at the last minute.

What could have been a logistical disaster was nicely handled and the crowd was treated to two comics for the price of one.

After Hedberg took the stage, the audience enjoyed a show that included a lot of tried and true material and some newer stuff, some of which was a hit, but most of which fell flat by comparison.

“I’ll have to work on that one,” Hedberg said every time a joke didn’t receive much response.

There is also something markedly unique about Hedberg’s stage presence.

He wanders around the stage often acting surprised that he’s in front of an audience and hides his facial expressions behind his hair and the microphone.

His almost shy demeanor makes it difficult to anticipate a punch line or guess where his next joke is going to lead, and it does take a while to get used to the lack of rhythm in Hedberg’s routine. All in all, however, it makes for an act that keeps the audience laughing.

Hedberg may not have been in exceptional form Monday night, but the show was still enjoyable. His tendency to randomly blurt out quips and observations is really what makes most of the things he says so funny.

In fact, this has become Hedberg’s trademark and if the sold-out show at the Ferst is any indication, his fans love it.