2008 Woodie Awards
Hal Sparks laughs it up in Moore Auditorium
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
By: Latreecia Wade
Issue date: 4/13/06 Section: Lifestyle
Click here for photos from the event.
"It was crazy. The line wrapped around the building," said Jill Gillespie, campus activities manager of the hundred plus crowd of Webster University students, staff and faculty who formed outside the Winifred Moore Auditorium April 12. Famed comedian Hal Sparks gave the free concert and in exchange Gillespie offered to film the event as a promotional video.
"(Getting in contact with Sparks) was supremely easy," said Gillespie. "I e-mailed Hal about the Webbies and hosting for that and he agreed to do (the show)."
Sparks wasted no time as he entered the stage walking in slow motion to what he called "theme music" and laid down facing the audience. He joked about music, driving, sex and adulthood. Even his own hometown was not spared from ridicule.
"I'm originally from Kentucky," said Sparks as the audience cheered and clapped. "Where intelligence is a four letter word."
Sparks said people don't usually believe that he's from the state by the loss of his Kentuckian accent.
"That's the worst accent to have when you're trying to get laid," he said.
He also said that those who live in under-populated places participate in "the small town lie."
"They say things like 'you know what I like about living in a small town? Everybody goes to church together and to the general store. Everybody knows everybody.' That's total horse shit," Sparks said.
While on a visit to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis, Sparks broke two of his left middle fingers in which he shared with the crowd. The audience gave out a collective "aww" when they were told of his injury and somebody yelled "sorry Hal."
Sparks said he was happy to be chosen as host the Webbies this year, though he admitted he doesn't know a whole lot about the university.
"I try to be as ignorant about things as I can," Sparks said.
Of the Winifred-Moore, he said, "Any time I can perform in a former church cathedral, I try. I mean, look at this place - I feel like I'm in a segment of the 'DaVinci Code.' "
"It was crazy. The line wrapped around the building," said Jill Gillespie, campus activities manager of the hundred plus crowd of Webster University students, staff and faculty who formed outside the Winifred Moore Auditorium April 12. Famed comedian Hal Sparks gave the free concert and in exchange Gillespie offered to film the event as a promotional video.
"(Getting in contact with Sparks) was supremely easy," said Gillespie. "I e-mailed Hal about the Webbies and hosting for that and he agreed to do (the show)."
Sparks wasted no time as he entered the stage walking in slow motion to what he called "theme music" and laid down facing the audience. He joked about music, driving, sex and adulthood. Even his own hometown was not spared from ridicule.
"I'm originally from Kentucky," said Sparks as the audience cheered and clapped. "Where intelligence is a four letter word."
Sparks said people don't usually believe that he's from the state by the loss of his Kentuckian accent.
"That's the worst accent to have when you're trying to get laid," he said.
He also said that those who live in under-populated places participate in "the small town lie."
"They say things like 'you know what I like about living in a small town? Everybody goes to church together and to the general store. Everybody knows everybody.' That's total horse shit," Sparks said.
While on a visit to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis, Sparks broke two of his left middle fingers in which he shared with the crowd. The audience gave out a collective "aww" when they were told of his injury and somebody yelled "sorry Hal."
Sparks said he was happy to be chosen as host the Webbies this year, though he admitted he doesn't know a whole lot about the university.
"I try to be as ignorant about things as I can," Sparks said.
Of the Winifred-Moore, he said, "Any time I can perform in a former church cathedral, I try. I mean, look at this place - I feel like I'm in a segment of the 'DaVinci Code.' "