Just Do It

Aziz Ansari

by Jimmy Viola

Wed., Jan. 28, 7 p.m., $15, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 866-468-7619, northstarbar.com

So deep is Aziz Ansari's love of his audience that those attending his North Star show will be treated to free apple-cinnamon Nutri-Grain bars. Born to South Indian immigrants, raised in South Carolina and working out of New York for MTV's sketch comedy show Human Giant, his comedic range is as diverse as his cultural upbringing. "I never really do much ethnic humor, so its influence on my comedy is minimal," says Ansari about his heritage. "[But] as a person, it gave me brown skin and access to delicious South Indian food that my mom can cook."

In addition to standup comedy, his skit work in Human Giant is a hybrid of the popular satire and fresh-faced vibe of Saturday Night Live and MTV's mid-'90s sketch-comedy show The State. One popular bit from last summer featured Ansari arguing with an insurance investigator because Batman blew up his car.

"I was born in '83, so I'm probably pretty close to the young people who watch Human Giant," Ansari said. "However, we've actively been trying to get the show in the hands of the tweens, pre-tweens, and post-tweens set."

Soon to be added to his résumé is a part in Judd Apatow's upcoming Funny People, with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, and in a sitcom from the producers of The Office, along with Amy Poehler. Mr. Ansari remains humble, even as Human Giant's exposure transcends mediums, age groups and countries.

"The coolest thing to me is how much our peers in the comedy community got behind [Human Giant]," he said. "The show recently started airing in South America and I love reading praise for the show written in Spanish—'Los Ilusionadores esta bueno,' 'I love the Illusionators'!"