For the past 22 years, nationally & internationally known comedians have been entertaining the UF & Findlay/Hancock County community. Comedy Jam has become a tradition you want to experience! If you miss it, you won't be laughing!
24th Annual Comedy Jam!
Saturday, January 25, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Marathon Center for the Performing Arts
Featuring: Derrick Knopsnyder, Azeem, & Mike Paramore
Derek is a high-energy, quick-witted comedian who has been entertaining people his whole life. He officially made his start doing stand-up comedy after his first year in college, at the age of 19, and he never looked back. Since then, Derek has become one of the fastest rising comedians and is the youngest comedian to be a regular feature act at his home club, the Pittsburgh Improv. He has also performed on Comedy Central's New Talent Search, The Oddball Comedy Festival and won Stand Up to Cancer's Comedy Festival, as well as the Cleveland Comedy Festival.
Derrick uses his quick wit and award winning personality to connect to any audience often by making them part of the show, through crowd work to keep the audience engaged and laughing throughout the night! He’s performed at hundreds of colleges, clubs, and corporate events across the country and has earned some awards including “One of the Highest Rated Comedians” by Campus Activities Magazine and was a National Comedian of the Year Finalist for the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities.
When he's not on the golf course he can be seen sharing the stage with many greats such as Dave Coulier, Rob Schneider, Bill Burr, Jim Jefferies, Bo Burnham, John Mulaney, Josh Wolf and many more. This is one show you do not want to miss!
Derrick has also been called "The Best Comedian Working Today!", by his mother, so you know that's not biased at all.
For nearly twenty years, Azeem’s comedy has brought laughter to millions of people worldwide. Whether across stage, colleges, corporate events or religious functions, the result is always the same: drop-dead funny. In 2005, he was the recipient of the MPAC Image Award, for his stand-up performance on the critically-acclaimed Allah Made Me Funny: Official Muslim Comedy Tour, which provided an opportunity for a healthy dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims; drawing the attention of The Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart. His ability to build bridges across gender, ethnicity, and religious lines has earned him the title of “holistic healer through humor”.
Many in the media describe Azeem’s humor as “conscious comedy”. His ability to intertwine touchy subjects in a politically correct society with charismatic candor, makes him sought out the world over.
Azeem, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, began his comedy career in 1999 at the age of 26 while working at a rehabilitation center for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2005, Azeem made his network television debut on “Comic View”, which brought him to the attention of many clubs and colleges throughout the United States. His standout performances have taken him to over 5 continents, 37 countries, and a favorite on the seven seas; performing onboard Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line ships.
His first full comedy CD “I’m Just Serious” was released in 2010, and his first DVD “Live & Unfiltered” was released in 2015. Azeem can be heard every week on his podcast “I’m Just Serious” on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. His latest endeavor, a one-man show “Funny, Faithful & Flawed” debuted in 2020.
Mike Paramore is the guy you fight to sit next to in a movie theatre, on a long car ride, or during a boring lecture.His natural ability to infuse everyday situations with energetic, uplifting humor, combined with a natural ability to put you at ease is key to his personal brand of comedy. His smooth delivery and powerful punch lines make him a force in stand-up comedy, which is very apparent in his debut album "The Things We Tell Ourselves", available now on iTunes and Amazon.
In addition to performing at the 2010 Stellar Awards and being a part of the 2012 Just for Laughs Festival, Mike was a finalist in the 2014 World Series of Comedy Las Vegas, Winner of the 2015 Cleveland Comedy Festival, Winner of the 2016 Laughing Devil Festival in New York City, Winner of the 2017 Laugh Fest's Best in the Midwest competition. He was a featured on AXTV's Live at Gotham in NYC, as well as a featured comedian on FOX's hit show "Laughs".