Middlebury to host VH1's 'Best Week Ever' live Event to feature alumna St. Claire '98

Author: Derek Schlickeisen

This Friday at 8 p.m., the Middlebury College Activities Board (MCAB) will sponsor a live broadcast of VH1's hit comedy show "Best Week Ever" in the Pepin Gymnasium. Among the four comedians slated to perform is Middlebury alumna Jessica St. Clair, who graduated in 1998.

Diehard fans of the program should recognize Friday's format: a big-screen television in Pepin will show short video clips of the week's happenings in popular culture while the four panelists comment. The show's segments include "The Sizzler," a review of celebrity gossip; "Five Good Reasons," a set of excuses to see the week's worst movie and "In Case You Missed it," a review of the week's best moments in television.

In addition to St. Clair, the panel will include Mike Britt, Aziz Ansari, and Pete Holmes. "They're not exactly politically correct," said Colleen Sullivan, the MCAB Special Committee chair who helped organize the event. "It's hard to say exactly what they will talk about, but they enjoy poking fun at the likes of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes."

Sullivan said MCAB originally planned the event as a way to bring back comedian Christian Finnegan, who headlined a well-attended event at Middlebury last spring and regularly contributes to "Best Week Ever." While Finnegan was not able to commit to the date, she said, "We are excited about the cast that is coming. VH1's college tour has been popular."

St. Clair, for whom Friday's show represents something of a homecoming, has appeared on "The Colin Quinn Show," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and the Bravo series "Things I Hate About You."

She also co-starred in the 2004 film "Terrorists: the Movie" and is a regular fixture at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in New York. Said Sullivan, "Jessica is really excited to come back."

Organizers hope attendance at "Best Week Ever" will prove worthy of the show's popularity. "We're looking to draw the same crowd as for the Capitol Steps," said Sullivan, referring to a show put on by the acclaimed political comedy troupe earlier this year.

"Fans of the show are very excited about the opportunity to see them live in our gym, and those who aren't as familiar with it should be excited to see these up-and-coming comedians," she added.

Students hoping to attend the show can pick up tickets today in Atwater Dining Hall, Friday in Ross Dining Hall, at the door or through the College's online box office.