Past Big Shows
Big Show 1
DUI's first Big show was in April of 1998. It's 10 original members looked to bring improv to Page Auditorium. Unfortunately, everybody forgot what day the show was on-everyone, that is, except for Scott Hecker. So, Scott, with the assistance of a cameraman were forced to find everyone on campus. And then, of course, there was our klepto/friend Shane who stole our buzzer. With the help of the audience and many other charitable donations, the Big Show in its first year raised over $7,000.
Big Show 2
DUI's second Big Show did its darndest to be even bigger. Through the inspiration and might of the wily Matt Kovalick, they began with a musical fanfare and tribute to the Lion King. It was beautiful and touching, but a bit to touching for Cason and many others in the group. The group was summarily disbanded on the spot five miunutes into the show. Fortunately, Marty McFly and Doc Brown came back from the future and delivered a copy of A&E's Biography to them. The videos showed the peril of the group's disbanding. The horror's within were enough to keep the group together, and they continued on to finish the Big Show with some wily improv (but not as wily as Matt). Oh, and then there was that Shane character again who wanted to help out the group this year through his skilled and dreamy singing. Again, with the increased crowds as well as many generous donations, DUI was able to raise $8,000 in its second year for the Scott Carter Foundation for Cancer Research.
Big Show 3
This was was huge. With 8 founding seniors, it seemed appropriate to give them their own awards show (well, they thought it would be appropriate...).
Big Show 3 was a star studded event to say the least. And, of course, in an event that few will forget, Mr. Battier made his annual appearance-this year assisted by the cheerleaders (doing the Rock-Lobster, no less!).
For the first year, the Big Show sold out! With this maxed-out crowd as well as some hefty fund-raising during the year, DUI was able to raise $10,000 for cancer research, bringing the total to $25,000 that DUI had raised for the Scott Carter Foundation.
Big Show 4
Big Show 4 was the last of DUI's themed Big Shows. Subtitled "Who Stole the Big Show?", Big Show 4 featured campus celebrities like President Nan Keohane, Shane Battier, Chris Duhon, and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Big Show 5
Big Show 5 began the second era of Big Shows for DUI. Rather than a themed show like the previous three had been, Big Show 5 was structured as a variety show featuring improv, scripted sketches, and short films shown on the big screen in Page Auditorium.
Big Show 5 featured campus celebrites such as Chris Duhon, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Nick Horvath, and Reggie Love. Videos shown at Big Show 5 included "Say No To Improv," "DUI vs. Ballers," and "Day at the Park" among others.
Big Show 6
Big Show 6 featured campus celebrities Dean Sue and Chris Duhon. Videos included "Cribs" with Duhon, "Lord of the Rings," and "Sports Monocle." Stage performances included the notorious "Bible Rap Battle" of Moses Def vs. MC Acquinas, "Troll Shakespeare," and Dean Sue singing and dancing to "Fever."
Big Show 7
Big Show 7 continued in the variety show format. With the enormous popularity of DUI's "Lord of the Rings" parody in Big Show 6, DUI created another parody that opened Big Show 7. DUI then dramatically entered through a backlit TV screen on stage. Campus celebrities featured in the show included President Nan Keohane, Dean Sue, Chris Duhon, and Nick Horvath. Videos included "Saved by the Bell," "DU Eye for the Straight Guy," and "Robot & Mole." The show ended with an extravagant parody of the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show.
Big Show 8
Big Show 8 included a record number of 7 videos. These included "24," which DUI opened the show, "Jewmanji," and "Safe Ride to the Moon." Along with classic acts such as Party Quirks, the show also presented thriving first attempts at song and dance in two original musical numbers, "Cats" and "Stapler."
Big Show 9
Big Show 9 included a bevy of campus celebrities. Basketball player Jamal Boykin appeared in the opening video and Lee Melchionni appeared live on stage in a sketch about the origins of the "Lee" chant. Women's basketball player Laura Kurz made a surprise appearance (even to her) in Party Quirks. Dean Sue made her usual appearance in a "Deal or No Deal" parody. Herb Neubauer, Crazy Towel Guy himself, attended the show and came on stage for the "How We Make Funny" sketch. ESPN's Mike Hall was featured in the opening video, "Streetprov." In the crowd, one could spot Duke Basketball players Greg Paulus and Abby Waner.
Videos from Big Show 9 included "Streetprov," "Wikidate," "Lost," and "Lawrence & the Purple Crayon." The show also included a touching tribute to senior Andrew Humphries in which DUI parodied Humphries' e-mail he famously wrote to Mike Krzyzewski in the summer of 2004, convincing him not to take the L.A. Lakers coaching job.
Big Show 10
Leading up to Big Show 10, DUI posters across campus built excitement for the show. The popular posters included the "Last Supper" poster that proclaimed, "Big Show 10: We guarantee it's funnier than finding out you're gonna betray Jesus," as well as flyers of famous DUI offenders' mug shots in support of DUI.
Big Show 10 opened with the video parody, "4 Fast, 4 Furious," which featured some of the best filming, cinematography, and editing in DUI history. Playing off of campus sentiment over the mishandling of the Duke Lacrosse case by D.A. Mike Nifong, Big Show 10 included homages to the case in "4 Fast, 4 Furious," "Johnny Ohten," and "Nifong Press Conference," as well as a song parody set to Don McLean's "American Pie" about the lacrosse case.
Campus celebrities featured in the show included Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, President Brodhead, Dean Sue (who appeared live on stage leading a stripperobics class), and Larry Moneta. Videos included "Jon Scheyer in 75 Seconds," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Brain on Drugs."
