Student rallies to bring popular television series to campus

Courtesy Photo / imageshack.us
Tosh.0

Courtesy Photo / imageshack.us Tosh.0

Anya Zentmeyer

In an online age, viral videos are a staple of modern comedy. Between special interest forums and television shows, this quirky form of entertainment is perpetuated largely through the avenue of its counterpart, social networking.

Grand Valley State University student Tyler Baldwin is combining them both with the advent of a Facebook group supporting the student effort to “Bring Tosh.0 to Grand Valley.”

Tosh.0, the popular television series hosted by Daniel Tosh, centers around satirical comedy society, celebrities, and other parts of popular culture – focusing on viral videos.

In his “College Campus Invasion” competition, Tosh is challenging college campuses nation-wide to prove through one-minute videos why they should be selected to host a live taping of Tosh.0.

With more than 4,000 people “attending” the event, which deadlines in early July, Baldwin said most of the GVSU submissions thus far violate content vulgarity and length rules. Though Baldwin said when it comes to competitions like these, he goes by the saying “you can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing.”

“It’s always fun to have events on campus, and when these events involve celebrity comedians, all those in attendance are bound to have a good time,” Baldwin said, referring back to the success of popular comedian Bo Burnham’s visit to GVSU.

He said his own one-minute video entry is entirely scripted and planned out, but he is still having trouble finding the proper equipment to make a high-quality video. Though some might argue GVSU dulls in man power compared to larger universities in the area, Baldwin views the pessimism as fuel for a fire which will win the game.

“This is a chance for us to show all the doubters, both within and outside of our own community, that we have what it takes to create something that is nothing short of excellence,” he said.

To join the effort, search for Bring Tosh.0 to Grand Valley on Facebook, or visit http://tosh.comedycentral.com/blog/2011/03/15/tosh-0-college-campus-invasion/ to view contest rules and guidelines as well as submit a video.

Baldwin said he is hopeful that quality over quantity will save the day for GVSU, and said he will see his mission through.

“This contest isn’t won by quantity of submissions, but rather by the highest quality of a single submitted video, and we will have the video of the highest quality, even if I need to make sure of it personally,” he said.

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