On the evening of Jan. 26 at Memorial Union Theater, UW-Madison graduate and comedian Charlie Berens performed for a sold-out audience. I’m sure that each of the audience members there can agree that their abs were sore the next morning from the gut-busting laughs throughout the show.
For those of you that are not familiar with the “Manitowoc Minute” reporter, Berens’ claim to fame began from “If Jack Dawson was Really From Wisconsin,” a video that circulated Facebook. As many of you know, the famous Titanic character is allegedly from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, but exhibits none of the wonderful and hilarious characteristics that Wisconsinites are known for! The video ended up getting over 13 million views on Facebook. Berens’ Facebook fame only went up from there, as he began his Wisconsin-centered news segment—“The Manitowoc Minute.”
Every Monday, Berens releases a new “Manitowoc Minute” episode, and they never disappoint. On “Manitowoc Minute,” Berens talks in the greatest, thickest Northern Wisconsin accent you’ve ever heard. The show features fan favorites such as the Craigslist Kicker, in which Berens shares various items for sale on Craigslist in the great state of Wisconsin. Anyone from this state can relate to the different sayings Berens references in his show: “unthaw,” “bubbler” and the charming term for our neighbors in Illinois — “FIBS.” All of this, combined with his signature camo jacket, makes for the perfect balance of comedy and reality. We all own camo, we all say bubbler, and we all can agree… “Go Packers and F*** da Bears.”
Berens’ hilarious, and he’s also a huge inspiration to UW-Madison students. That’s not just because he’s the “face of Wisconsin” or because he’s Facebook famous, though; through all of his successes, he has seen his fair share of letdowns. My favorite part of Friday’s show was not the song dedicated to the letter “H”— which was hilarious— but the moment when Berens shared how, once upon a time, as an undergraduate student at Madison, he wanted to major in journalism and be the next Brian Williams. Although Berens ended up having great success in journalism — winning an Emmy Award for his work — he had to go through vocal training to try to “be rid” of the thick Wisconsin accent he had carried with him his whole life. That same accent, however, is now one of his greatest features. It’s a wonderful testament to the idea that you’re the one to write your own story, that you can make your dreams happen on your terms even when you’re told they’re out of reach!