Our Funny University

press release: The University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries, along with the UW–Madison Parent Program proudly present Our Funny University, and welcome to campus Peter Greenberg (1972 BA), and Andrew Bergman (1966 MA, 1970 PhD) on October 21, 2016. Greenberg and Bergman will explore the roots of college humor at UW–Madison, and discuss how many UW–Madison students have forged successful careers using comedy.

Bergman is known for writing screenplays for “The In-Laws,” “Fletch,” and “Soapdish,” as well as writing and directing “Honeymoon In Vegas,” “It Could Happen To You,” “So Fine,” and “Striptease.” The American Film Institute nominated five of his films as among the greatest comedies of all time, including “Blazing Saddles,” “The In-Laws,” “Fletch,” “Soapdish,” and “The Freshman.”

Peter Greenberg is an Emmy-winning investigative reporter and producer. Known in the industry as “The Travel Detective,” he is the travel editor for CBS News, appearing on “CBS This Morning,” “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley,” and “Sunday Morning,” among other broadcast platforms.

In 2014, Our Funny University brought Jim Mallon and Scott Dikkers back to campus. Mallon was elected President of the Wisconsin Student Association on the Pail and Shovel Party ticket, known for its comedic approach to student politics. He went on to win a Peabody Award as executive producer of the Mystery Science Theater 3000. Scott Dikkers is a founding editor of The Onion and a #1 New York Times best-selling author. He co-wrote and edited The Onion’s Our Dumb Century, for which he received a Thurber Prize for American Humor, and developed the “Onion TV” show for Comedy Central.

Our Funny University is sponsored by UW–Madison Libraries, UW–Madison Parent Program, UW–Madison History Department, and Wisconsin Public Television.