Comedy

FROM UNO TO NBC

CAMERON LOGSDON IS OMAHA FAMOUS AND LOVING IT

C A M E R O N L O G S D O N I S A L W A Y S P E R F O R M I N G . A T L E A S T , T H A T ’ S W H A T H I S F R I E N D A N D F E L L O W U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A “The goal was to leave. I should say from my perspective that was the goal, but I think Cameron is Omaha,” Syrek said. “I think A T O M A H A C O L L E G E O F C O M M U N I C A T I O N F A C U L T Y M E M B E R that Cameron is an embodiment of all of ABBIE SYREK SAID. the different types of experiences, the people, alongside her as a coach. or another entertainment hub to pursue a seemingly more glamorous career. and opportunities that you see in Omaha.” Logsdon was recently appointed as the ˆ ˆ “Despite having done so much with public ˆ ˆ Logsdon became a father at age 17, an public speaking course coordinator speaking, despite having so much college experience he shared in an insightful 2015 at UNO, but he might be best known speech performance background and so TEDxUNO. Co-parenting his son, who is around Omaha as a comic. Whether it’s much performance background, I bombed now almost 14, and a dedication to teaching at stand-up at the Funny Bone, improv so hard,” Logsdon said. UNO has kept him here. Whenever possible, at the Backline, emceeing high-profile Logsdon said he performs at comedy festivals events, or performing sketches on social Determined to erase the devastating feeling around the country and in entertainment media and WOWT’s “Omaha Live!” of bombing, he found another open mic the hubs such as New York, Chicago, and LA. YouTube channel, Logsdon’s presence in following night and tried again. the Omaha comedy scene is ubiquitous. “The truth is that my life is such a way that I don’t necessarily have that luxury to just “I started coaching [the forensics team] at UNO and Cameron was one of the first students that I recruited. I heard that “ I T W E N T A L I T T L E B I T B E T T E R , B U T T H AT N I G H T I T F E LT L I K E I T go try to chase it, you know?” Logsdon said. The challenges of being a teen parent, firstthere was this very electric and powerful W A S T H E B E S T P E R F O R M A N C E generation college student, and a person of and passionate young man—he’s from I ’ D E V E R G I V E N I N M Y L I F E , ” color—Logsdon refers to himself as multiracial— Bellevue East High School—but what’s so interesting is that when I talked to him he didn’t really have college plans,” said Syrek, who is a lecturer in the UNO LOGSDON SAID. “A N D I ’ L L C O N T E N D T H AT T O T H I S D AY I ’ M J U S T C H A S I N G T H E H I G H mean that the relatively young faculty member has an important connection with students. Syrek said many UNO students fit into one or more of those categories. School of Communication. O F C R U S H I N G TH AT N I G HT.” She helped Logsdon through the application the ranks at UNO, I personally witnessed and enrollment process for the university. Ups-and-downs go with the territory of so many students flock to him,” Syrek said, being a stand-up comedian. noting the importance of diversity among “At the time, I didn’t think I could get into college faculty members. college,” Logsdon said. “I didn’t know how “If you have a bad night you’re like, ‘Oh, I to apply, I didn’t know anything about colcan’t go out like that. I’ve got to go try it “I try to encourage students from similar lege life—from registration to textbooks to again.’ And if you have a great night you’re backgrounds to strive for higher education,” financial aid. I was pretty much in the dark.” like. ‘I wanna do this everyday!’ So, no said Logsdon, who is now in a position to matter what it is you’re going to keep going,” do for others what Syrek did for him. “It Until this year, Syrek was the director of Logsdon said. can be too easy for them to stay in their own the forensics team and Logsdon was the socioeconomic and educational stratosphere. assistant director. It’s a huge commitment Syrek explained “I feel like all of our disAccess to knowledge is a major factor in the that involves weekend travel and daily cussions are just fodder for comedy. We’re lack of social mobility. I often think about practice. She’s watched him rise from being always on the lookout.” She’s often Logsdon’s how much easier it’ll be for my kid to go an undergraduate student to the team’s “Guinea pig” when it comes to testing out to college simply because I know how to graduate teaching assistant to working new comedy bits. help him apply.” She recalled giving her friend feedback on As for continuing his performing career here, Logsdon said that being a young father, fullhis successful submission packet for the Logsdon is characteristically upbeat. time graduate student, graduate teaching NBC Late Night Writers Workshop in 2016. assistant, and forensics team coach was “I want to be in Omaha and I want more “all-consuming.” When he completed his “It’s a really cool program where you spend talent to get recognized from here,” he said, master’s degree in communication studies a week or so, a little over a week, in New “I want more recognition for this place because in 2013, he discovered a little free time and York City and you’re in 30 Rock and you’re I think it’s special, I think it’s cool.” was eager to try something new. writing and they bring people from all over and you work with them,” Logsdon said. Follow Cameron Logsdon on Instagram, Logsdon started with an open mic night at YouTube, and Tik Tok. Barley Street Tavern and had a common first He remembers there were questions about experience for a novice stand-up comedian. whether or not he’d move to New York City “When Cameron really started rising through

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