It's hard to pinpoint exactly when Aziz Ansari came into our collective lives. It's like he emerged from the comedy womb fully formed, a perpetual UCB fixture and star alongside Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer in MTV sketch showpiece Human Giant. And then he was suddenly everywhere, starring on Parks and Recreation, popping up in Funny People, and I Love You, Man and Get Him to the Greek, and selling out multiple nights in the 24 cities on his current Dangerously Delicious Tour (a second, late show has been added in L.A.). Of course at this juncture, though he's made the requisite Comedy Central and late-night rounds, Ansari is arguably a better comedic actor than straight stand-up; even eight-voweled alter-ego Raaaaaaaandy is basically a multi-platform exercise in hip hop-posturing, sexually charged character development. Fortunately no matter what the outlet, he’s an undeniably dynamic performer, one preferring personal observation and excitable storytelling to generic topical commentary or the seemingly obvious crutch of ethnic humor. He may take pleasure in the rude, the crude and the outright jerky onstage, but for Ansari, it’s all just part of the act.

Sat., Nov. 20, 7 p.m., 2010

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