Collegio Online

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: After Hours

The Blanks

The Blanks are now talking about juggling televisions and chainsaws in their performances. Not really, but ask them how they juggle being on television, in a band and having a personal life and they'll come back with a joke like that.
"I'm thinking what we'll do is, we'll juggle several televisions playing episodes of Scrubs," Philip McNiven, one of the four members, said.
The Blanks, also known as Ted's Band from the hit NBC sitcom Scrubs, will be performing at 7 p.m., Saturday, in Memorial Auditorium. This is just one of between five and seven events the Performing Arts and Lecture Series on campus has been organizing this year.
"The Blanks are very talented performers, but it was also the pop culture influence that made us decide to book them," Edie McCracken, program coordinator for the campus activities center, said. "Having been on the TV show Scrubs, they're a little more recognizable for students. Instead of 'Come see an a cappella group,' it was 'Come see Ted's Band from Scrubs.'"
The a cappella group performs songs from Scrubs, sketch comedy, dancing, singing toys and originals, but has some surprises too. The four members include Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs), McNiven, George Miserlis and Paul Perry.
According to McNiven, Perry is the one who puts together all of the arrangements for the group.
"He's pretty much a musical genius," Lloyd said. "He was nominated for an Emmy for the song he wrote, "Guy Love," on the Scrubs musical episode."
The group mostly performs at colleges and universities, performing-arts centers and a few comedy clubs.
"For us, colleges are the best places to perform," McNiven said. "The reception we get when we walk out onstage is usually pretty overwhelming. We've had people stand up and yell, "I love you!", and stuff like that."
Even crazier things have happened as well.
"We've had some people throw underwear," Lloyd said. "OK, it was the underwear from a guy who'd just been pantsed, but still."
Make no mistake, though. While this musical group has several comedic songs and acts within their performances, they have been known to break into a sentimental ballad here and there. For more information on The Blanks, or to purchase their album, "Riding the Wave," log onto www.theblankswebsite.com.
Saturday night's performance will be free for Pittsburg State University students and $7.50 for general admission. Pittsburg State faculty and staff, senior citizens and children ages 17 and under can purchase tickets for $5. Tickets are available at the Pittsburg State ticket office or tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the show.

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