‘Beer-shooting-out-of-your-nose funny’ from comedian Shang

When Shang Forbes accepted a bet to take the stage on open-mike night at a small comedy club, he won a great deal more than $50. The wager spawned a new career.

Planning to become a graphic illustrator after he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Shang, as he is now known, was immediately hooked on comedy and has since performed at clubs across the country, including The Improv.

Tonight, the comedian brings his risqué, edgy humor to Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa as part of the venue’s Tuesday night comedy event, “We Know Funny!” — and he plans on keeping audiences entertained.

“There’s funny and then there’s beer- shooting-out-of-your-nose funny,” Shang said. “That’s the kind of funny I go for.”

Inspired by the likes of Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and George Carlin, the 44-year-old’s humor includes both physical jokes and intellectual quips, which often center on contemporary social and political issues.

“He is silly, but he can get very serious about politics,” said Chris Edwards, a local comedian who hosts the weekly event at Detroit Bar. “His honesty is what makes him funny, and he is a great storyteller.”

For tonight’s show, Shang is sure to address the Bush Administration, reality TV shows and his 9-year-old son’s struggle with puberty, advising audiences his comedy is not for the “weak-minded.”

Shang is not one to hide his distaste for the Iraq War, even while performing at military bases and as part of a comedy tour of colleges sponsored by the U.S. Army.

“Some of the high-ups thought my humor was kind of inappropriate, but I don’t tone it down at all,” said Shang, who will perform Saturday at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. “I got the soldiers laughing, and that’s all that matters.”

In addition to performing at clubs and on several television shows — including HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” Comedy Central’s “Jaime Foxx’s Laffapalooza” and CBS’s “The Late Late Show” — Shang was a regular commentator on Air America Radio’s morning show, “Unfiltered.”

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: We Know Funny! featuring Shang

WHEN: 9 p.m. tonight

WHERE: Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa

INFO: www.detroitbar.com