Premium Bananas, a group that performs “SNL”-like skits featuring a cast made up entirely of NIU students, will present their first episode in the residence halls and online tonight.

Thankfully, the humor of Premium Bananas is set to appeal to college students, considering it is created, produced, written and acted out by students here at NIU. Co-creators Steve Stein and Thomas Conlon established the idea during winter break. The rest of the cast and staff are also filled with students who, although lacking prior experience, possess a desire to express their creativity. Writing and acting positions were filled through open auditions. Because this opportunity was available to anybody, students have the opportunity to recognize a friend or classmate on the show.

Stein and Conlon believe that the show will offer “students something fun and new to be a part of or watch develop into something great.”

“All the people are a lot of fun,” said Jack Baker, freshman journalism major and Premium Bananas writer. “Everyone is really hilarious.”

Two commercials promoting the show have already been posted both on the group’s Web site, www.premiumbananasshow.com, and on its YouTube page.

“If I had only one goal for the show, it would have to be that we produce, above all, a show that looks great and makes people laugh so hard that they cry or pee their pants,” Stein said.

Future plans for the show including performing live. Until then, Stein, who is also president of the NIU Student Film and Video Association, will make sure that this humorous show reaches students and the world via the Web.

The premiere episode by Premium Bananas will air at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 20 in the residence halls and on the group’s Web site and YouTube page at 7:00 p.m.

“The first episode is going to be really funny,” Baker said. “The best skit is an instructional video about how to do office e-mail, which is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.”