The always funny and sometimes controversial Jon Stewart brought his popular humor to two sold-out crowds at Indiana U. Friday for a rare stand-up performance.

From the minute his name was announced until his final bow, the crowd was engaged and visibly entertained.

Stewart warmed up the audience with his first impressions of Bloomington and the people in Indiana.

The crowd erupted when he commented that Bloomington was a special kind of place and told a story about how he saw a Taser store and a free-trade coffee shop right next door to each other.

He then moved to his usual political banter and scrutiny of the media that can be seen regularly on his show, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” His popular “Indecision 2012” segment also found its way into his stand-up and received applause.

Stewart loosely reenacted the “I love America” speech Rick Perry gave at one of the Republican debates and turned it into a very descriptive sexual confession of lust, complete with Perry’s distinctive accent.

When audience members shouted topic suggestions to him, he was engaging and smooth. The crowd remained ecstatic throughout his performance without a dry or awkward moment.

IU sophomore Tyler Howell, a self-proclaimed big fan of Stewart, said he was crying from laughter the entire time and loved the environment of the live show.

“There were no holds barred, compared to the (TV) show, so he was able to let loose a little more and have a little more fun with it,” Howell said.

Stewart continued with politics, discussing President Barack Obama losing his mojo and the differences between his presidency and George W. Bush’s term.

He called Bush the kid in sixth grade who gives a book report and clearly hasn’t read the material but whom you admire for his blind confidence. Instead Obama was the kid in sixth grade who gives a book report on a book he read in first grade and can’t believe everyone else is just now getting around to it.

“I loved the show,” IU freshman Bryt Hiatt said. “It was hilarious — even better than I expected.”

The highlight of the performance was Stewart’s transition into more personal comedy, things fans don’t get to hear on his structured show.

He talked about parenthood, growing up Jewish, religion, prejudice and ignorance.

“I didn’t expect as much non-political comedy, and I thought that was really well done,” IU sophomore Lizzy Roeder said.

Stewart exited to standing and applauding, only to run back to tell one final story.

He talked about how, after 9/11, he never thought New York or America would be the same, or smile the same, again.

Then, one day, he saw a homeless man on his stoop doing something outrageous, without shame or discretion, and he cracked a smile and said to himself, “Ah, we’re gonna be fine.”

The crowd burst into laughter, and Stewart left to an even louder standing ovation.