CBA Advance's second annual Comedy Night drew a packed crowd at the Wabash Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center for comedian Tim Hawkins and ventriloquist David Pendleton.

After receiving a lukewarm audience response during his introduction, Hawkins quipped: “CBA Tuesday night. My career is on fire, ladies and gentlemen.”

Hawkins, who told the crowd gathered for the event at the close of the Expo floor that he used to work at a Christian bookstore in the 1990s, then got some laughs when he referred to a breath mint brand familiar to retailers. “Are those working? We're evangelizing the world with a lozenge,” he joked. “ 'Your breath smells great. Tell me about this Jesus.' ”

Hawkins and Pendleton are featured artists with Bananas Comedy, promoted as the No. 1 comedy brand for the Christian market. The pair's performance was sponsored by EMI CMG/Guardian Studios.

Susan-Lynn Lewis, owner of Simply Country Gifts' Southern Belles Tea Room in Plant City, Fla., said that Comedy Night had been one of the highlights of CBA Advance last year when she came with her mother.

“I needed a good laugh. My mom couldn't come this year because she has cancer,” explained Lewis, who attended Comedy Night with a friend. “They should continue doing the Comedy Night. My only suggestion is they should have food because it's so late. They should have bottled water and a banana split for the audience. After all, it's Bananas Comedy.”

Kim Irvine, manager of Capstone Café and Bookstore in Carmel, Ind., said she enjoyed the program. “It's very important because we get so business-focused during CBA Advance,” said Irvine, who was in the audience with her husband, Ken. “It lightens the mood and atmosphere. It's a lot of fun.”

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