And for their next act, two satirists will take on politics, religion and pop culture during their performance at Tacoma’s Pantages Theater.

Will Durst and Chris Bliss will be headlining at the theater on Nov. 14. Using styles similar to Jon Stewart and Bill Maher, the show will poke fun at politics, religion and issues seen in today’s headlines.

Durst is a regular commentator for audible.com, Air America, Cable News Network and National Public Radio, writes a nationally syndicated op-ed column and performs stand-up at clubs across the country. He is a five-time Emmy nominee and recipient of seven consecutive nominations for the American Comedy Awards Stand Up of the Year.

Bliss is most famous for his “juggling finale,” which has garnered millions of views on YouTube.com. He has been a guest on several late night comedy programs, including “The Dave Letterman Show,” and has toured with the late Michael Jackson as an opening act.

Bliss, who has been doing comedy for more than 20 years, said he looks forward to returning to the Pacific Northwest to perform, however, this will be his first performance at the Pantages. During his world-famous juggling finale, he will be performing to the Beatles’ greatest hits.  

“I started getting e-mails about it from around the world. Ringo Starr posted it (the video) on his website. For me it was the most unexpected thing in the world,” he said.

Bliss said his comedy routines tend to poke fun at “politics, religion and shiny objects.”

And although comedy clubs are great, Bliss said he does not really choose to perform in them anymore, instead opting for larger theaters.

The shift in comedic stylings, from the time he started his career, has been interesting to observe, Bliss noted. The shift toward a more Dane Cook-style of comedy, to which many younger audiences have latched on to, has not been of interest to him. He prefers to stick to the style he does best.

“I’m a guy in his early 50s and that subject matter isn’t what I was introduced to when I first started,” Bliss said. “Today, we have an excess of information, so if you put it together in a way audiences can understand, they will appreciate it.”

Bliss assures potential audiences that the performance will be a full plate of two headliners who know their craft very well. Of course, he is referring to the other star of the show, comedian Will Durst.

Durst’s comedy routine takes the stance that if it happens in the news, he will probably talk about it. At the Tacoma performance, he will be talking about everything from President Barack Obama, to healthcare, to pirates. He tries to infuse his love of media (Durst majored in broadcasting and journalism) into each of his acts.

“I’ve always been interested in this type of humor and comedy,” Durst said. “I’ve always read newspapers. I kind of consider myself a ‘stand-up journalist’ or a living editorial cartoon.”

Durst has been doing comedy routines for more than 30 years and during that time, he also noticed changes in the craft, similar to Bliss.

“When I first started out doing comedy, it was sort of like a new flavor for rock-and-rollers who wanted to sit down and hear the lyrics,” Durst said. “People had longer attention spans and everyone was very politically aware. We were fighting the man, now unfortunately, I am the man.”

Durst said he is very excited to have the opportunity to return to the Pacific Northwest. He has worked in Seattle in the past and said he “loves the upper left-hand corner.”

“I always feel bad for Tacoma because it gets such a bad rap,” he said. “But, I’m the kind of a guy who roots for the underdog.”

“Comedy Night with Will Durst and Chris Bliss” will take place on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $24-$44. The Pantages Theater is located at 901 Broadway in Tacoma.