A Pair of Nuts to perform at University

By: Cristina Miralles/Staff Writer

A Pair of Nuts graduated from the University over a decade ago and are now returning for the first time to get a chuckle and more out of students.

Yamil Pierda and Johnny Trabanco are Emmy Award-winning comics who met at the University in 1998 at a comedy improv, and have been performing together ever since.

They call themselves “A Pair of Nuts!” They were featured as a Hot Comedy Act 2011, by Campus Activities Magazine and their work has gained them a lot of fame through social media sites like YouTube, MySpace, Funny or Die and College Humor.

Their work has won them a lot of acclaim, especially after being featured on Comedy Central’s “Tosh.0,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” VH1, BET, Discovery Channel and MegaTV. These pair of nuts have gotten millions of views on their famous videos such as, “The Law Offices of Facmee & Diez,” “Gayo” and “Duel.”

Not only have they performed at colleges nationwide, they have blown away crowds at top comedy clubs in the U.S. and performed at military bases that all ended in standing ovations.  The duo was also invited to perform at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival and the Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival where they won Best South Florida performance.

These two are also known for bringing a new and fresh style of comedy to the Spanish market, where they worked with some of the biggest names in television: Wilmer Valderrama from “That 70’s Show,” Tony Plana from “Ugly Betty,” and Steven Bauner from “Scarface.”

Their style of comedy is quite different and has been compared to a modern day Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, and a throwback to old school comedy, according to their website, www.nutscomedy.com. They say that their comedy shows are award-winning multimedia sketches that are unique and able to adjust to any environment, whether it is a college or private event.

Pierda was born in Havana, Cuba and came to Miami in 1980. He started his comedy career in 1997 while he was still attending college at the University. Alone, Pierda has made appearances on “Last Comic Standing,” “Boston Legal” and “Burn Notice.”

On the other hand, his partner in crime, Trabanco, was born right here in Miami into a Cuban family. He has been performing comedy since 1998. Trabanco performed at several stand-up comedy competitions in South Florida. He also took the top prize in the first ever Miami Improv Comedy Derby and the Annual Miami Improv Turkey Contest.  Trabanco has also gotten the opportunity to perform with other comics like, Doug Benson, Christian Finnegan and Jo Koy.

A Pair of Nuts will perform this Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at in the Wolfe University Center Theater on the Biscayne Bay Campus.