Side Splitters Comedy Club is bringing the laughs back to Knoxville with comedian Jose Sarduy coming this weekend from Thursday through Sunday.

Side Splitters, which originated in Tampa, Fla., has offered Knoxville comedic relief for a fair amount of time and is very excited about this upcoming show. However Side Splitters has had many other popular shows this year already as Bob Nelson, a very popular comedian who has been doing stand up for over 20 years, appeared in January, and Julie Scoggins, a favorite of the Knoxville crowd, came on Valentines Day.

These shows were great hits, but Side Splitters personnel is ecstatic about Sarduy’s appearance. A native of Cuba, Sarduy moved to the U.S. at a very young age. Sarduy became an aviator in the U.S. Air Force and later became an officer. Now, working as a comedian, he is still involved in the reserve program of the Air Force.

Being a Cuban-American, Sarduy uses pieces of his family and his life experiences to make his comedy what it is. He is quirky and uses tough situations that he has been through in life to make the audience laugh. Not only does he make people laugh, but, according to the club’s part owner, the ladies seem to love this handsome young comedian who is only 32 years old and very charming.

“The ladies at work are very excited that Sarduy is coming,” Bridgette O’Dell, part owner of Side Splitters Comedy Club, said.

O’Dell said Sarduy is back by popular demand by not just the ladies but the entire Knoxville community.

“The audience loves him,” O’Dell said. “He was voted the funniest person in South Texas, and he’s definitely a fresh, young, upcoming comedian.”

Sarduy will light up the stage Thursday through Sunday nights at the club located in West Knoxville on Park West Boulevard. Tickets are available from $4 to $8.

“I think it’s really great that the prices are so low, so students can afford to go and have a good time,” Sandra Phimmasone, sophomore in theater, said. “A lot of places charge too much for admission, and people just can’t afford to pay high prices for entertainment these days.”

Side Splitters also has comedian John DiCrosta, a comedian who does impressions, ventriloquism and props coming in March, and Mark Sweeney, an ex-Marine who decided comedy was the way to go.

This semester will have much to offer at the club as famous comedian Pauly Shore will make an appearance in May. For more information and a full schedule of events, go to the club’s Web site at http://sidesplitterscomedy.com.