Feature photo by Sam McIntyre
Story by Victoria Stone
Out of all the reptiles in the world, only one gecko has stepped up to the ambitious task of listening and giving advice. He offered his own version of on-campus counseling Thursday night.
MTSU’s Student Programming and Raider Entertainment (SPARE) invited Lyle Drescher, publicly known as Therapy Gecko, to headline this year’s Night of Comedy in the Student Union Ballroom.
”It was between me and the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl,” Drescher said.
Drescher started hosting his comedic internet therapy show during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sporting bright green face paint and a gecko costume, Drescher gives unconventional advice to anonymous call-in clients.
After many years online, Drescher began touring in-person with a show combining stand-up comedy and his classic therapy sessions. Drescher’s screen-to-stage sessions seem to be more gecko than therapy now, though. Out of around 20 people who texted before the show for the chance to talk to Drescher on stage, only three were chosen.
The crowd cheered as Drescher came out on stage, hopping around and posing. He started off strong with the jokes.
Before becoming Therapy Gecko, Drescher tried to become a taste-test influencer, noting how he once ranked every Reese’s product and then mixed them together to rate the final concoction. The candy creation discussion segued into Drescher getting real with the audience, explaining that, if he got the chance to chat with Therapy Gecko, he would discuss his substance abuse problem — the substance being candy.
At one point during his candy addiction crisis, Drescher was eating multiple family size bags of Nerds Very Berry Gummy Clusters a day. He added that, while he’s not completely cured, it’s something he’s working on.
Eventually Drescher got to the long-awaited therapy talks, discussing topics with select audience members. One therapy participant discussed being shot at, while another explained how their dad attempted to kidnap them. Not only did Drescher give them advice, but he also allowed questions from the audience, making it the largest gecko group therapy session in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Drescher noted.
There was a break in the therapy session for Drescher to tell an entertaining story of his experience renting a car in Australia and tripping on psychedelic mushrooms. Drescher then began a Q&A portion, where audience members raised their hand and waited to be selected — though one heckler had other plans.
Although none of their comments were mean spirited, one audience member exhibited common heckling behavior, disrupting the performance by yelling statements or questions over everyone. Many people grew annoyed, with multiple variations of “Shut up,” being murmured throughout the crowd.
An attempt at one more audience member therapy session turned into a speed-dating session, with Drescher setting up a couple on stage after the client explained that she was looking for love at MTSU.
Drescher closed out the night with a cover of “Bein’ Green” by the Muppets’ Kermit the Frog, whose head was replaced by the Gecko’s on the big screen singalong.
Victoria Stone is a Reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact the Lifestyles Editor, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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