The lighting is dim in the Black Swamp Pub but when “The Plastic Shatners” get on stage, their comedy shines.

The Plastic Shatners, an improvisational skit-based comedy team, kept the crowd laughing Wednesday night with situations both ridiculous and risqué.

They performed skits similar to those on ABC’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” such as “silly superheroes” and “dating game.”

“Silly superheroes” involves four on-stage comedians who use absurd superpowers, such as “helicopter man” and “meat vision man,” to deal with a situation. In last night’s case, their situation was the cows of the world becoming angry and revolting against humanity.

“We have to do something! The cows are getting really mad!” helicopter man shouted to meat vision man, who replied, “What am I supposed to do? All I can do is see them!”

The unique name of this group, who are made up of 18 current and former University students was thought up by one of its founders.

“I came up with it when we were going to meetings [in the beginning],” said Matt Robinson, a member of the Shatners. One of the group’s founding members did great William Shatner impressions, inspiring Robinson to create the name. “Plastic was thrown in for something silly,” Robinson said.

The Plastic Shatners began in 1999, first performing at Latinopalooza.

Initially, they were not as successful as they are today.

John Hildebrand, director of the group, recalled one of the Shatners’ first performances at Easy Street’s open mic night.

“It was a complete and utter failure,” Hildebrand said with a grin. “People were going up to the [club’s] bouncer and saying, ‘I want my cover back!'”

The Shatners appeared as part of the Pub’s Wednesday special programming lineup.

Lesley McRae, Union Programs Graduate Assistant, booked the Shatners after hearing about their other performances on campus.

“I like comedy a lot so I thought it would be fun,” she said. “They’re a little bit risqué at times but they’re pretty funny.”