M inn esota ) ▁to ▁study ▁Theatre ▁and ▁Mass ▁Media . ▁While ▁there , ▁H od g son ▁further ▁developed ▁his ▁magic ▁act ▁by ▁adding ▁comedy ▁and ▁began ▁opening ▁for ▁musical ▁acts ▁at ▁Beth el ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁performing ▁in ▁coffee ▁houses ▁and ▁comedy ▁clubs . ▁H od g son ▁c ites ▁a ▁Theatre ▁of ▁the ▁Ab sur d ▁class ▁at ▁Beth el ▁taught ▁by ▁Dr . ▁David ▁Horn ▁for ▁helping ▁him ▁cry st all ize ▁the ▁meaning ▁of ▁his ▁comedy . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁Camp us ▁Com edy ▁Cont est ▁and ▁then ▁the ▁first ▁annual ▁T win ▁C ities ▁Com edy ▁Inv it ational ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁In ▁November ▁of ▁the ▁same ▁year ▁H od g son ▁moved ▁to ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁where ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁regular ▁perform er ▁at ▁the ▁Com edy ▁Store ▁and ▁the ▁Hollywood ▁Magic ▁Castle , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁Com edy ▁Magic ▁Club . ▁At ▁the ▁Com edy ▁Magic ▁Club , ▁H od g son ▁was ▁sp otted ▁by ▁Late ▁Night ▁with ▁David ▁Let ter man ▁producer ▁Barry ▁Sand ▁and ▁three ▁months ▁later ▁at ▁age ▁ 2 2 ▁had ▁his ▁network ▁television ▁debut . ▁He ▁later ▁made ▁four ▁other ▁appearances ▁on ▁the ▁Let ter man ▁show , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁four ▁on ▁Saturday ▁Night ▁Live ▁as ▁a ▁guest ▁act . ▁H od g son ▁also ▁was ▁a ▁featured ▁perform er ▁on ▁H BO ’ s ▁" E ighth ▁Ann ual ▁Young ▁Com ed ians ▁Special " ▁hosted ▁by