FUNNY BUSINESS

On the eve of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Coral Drouyn talks to Adam Hills about Festivals, British humour and HIS favourite Comedian

A famous one footed comedian and a quiet funny American walked into a festival…

No, there’s no punchline and it’s actually true…. Adam Hills met Jake Johannsen in  Kilkenny (home of great beer) at the Cats Laugh Comedy Festival, and a Bromance was born.

“I think I prefer Mutual Admiration Society,” Adam tells me when he calls from England after a long day of production meetings for his British television show The Last Leg, now in it’s seventh series.

So what about Johannsen – a much respected comic overseas but virtually unknown here (until next week) – appealed to Hills (who, as producer,  is bringing Johannsen to Melbourne for the MICF)?

“He is a comic’s comic,” Adam says, “and that doesn’t mean he’s obscure or indulgent. He’s clever, his observations are original, and, unlike many Americans, he’s not in your face or overly loud. He’s very subtle. You don’t feel bludgeoned by the comedy. In fact, he treats his audiences as equals. I can admire many of the comics on the scene, but Jake actually makes me laugh out loud.”

All of which explains why Johannsen is a much respected and prominent comedian in America, where he holds the record for the most appearances on the David Letterman show, and why HBO gives him his own comedy specials.

“And he’s not just funny and intelligent,” Adam adds, “he’s also one of the loveliest guys I’ve ever met. His humour isn’t based on anger or vitriol. He doesn’t need to trash anyone to be funny – which is making him nervous that everyone may expect him to rubbish Trump on his first visit here. He’s very special and everyone should put him on their ‘must see’ list.”

Hills himself is having a “Not too shabby” career in Britain where his television The Last Leg review of the week draws A list guests and great critical acclaim, but it’s a slightly harsher Hills than we’re used to here. He explains why.

“The British are really very polite. I know that’s a cliché but it is true. They don’t like to criticise their own. But they have this perception of Australians as Larrikins - the old “convict” connection - so they’re happy to have one of us stick our head up over the parapet, prepared to get shot at. They know we don’t like authority – so they’re happy to have us sound off, they expect it of Australians.”

Does he get shot at often? I ask him.

“Actually, not as much as you might think. I try to only have a go at those people who SHOULD be called to account, but are protected by British manners. But I also think they know it’s not phony. I only call out people on things I actually feel passionate about, people who make me bloody angry.”

Adam spends part of every year in Britain now, doing live shows as well as television.

“I am still and Australian and Melbourne is where my home is and where Ali (McGregor) and the kids are. I try not to be away for more than a couple of months at a time. But it isn’t a nine to five job - you go where the work is.”

Comedy has changed a great deal since Adam nervously did his first stand up spot at the tender age of 19 in 1989. In those days there were comedy clubs, but comedians rarely appeared in theatres.

“It was a baptism by fire,” Adam recalls. “There was barely a night when some drunk didn’t get up on the stage and try to take over. The comedy clubs sold a lot of booze, and we on the stage often took the brunt of it. It wasn’t as civilised at it is now.”

There were also far fewer female comics (I did stand up through the seventies – and there were no others -which might explain why I was arrested in Canberra! That’s another story). I comment that, with few exceptions, female comics tend to err on the “plain side”. Adam takes a moment to contemplate this.

“I think that comics - male or female - always have some kind of physical defect. Maybe the audience finds it easier to laugh and identify with them if they’re not perfect. We’re suspicious of people who are too good looking, too smart, and it’s hard to get laughs if the audience doesn’t trust you or connect with you. We all have personal prejudices based on our own weaknesses. I don’t like watching a guy with good biceps for example - and that’s the truth, not a gag.”

Our fifteen minute call has stretched to forty, but I do want to ask him about the future of comedy and whether we have too many festivals?

“I don’t think you can have too many festivals - it’s all entertainment. And comedy is just going to get bigger, the more shambolic the world becomes. We need to laugh to cope with everyday living. But we’ve had the shock jocks, the hatemongers, the confrontational. There will always be some market for that but overall the future of comedy lies in being genuinely funny. That’s why people need to see Jake Johannson - because he genuinely IS funny.”

We’ve come full circle. I like Adam Hills humour, and if Jake is so good that Adam brings him 12,000 miles, that’s enough reason for me to see him.

Jake Johannson will be appearing at the MICF

24^th March -17^th April

The Greek Centre

168 Lonsdale Street

Melbourne

7.15 weeknights

6.30 Sundays.

Images: Adam Hills and Jake Johannsen (photographer, Peter Augustin).