Over the last decade or so Melbourne comic Wil Anderson has been on more TV shows than the Dalai Lama.
After stepping away from the spotlight the last couple of years, Wil’s back with his new show, GoodWil.
Wil Anderson, the comedian today, compared to when you first started out in stand-up — has there been a major shift in the way you approach comedy?
When I first started doing comedy, it wasn’t a real job. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to the conversation I had with my parents when I told them I was leaving the safe, will-always-be-around, world of newspaper journalism to tell dick jokes to strangers in bars.
18 years later that decision has finally paid off, because otherwise I would currently be a recently retrenched journalist who would be planning to celebrate turning 40 by starting a blog. That said, I have just started a blog. You can find it here (it’s mostly pictures of cats and Batman): http://wherethewilthingsare.tumblr.com
As most comedians will tell you, the trick of comedy is finding your voice. Some people arrive almost full-formed, but other people take years to work out what it is they have to say that is unique and interesting.
I have been doing comedy for 18 years, and I feel like it’s only in the last three shows (Wilful Misconduct, Man vs Wil and Wilarious) I have started to work out what it is I have to say (and how to best say it) and I don’t think it is any coincidence they have been my best received shows.
Australia comedic ranks; where do we rate internationally?
As a comedy fan myself (that’s why I got into it in the first place, I just wanted to hang out with comedians... well that and get free drinks) the best bit of the job is that I get to see, and work with, some of the best comedians in the world. And I sincerely believe the best Australian comedians are the equal of anywhere.
The one thing you can’t argue with is Australians are certainly the most prolific of all comedians in the world. In the US you can literally tour for 10 years with the same jokes and not run into audiences who have seen them twice.
Louis CK (with Dylan Moran my favourite current international) is blowing people’s minds in the US because he is now writing a new show every year. Blowing people’s minds.
But the truth is because of the size of the market here, there are Australian comedians who are not household names who do that every year, and have done for their entire career, and probably don’t get the recognition they deserve. I am looking at you, Justin Hamilton...
In a year that will witness two Ashes series, should there be a committee set up to arrange a comedy Ashes series?
Five days, no winner? Yeah, I have had some gigs like that. But the truth is, I’ve never been a fan of comedy being seen as a competition. Even the best comedy in the world is subjective. It’s called a sense of humor for a reason, because that’s all it is: a sense. One person’s Jon Stewart is another’s Kevin Bloody Wilson.
Plus if we have the Comedy Ashes does that mean there are also going to be drug tests? In my defence, nothing I take is performance enhancing...
Being named one of the country's hottest acts by John Cleese; did you pee yourself a little in excitement?
Yes, I was like the final little piggy: I went wee, wee, wee all the way home*
(*This is not representative of the quality of humor he was commenting on.)
But at the end of the day, as Rich Hall so accurately commented: “Comedy is a joke-by-joke job application”. Sadly if I tell a joke and the audience don’t laugh I can’t start wheeling out trophies, and yelling: “Fuck you, the guy from Fawlty Towers thought I was funny!”
That said, it’s obviously one of the greatest thrills of my life to share a stage with comedy royalty like John Cleese, and the fact that he said something nice about me means that the cheque I wrote him post-gig was worth it. (He said he really needed the cash, his divorce was killing him.)
The last couple of years, you've stepped back from the majority of your media commitments; has this freshened you up in terms of your stand-up?
Yeah I think so. I have amazing admiration for stand-ups who do regular radio and still manage to gig. I used to say that I think you go through enough ideas in two weeks of daily radio, for an entire festival show. And people probably missed them anyway because they were listening to Hamish And Andy instead.
The Brisbane Comedy Festival... does it have a solid reputation with comedians from the southern states? Don't hurt our feelings now.
Because it is a curated, and well managed festival, it is one of the best fun ones going around. I have been part of it for the last 4 or 5 years, and now I wouldn’t think about doing my Brisbane show at any other time but the festival.
Because of the more intimate nature of it, it normally means most of the shows have solid crowds, and everyone is having a good time, which means you tend to see the comics at their most relaxed.
Tell us a bit about GoodWil, the show you'll be performing at BCF?
As with all my shows it will be about 65 minutes of the funniest new shit I can think of, said in a row, with appropriate pauses for laughter...
With the thoughts that swirl through your mind, do you ever disgust or freak yourself out with what you are thinking?
I wish that I was that interesting. To be honest if you heard what my thoughts were most of the time they would be: “Cats... football... cats... Pringles... I wish my team were better at football... Sour Cream Pringles... I should look up some cat videos on the internet... Gee Friday Night Lights was a great show... dogs are also cool... Salt and Vinegar Pringles... Bubble wrap... once I pop, I can’t stop... Top Chef is a great show too... Is it weird that I watch cooking shows and don’t cook? I guess I am the same with porn...” Actually now that I write that down, I am disgusted!
What's next for Wil Anderson? Or is stand-up the present and future for you?
What’s next? Well I am going to answer your final question, and then I was thinking I might eat the Pringles out of my mini-bar, but I’m guessing that’s more detail than you were after?
To answer your question: Yes and Yes. For good or bad (good if you are me, bad if you are my manager or bank manager) all I am interested in at the moment is trying to work out how to be the best stand-up I can be.
Wil Anderson plays the following venues
Tue Mar 19 - Sun Mar 24 - Brisbane Comedy Festival @ Brisbane PowerhouseThu Mar 28 - Sun Mar 21 (exc. Apr 1, 8 & 15) - Melbourne International Comedy Festival @ Princess Theatre
