Welcome back to This Week in Comedy. This is the podcast that bravely asks the big questions, “Can robots be funny? Should governments fund comedians? And what exactly is happening in Geelong?” Episode 4 is a wide-ranging, mildly unhinged tour. The discussion includes comedy news, history, technology, beer, and festivals. And once again, there’s a creeping sense that the machines are absolutely coming for us.
It’s a “quiet week” for comedy news, which somehow still includes half a million dollars of government funding being handed to robot comedians. Yes, actual robots. But the non-humanoid ones. They range from 40 centimetres to two metres tall. Plus they have a fetish for slapstick. The duo grapples with what this means for the future of comedy, including audience fear responses and accessibility ramps. It’s also another example of governments funding literally anything except working comedians.
From there, things take a sharp, but refreshing turn into sponsorship territory, with a tasting of Oishi Rice Lager, which is described as “almost too dry” and tasting suspiciously like something a Starfleet food replicator would produce.
The heart of the episode is a deep dive into the Geelong Comedy Festival, via a long chat with festival director Blaise White. We cover the festival’s growth, its surprisingly rich comedy scene, venues ranging from cosy bars to an actual jail under the gallows. Morry also raises the question, “Can regional festivals be the future of Australian comedy touring?” If you’ve ever wondered whether Geelong secretly rules, this segment will aggressively suggest that it does.
Elsewhere, we unpack the invention of canned laughter (and whether it was the first step in comedy’s robotic takeover). Lily and Morry reflect on the legacy of Arrested Development and tip their hats to Billy Connolly’s longevity. And once again the duo talk Raw Comedy, remind us of the upcoming Business of Comedy Conference, and somehow end up discussing under-16s being banned from social media.
Links:
Geelong Comedy Festival: Click here
Oishi Rice Lager: Click here
Raw Comedy registration: Click here