Comics' Corner - March
With Christmas a distant memory, the 5-2 fasting resolutions abandoned, and the excitement of the Fringe and Darwin festivals still months away, we asked Darwin’s hottest comedians what online comedy they are watching to keep themselves entertained.
By Will Crawford
ABC presenter and 2018 NT Raw Comedy champion, Ryan McArthur, recommends Bo Burnham’s Netflix special Make Happy. A master musical comedian with an offbeat palate who delivers a polished mix of music, raunchy one-liners, and wildly unpredictable misdirections to keep audiences guessing, he’s one of the most original comedians on the scene… and Bo Burnham is also quite good.
Local comedian and archeologist KC Martin likes Utopia, and Rosehaven star Celia Pacquola’s The Looking Glass on Stan. Pacquola used to be described as Australia’s up and coming Bill Cosby but, given recent revelations, I might have to change that to Australian comedy’s Bradley Murdoch as she consistently kills on tour and, without a DNA match, she’s impossible to stop.
Darwin improvisational comedy maestro, Sarah Reubin, of Shania Choir fame, wisely suggested the Netflix comedy specials by James Acaster, Daniel Sloss and Hannah Gadsby. Acaster is a strange but lovable comic with an odd demeanor and is one of the best and most creative writers in comedy. Definitely one to catch.
NT comedy superstar, Amy Hetherington says anything by Katherine Ryan makes her happy, plus recommends the Aussie Comedians of the World special on Netflix, featuring Urzila Carlson, Nazeem Hussain and Cal Wilson.
I like Bill Burr’s I’m Sorry You Feel That Way for some hard-hitting truth telling, while Ali Wong (Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife) is undoubtedly one of the greatest comedians of this decade. For some comic jousting, Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross and Dave Attell is excellent.
I also can’t get enough of Hannibal Burress’s Comedy Comisado, while Sarah Silverman’s A Speck of Dust, is yet another standout show by a super-clever and cheeky comedian who never disappoints.
For some old school memories try Bill Hicks’ One Night Stand and Richard Prior Live In Concert on Netflix to see two of the grandfathers of modern comedy at work.
Happy antisocial Netflix watching. See you in the Dry season.
Also a reminder that Darwin has two regular standup nights: ‘First Thursdays Comedy’ at Browns Mart and Laugh Out Loud on the final Thursday of the month at the Beachfront Hotel. Both nights are brimming with talent and offer quirky story-telling, one liners and observations about this thing we call life.
Finally, best of luck to Amy Hetherington who is touring her NT themed show ‘Where they hide the Crazy’ to the Perth Fringe , Adelaide Fringe, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March and April. Give your interstate friends and family the heads up about this one.
Upcoming Gigs:
Will Crawford is an up-and-crawling comic. He moonlights as a land rights lawyer and policy activist.
