Slotting in to new series
Facebook funny man Troy Kinne has a new outlet for his work on the Foxtel comedy series The Slot, writes
YOU may not know Troy Kinne by name, but you certainly know his work.
The comedian has carved out a niche on Facebook with viral videos that find the humour in everyday life.
His short-form sketches including If Facebook was real life, The magic basket and Things never said by couples while assembling Ikea items have been viewed millions of times.
Now he and Australia’s other top online content makers are opening up about their work in the new Foxtel series The Slot.
The comedy sketch series – from the makers of We Can Be Heroes, John Safran’s
Race Relations, Open Slather and Summer Heights High – showcases big names like the Bondi Hipsters, Superwog and Sketchsehe (a favourite of US talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres) as well as rising talents like Aunty Donna, Racka Racka, Natalie Tran, Skit Box and more.
The Slot also commissioned new sketches from the comedians to feature on the show.
“When I read what they wanted me to do, which was essentially doing what you’re already doing but we’ll give you some funding to make them a bit better – it was the biggest no brainer deal I’ve ever had,” Kinne tells The Guide.
It’s a welcomed platform for Kinne, who says most online content makers make little if any money from their viral videos.
“With the internet (and trying to go viral) you’ve got to do it expecting nothing out of it. When we started we were doing it purely for fun,” he says.
“I’ve always said the best thing about the internet is anyone can make videos, but the worst thing about it is anyone can make videos. You have to filter through things, but the cream does rise to the top.”
Despite writing and starring in a Logie-nominated sketch show on 7MATE, Kinne says most of his exposure and popularity comes from social media.
“Out of everyone coming to my stand-up shows, about 80% have only seen my videos on Facebook.
“It shows you the power of Facebook… to go to towns all over Australia and have 300 people at a show who have seen your show and can quote things is still mind-blowing to me.”
With that digital popularity comes imitators, but Kinne says he isn’t worried about copy cats.
“I’ve always underlined that I could be wrong, but I believe I was the first one to do the ‘things never said’ bit. The first one I did on YouTube was ‘S--- never said during the London Olympics’,” he says.
“Now it’s become a thing and it does annoy me, I’ll be honest. I watch it and go you’re not doing it the way it should be done, just let me come in and direct it.
“I’ve got a new one coming up in The Slot and I’m hanging because I wanted to put it online. It’s ‘Things never said while using Facebook’ and I just know it will go nuts.”
Kinne’s next project is a narrative TV series inspired by Seinfeld.
“Jerry Seinfeld is a big inspiration,” he says. “I read a book on Seinfeld and it just got me inspired and I thought ‘I should do one as myself’. I was previously against that but now with the following I’m getting it’s silly for me not to play myself, which is what people would clearly rather see.”
THE SLOT – COMEDY CHANNEL – THURSDAY AT 7.30PM QLD, 8.30PM NSW