In defence of Kiwi comedy
Why do we always wait till after people die to say the stuff we should have said while they were alive? Probably cause it’s awkward to tell Dave Dobbyn that you love him? I love Dave Dobbyn (I was right, it is awkward). The Islander is one of my favourite Kiwi albums ever.
John Clarke – or Fred Dagg – died this week. He probably sat first-equal with Billy T as New Zealand’s most loved comedian, and I hope he knew that.
He was also our greatest ever political comedian, but Kiwis often don’t know a lot about this part of his career because he worked mainly in Australia after Fred Dagg.
Moving to another country (he’s been quoted as relating it to disagreements and politics at our only TV channel back then, the NZBC) and becoming successful while doing an entirely different style of comedy is an unbelievable achievement.
It’s like if you found out that Flight of the Conchords were doing a mime show in Sydney: it doesn’t make any sense, but that’s how talented he was.
Flight of the Conchords (in my mind New Zealand’s greatest modern comedians) left New Zealand in a similar way to John Clarke. They famously had to go to Edinburgh and then New York to get the opportunities that we wouldn’t give them.
After an HBO series, a Grammy, and an Oscar, I think it’s fair to say we did them a huge favour. I’m sure they’re grateful that we didn’t have the foresight to recognise their talent.
Obviously, things have improved a lot. Many would argue I’ve had too many opportunities, for example, but I am extremely lucky.
So I still feel like I need to raise the question: why don’t we appreciate comedians more here in New Zealand?
I’ll never forget Peter Dunne tweeting ‘‘New Zealand comedian is an oxymoron’’ which was a great joke when Grace Slick or dozens of others said it before him. We still have a cultural cringe towards New Zealand comedy.
Don’t get me wrong; we produce a lot of crap! Putting together material or launching a new show is a painful Carlson, The Naked Samoans, the Boy with Tape on his Face, Jamie Curry and Taika Waititi.
Those are just the export quality ones! If you don’t like them, there’s hundreds more, of every style and persuasion. We’ve got so much young talent now that it’s a genuine career opportunity (partly thanks to shows like 7 Days and the New Zealand Comedy Festival). I predict it won’t be long before our comedy output is as iconic as that of Scotland or Ireland.
Was this an elaborate ploy just to plug the New Zealand Comedy Festival which starts in two weeks? Or is it a knee-jerk reaction to someone telling me I was ‘‘Almost as bad as Reece Darby (sic) and Flight of the Concords (sic)’’ the other day? Either way, the time is right to get out there and discover the next John Clarke.
Guy Williams and hundreds of another wannabe John Clarkes perform at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival which kicks off on April 27, check out comedyfestival.co.nz
'Flight of the Conchords (in my mind New Zealand's greatest modern comedians) left New Zealand in a similar way to John Clarke. They famously had to go to Edinburgh and then New York to get the opportunities that we wouldn't give them.'