This Week in Comedy

The Rubber Chicken

This Week in Comedy is a weekly podcast dedicated to tracking, celebrating and lightly skewering the Australian comedy scene as it unfolds in real time. Hosted by Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, the show sits at the intersection of comedy culture, industry insight and sharp-witted conversation. It’s designed for comedians, comedy writers and producers, promoters, fans and anyone curious about how jokes, festivals and funny people actually function behind the scenes. Key Sponsor: Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 32: Tony Rogers, Wilfred and How to Talk Australians

    Episode 32 of This Week in Comedy brings hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan together with guest Tony Rogers for a lively conversation about Australian comedy, filmmaking and the strange paths that turn small ideas into enduring screen projects. Rogers discusses How to Talk Australians: The Movie, explaining how the project grew from an earlier pilot and web series set around a fictional language college in Delhi. Tony Rogers was the writer and director of How to Talk Australians Movie, as well as the creator, writer and director of Wilfred. He also reflects on Rats and Cats, the award-winning convict comedy Bruce, his advertising work, and the long-running development of Fun TV, a satirical project about an analogue network attempting to compete with streaming platforms. The discussion explores Rogers’ preference for carefully written comedy, while still leaving room for performers such as Rohan Ganju to contribute sharp improvised lines. He praises the acting ability of comedians, including Shane Jacobson, Ben Knight, Nick Capper, Stuart Daulman, Rohan Ganju and the Nelson twins, and shares behind-the-scenes stories about casting, accents, props and practical effects. One memorable detail concerns the realistic kangaroo prop built by Rogers’ partner Carol Van Rees, using altered toy fur, stitching, sand and extra weight to make the carcass move convincingly on camera. Rogers also talks about the challenge of getting Australian films into cinemas, noting the enthusiasm surrounding limited screenings and festival appearances for How to Talk Australians. Beyond the interview, Lily and Morry cover comedy news, upcoming productions and tours, including The Fox, Taskmaster Australia, Adam Kay and the development of a fourth season of Fisk. They sample a Sailors Grave Vienna lager, revisit comedy history through Mick Molloy, A Fish Called Wanda and The Hollow Men, and trade observations about karaoke, science fiction and everyday Australian behaviour. The episode retains the show’s relaxed, irreverent rhythm, moving easily between industry insight, cultural satire and spontaneous jokes. Rogers’ stories reveal a filmmaker drawn to modest, recognisable moments, collaborative performers and handmade movie magic, while the hosts keep the conversation grounded in South Melbourne connections and playful tangents. It is an energetic portrait of a distinctive Australian comedy career, capped by practical advice, affectionate teasing and excitement for Rogers’ current and future projects across film, television and advertising. Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 32: Tony Rogers, Wilfred and How to Talk Australians
  2. Jul 10

    Episode 31: Jack Levi aka Elliot Goblet curbs his enthusiasm

    Episode 31, hosted by Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, welcomes veteran comedian Jack Levi, better known as the deadpan character Elliot Goblet. The conversation mixes career history, comedy news, personal anecdotes and spontaneous observational humour. From the opening exchange, the episode feels strongly influenced by Curb Your Enthusiasm: ordinary social encounters are examined for their awkwardness, petty logic and unexpected comic consequences. Morry’s stories about gym memberships, covered cars and interactions with strangers especially echo Larry David’s habit of turning minor inconveniences into elaborate moral debates and uncomfortable misunderstandings that somehow become matters of principle instantly. Levi reflects on the rise of Elliot Goblet, recalling sixty national television stand-up appearances, including twenty-nine programs with Daryl Somers. He discusses the character’s trademark contradiction: grandiose stories delivered with almost no facial expression. What once seemed like an acting weakness became his greatest comic asset, helped by nerves and a teacher who told him he lacked expression. Levi also revisits his ARIA nomination, American touring, Montreal, working at Telecom (pre-Telstra), and the double life of maintaining an office job while becoming famous. His calm recollections create another Curb-like contrast between extraordinary success and mundane practicality. The hosts move through comedy anniversaries and industry news, celebrating Mel Brooks at one hundred, Jim Owen’s tour, Richard Watts’s departure from ArtsHub, and birthdays connected to Sammy J, Larry David and Peter Kay. The Larry David segment reinforces the episode’s flavour, with the hosts praising Curb Your Enthusiasm and its ability to make social discomfort hilarious. Elsewhere, they discuss Bob Franklin, Lawrence Mooney, Glynn Nicholas, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Rodney Rude and other comedy figures. Even serious memories of 1987, including the Queen Street massacre, are handled with care before returning to levity. A beer tasting featuring Love Shack Aotearoa IPA opens further tangents about Vegemite, coriander, New Zealand and South Melbourne. Levi shares stories about audience recognition, ageing in comedy, famous colleagues and using humour to escape conversations. Morry’s “Funny in the Moment” story, involving a covered Honda mistaken for a Ferrari, could almost be a lost Curb scene: a harmless remark becomes a miniature negotiation about status, taste and social pride. The episode closes with Levi promoting upcoming performances with Lawrence Mooney at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute. Links:Love Shack Aotearoa IPA : Click here Lawrence Mooney, Elliot Goblet and friends at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute: Click here Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School: Click her Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 31: Jack Levi aka Elliot Goblet curbs his enthusiasm
  3. Jul 2

    Episode 30: Hung Le, Irish Asians and cruise ship comedy

    Episode 30 of This Week in Comedy is a milestone episode, and Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan celebrate it by welcoming Australian comedy favourite Hung Le into the studio. The result is an unfiltered, big-hearted conversation that leaps from couch distancing to football loyalties, early mornings and the survival instincts of a performer who has spent 45 years onstage. Hung brings effortless warmth, sharp timing and a seemingly endless supply of stories, while Lily and Morry make sure every tangent gets the attention it deserves. They talk comedy news, theatre, festivals and the peculiar thrill of being connected to almost everyone in Australian entertainment by one degree of separation. There are reflections on auditions that went nowhere, jobs that arrived when they were least expected, life on cruise ships, and the challenge of keeping material fresh in front of demanding audiences. Hung also shares memories of arriving in Australia as a child, and the colourful mix of music, acting, television and stand-up that has shaped his career. The beer taste-test for this episode of This Week in Comedy is Slow Lane Brewing’s “Before Dawn”, a Munich Dunkel Dark Lager at 5% ABV. And importantly it gets a great review, both on taste, and the hosts' pet-peeve, size of the can (It's gotta be 375 ml). A key part of the conversation is Hung Le’s book, The Crappiest Refugee. With characteristic humour and honesty, Hung discusses the personal history behind the title, his family’s journey from Vietnam to Australia, and why finding laughter in difficult experiences has always been central to his work. Lily and Morry recommend the book as a moving, funny and revealing extension of the stories Hung tells onstage. One of the episode’s highlights is Hung’s connection to Nick Giannopoulos and the enduring cultural footprint of Wog Boy, the movie. He revisits his memorable lines from the film, talks about joining Giannopoulos’s orbit after appearing on New Faces, and recounts the wild touring years of Wogarama. The conversation also examines how Australian comedy, casting and identity have evolved, always through the lens of personal experience rather than a lecture. Along the way, Hung pitches the roles he still wishes he had landed, including a very specific Wog Boy sequel appearance in Mykonos, and an embarrassing experience auditioning for Miss Saigon. Elsewhere, the trio cover Shaun Micallef’s new game show, Spamalot, comedy roadshows, clown burlesque, a dark lager tasting, Ricky Gervais, Airplane (aka Flying High), and the kind of accidental public comedy that makes the show feel so local. It is a generous, rambunctious episode full of old-school showbiz insight and present-day comedy gossip, with plenty of room for Hung’s generosity and mischief. Whether you know him from stand-up, television, Wog Boy or The Crappiest Refugee, this is a chance to hear a true original in relaxed, hilarious form. Plus, Hung invites aspiring comics to join him at the August Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School course in Melbourne. Links:Slow Lane Brewing Before Dawn Munich Dunkel Dark Lager: Click here Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 30: Hung Le, Irish Asians and cruise ship comedy
  4. Jun 25

    Episode 29: Nick Kozakis, comedy infanticide and hotboxing

    In episode 29 of This Week in Comedy, hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan welcome filmmaker Nick Kozakis, who arrives straight from a Sooshi Mango pre-production meeting, for a lively conversation spanning film, comedy, Australian culture and the strange moments that become stories. Nick discusses his work with Sooshi Mango, music videos, commercials, short films and feature projects. He shares the excitement and pressure of helping expand the group’s comedy world into a feature film, with production scheduled from August through September and a future call-out for extras. The centrepiece is Dilemma, Nick’s darkly comic short selected for the 2026 St Kilda Film Festival. Written by Duncan Samarsinghe and made with Anthony Littlechild and Nick’s wife Carlia, the film poses a provocative time-travel question: would you kill Hitler as a child? Nick reflects on why the compact, one-day shoot was too good to refuse, and praises performers Jackson Tozer and Eliza Matengu for their chemistry, comic timing and ability to balance a heavy premise with unsettling humour. Nick also opens up about stunt work, armourers, safety teams, fake blood and practical horror effects. He argues that physical effects give horror a depth that audiences feel more immediately than heavily computer-generated imagery. For emerging filmmakers, he stresses networking, generosity and making concise, contained short films that festival programmers can easily schedule. He credits mentors and peers including the Cairnes brothers of Late Night with the Devil and the Philippou brothers for helping shape his filmmaking path. The episode’s beer break features Field Trip, a 7% West Coast IPA with grapefruit, pine and “dank resin” notes. Its weed-themed can gives Lily the perfect opening to expand on her cannabis expertise, explaining trichomes, THC-rich resin and why “dank” is a useful descriptor in both beer and marijuana culture. That leads naturally into a cannabis-fuelled Funny in the Moment story involving Lily, her Hilux canopy, a hotbox experiment and a supposedly suspicious stranger who ultimately turns out to be a pole. Elsewhere, Lily and Morry cover Kyle Sandilands’ settlement with ARN Media, Jackie O’s legal action, Multicultural Arts Victoria’s response to Pauline Hanson, Gold Logie nominees Sam Pang and Julia Morris, and Melbourne’s Defrost Festival. Comedy history brings in Moe Howard, Brian Brown, The Ed Sullivan Show, Garfield and Josh Thomas. The episode closes with Nick teasing an unannounced feature, Dilemma’s festival run in Perth, and the chance for local performers to appear as extras in the upcoming Sooshi Mango movie. Links:Boatrocker Field Trip West Coast IPA: Click here Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School: Click here Nick Kozakis' IMDB account: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 29: Nick Kozakis, comedy infanticide and hotboxing
  5. Jun 17

    Episode 28: Danny McGinlay, HYBPA gossip and AUKAS comedy

    In episode 28 of This Week in Comedy, hosts Morry Morgan and Lily Geddes welcome comedian Danny McGinlay for a loose, wide-ranging conversation about stand up, sport, television and Australian culture. Danny reflects on writing the Western Bulldogs’ famous AFL banners, especially the 2016 preliminary final line about the club being formed in “blood and boots, not in AFL focus groups.” The group joke that AFL banners might be the peak of Australian culture. The news section begins with Monty Python’s Spamalot returning to Australian stages, prompting riffs on Eric Idle, John Cleese, punchline suburbs, musical theatre and Danny’s love of The Holy Grail. They also discuss How to Talk Australians, Only Murders in the Building and Aaron Chen’s new Technology tour, with Danny praising Chen’s quiet, hypnotic comic presence after working with him on Fisk and Have You Been Paying Attention (HYBPA). A major thread is television comedy. Danny talks about his warm-up work while highlighting Sam Pang's behind-the-scenes work as a writer, producer and warm-up figure. Danny praises Pang as generous, hard-working and ruthlessly efficient with jokes, comparing his style to classic roasters like Don Rickles. He also highlights Ed Kavalee and Tom Gleisner’s skill in keeping Have You Been Paying Attention sharp and generous. The beer review features Love Shack IPA, a 6.8 percent, 375 ml can described as citrusy, tropical, stone-fruity and “subtly boozy,” though the hosts joke that two standard drinks hardly feels subtle. Danny sits out because he has a gig later, explaining that one beer tells his brain the workday is over. The history segment marks Stan Laurel’s birthday, leading to talk of Laurel and Hardy, silent comedy and Danny’s belief that Buster Keaton was funnier than Charlie Chaplin. Carl Barron, Ross Noble and Flight of the Conchords also get mentioned before Lily’s bizarre fact about daredevil Bobby Leach, Morry’s Bunnings sausage story, and Danny promoting his upcoming recorded comedy specials. Links:Love Shack IPA: Click here Be in the audience of Danny McGinlay's recorded special: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 28: Danny McGinlay, HYBPA gossip and AUKAS comedy
  6. Jun 10

    Episode 27: Bev Killick, Problematic Charlie and Sir Rove

    Episode 27 of This Week in Comedy brings a loose, sharp and properly funny visit from Bev Killick, a road-tested Australian comedy force. Bold, bawdy and high-energy, Bev looks back on clubs, festivals and national tours, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Puppetry of the Penis and Busting Out. She also shares how stand-up found her after a trip to the Espy, how Joan Rivers shaped her approach to owning the stage, and how a circle of women helped her restart her life and step into comedy with purpose. The episode gives flowers to Rove McManus, newly appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for service to broadcast media, entertainment and community. The crew celebrates the honour while linking Rove back to his early South Melbourne comedy roots at the legendary Star and Garter. Charlie Pickering also lands in the news after calling Grace Tame “problematic” around her ABC podcast Autistic AF with Grace Tame. The room flips the lens: rather than Grace being the issue, Charlie becomes the problematic one, raising questions about who gets labelled difficult when outspoken women speak plainly. There is also a pointed discussion about Lisa Jane Spencer and the backlash to her “Auntie Lisa” material, with Bev and the hosts arguing the issue is not simply offence, but lazy, damaging work that lacks craft, punchlines and responsibility. The episode also highlights A Fair Cut’s first town hall meeting, being held on Saturday, 13 June, at The Ballroom, Donkey Wheel House, near Southern Cross. Supported by MEAA, the meeting is designed to gather performer input ahead of Fair Cut’s talks with Melbourne Fringe, especially around fairer venue deals and what a better split should look like for artists. And, of course, there is beer. After a shout-out to Two Bays for clarifying their gluten-free brewing ingredients, the crew cracks into Real Ale Golden from Reservoir. Served at cellar temperature, the beer earns praise for its warm fermentation, unfiltered body, canned conditioning, 100 percent Aussie ingredients and rounded flavour. Along the way, the episode covers Robert Irwin hosting the Logies, Liz Hicklin becoming a “sit-down stand-up” in her 90s, Fair Cut’s town hall on performer pay, Geelong Comedy Festival’s artist-friendly ticket split, Jane Kennedy’s influence, John Blackman’s legacy and the strange life of Thomas Midgley Jr. It is chaotic, reflective and proudly funny. Mostly, though, it is a showcase for Bev’s storytelling, resilience, generosity and ability to turn even messy life detours into comedy gold, with very real bite too throughout. Links:A Fair Cut's first town hall meeting: Click here Real ale Golden by Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 27: Bev Killick, Problematic Charlie and Sir Rove
  7. Jun 4

    Episode 26: Trevor Marmalade, Daryl stitch-ups and big beers

    In Episode 26 of This Week in Comedy, hosts Morry Morgan and Lily Geddes welcome veteran Australian comedian Trevor Marmalade for a loose, warm and very funny conversation about comedy, television, football, regional Australia and the strange hazards of live entertainment. Trevor begins by swapping local South Melbourne and Port Melbourne stories, then looks back to the pre-internet joke economy, when good gag tellers mattered and punchlines travelled from person to person rather than through screens. The news segment lets the trio riff on Andy Lee’s Do Not Watch This Show, Will Gibb’s move from online comedy into acting, Sam Pang’s AFL satire, Tim Minchin’s support for Edinburgh Fringe performers, and shifts at BBC Comedy. Trevor adds first-hand stories about Pang’s early producing days and the difference between writing one-liners and being funny in conversation. A major highlight is Trevor’s deep dive into Hey Hey It’s Saturday. He explains how Russell Gilbert helped bring him in as a creative consultant, and how a late stand-up spot eventually led to live crosses. His best story involves Daryl Somers sending him into Geelong’s losing grand final function, where Trevor twisted Daryl’s supportive message into a brutal fake insult and won over the studio. That led to more crosses, including the infamous Tumut “Festival of the Falling Leaf” segment, where he turned an empty park into a comic set-piece and was nearly chased out of town. The episode also pauses for a beer break, celebrating CB Co’s 500ml 20th anniversary pale ale, a welcome answer to Morry and Lily’s complaints about shrinking 330ml cans. Trevor declines because he is not a beer drinker, but the hosts praise the larger format as efficient, generous and potentially sponsor-worthy. Later, the conversation moves through comedy history, Anh Do, Phil Hartman, Mel Blanc, Bob Hope, Ian Cognito’s death on stage, Sam Newman, plastic surgery, and the Pamela Anderson mural on Newman’s old garage. Throughout, Trevor comes across as relaxed, sharp and generous with showbiz memories, while Morry and Lily keep the pace conversational, cheeky and unmistakably Australian. Links:CBCo Brewing Pale Ale: Click here Visit Tumut and tell the locals Trevor is sorry: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 26: Trevor Marmalade, Daryl stitch-ups and big beers
  8. May 30

    Episode 25: Stephen Hall, AI posters & the Tongue-Eating Louse

    Episode 25 of This Week in Comedy lands with a studio glow-up, a stout in hand, and a guest who knows how to make chaos look classy. Hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan are joined by comedic actor, writer and author Stephen Hall, best known for his many characters across Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell and for being personally chosen by John Cleese to play Basil Fawlty in the Australian stage adaptation of Fawlty Towers. The episode moves through comedy news, festival updates, late-night TV farewells, AI poster debates, trivia, history and the kind of sideways banter that can only happen when the room is properly caffeinated, carbonated or both. Stephen brings sharp reflections on performance, parody, AI as a creative tool, and the strange grey zones facing artists, comedians and musicians today. Then comes the beer: Pirate Life Stout, a Port Adelaide brew sampled in studio after Morry’s visit to Pirate Life in South Melbourne. With its dark, Vegemite-meets-soy-sauce notes, bigger bubbles and 5.6% kick, the stout gets a warm reception from the table. It also comes recommended as a match for Pirate Life’s roast, and the verdict is clear: this is exactly the kind of beer that would sit beautifully beside a hearty roast, red meat, or possibly even a white rabbit, depending on how far the conversation has drifted. The episode also takes in Mike Myers, Matt Stone, Andy Lee, Graham Kennedy, Bill Hunter, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, before Lily tests the room with the horrifying fact that a real parasite can eat a fish’s tongue and then become the tongue. From there, the gang heads into “funny in the moment” stories involving physios, vets, cats, dogs, private health cards and the eternal dream of becoming a taxidermied stubby holder. And if you'd like to see Stephen perform be sure to see him in For the Term of His Natural Lies on the 24 June 2026, part of the Glen Eira Storytelling Festival. Links:Pirate Life Stout: Click here Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School: Click here Radio Lab's 'Ripp'n the Rainbow a New One' podcast episode: Click here Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 25: Stephen Hall, AI posters & the Tongue-Eating Louse

About

This Week in Comedy is a weekly podcast dedicated to tracking, celebrating and lightly skewering the Australian comedy scene as it unfolds in real time. Hosted by Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, the show sits at the intersection of comedy culture, industry insight and sharp-witted conversation. It’s designed for comedians, comedy writers and producers, promoters, fans and anyone curious about how jokes, festivals and funny people actually function behind the scenes. Key Sponsor: Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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