This Week in Comedy

Episode 10 kicks off back in Melbourne, celebrating a milestone: double digits. The “seven-episode glass ceiling” has been shattered and the duo are officially big kids now, complete with a tangent about pull-ups, bladder control, and the tragically named “Poise” range. Lily even has a joke charting “light, intermediate, heavy” leakage levels, because nothing says showbiz like sneezing statistics.Morry and Lily then settle into the South Melbourne studio, happy to escape Sydney’s humidity and the constant roar of planes over Newtown. A quick (and slightly too cheeky) 9/11 reference lands, with the question 'too soon?'.Comedy news begins with Adam Sandler receiving the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Modern Master Award for his influence across stand-up, film, and TV. Morry admits Sandler can be a bit slapstick for his taste, but gives a nod to Happy Gilmore. Lily, representing the millennials, rides hard for Big Daddy and Little Nicky, quoting lines and praising Sandler’s underrated serious chops in Click and Uncut Gems.Next up, Jim Jefferies, who drops in as a surprise set at Melbourne’s Comics Lounge. Morry explains Jefferies’ real name and the extra “e” he added to satisfy a US union rule requiring unique stage names. Shoutout to host Doug Chappell, cruise-photo icon and future podcast guest.Then it gets darker: US comedian Ben Bankas has six sold-out Minnesota shows cancelled after a controversial joke following a fatal ICE-related shooting. The venue cites threats and safety concerns, sparking a discussion about timing, risk, and when “too soon” becomes “never.”More screens: Will Arnett’s film Is This Thing On?, directed and co-written by Bradley Cooper, hits Australian cinemas February 5. Morry reveals he made a comedy series with the same title years earlier, nearly picked up by the ABC before leadership changes killed it.Beer time: Barossa Valley Brewing’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake Stout (7%, 2.1 standard drinks) tastes like dessert—sweet, gluggy, and dangerously drinkable.Finally, comedy history: Leslie Nielsen would be 100 today (born February 11, 1926). They toast him, debate titles (Airplane! was Flying High in Australia), and wrap with a teaser interview featuring Tasmanian comedian “Red Ned” Townsend and Lars Calio’s 900,000km Volkswagen Jetta.Links:Morry's 'Is This Thing On?' six part TV show: Click hereBarossa Valley Brewing’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake Stout: Click hereHobart Festival of Comedy: Click hereRed Ned Townsend Instagram: Click here

Episode 8 of This Week in Comedy is a loose, lively mix of industry news, cultural commentary, beer tasting and big picture questions about censorship, art and who gets to decide whether is just that - art!The episode opens with Lily and Morry celebrating making it past seven episodes, swapping stories about a heavy midweek beer session and then cracking into a new brew - the Fig Leaf Saison by Sailors Grave Brewing. Then it's onto the news.The first major story centres on Dave Hughes, who faced an unusual heckle at a Noosa show when an audience member attempted to shut down jokes about Hughes’ own son. The situation escalated when it emerged the heckler was a carer and both got removed. The hosts unpack how this crosses from traditional heckling into real time moral censorship, praising Hughes for offering the affected fan free tickets and noting it was the first attempted onstage censorship of his 30 year career.From there, the discussion widens to whether comedy is becoming more policed, especially in the context of large corporate platforms. The Netflix Is a Joke Festival is positioned as a major global event, rivalling Edinburgh and Melbourne, but raising questions about corporate control, promotion, distribution and how much creative freedom comedians will retain under a single powerful brand.In lighter celebrity news, the hosts touch on the amicable split between Ali Wong and Bill Hader, using it as a springboard to reflect on how difficult relationships can be within the comedy industry. Touring, scheduling and public pressure all take their toll, particularly when both partners are high profile performers.The regular segment, this week in history, looks at The Kid, the 1921 silent film by Charlie Chaplin, and how it helped prove comedy could sustain emotional, feature length storytelling rather than just short gag reels. They also discuss the invention of the television, and its possible connection to tampons...or not. We're not sure.But the emotional core of the episode comes with an in depth interview with Craig Quartermaine, who was denied a Queensland arts grant on the grounds that stand-up comedy is “not an art form”. The interview explores the bureaucratic absurdity of the decision, its impact on regional and Indigenous artists, and what it reveals about funding bodies, gatekeeping and cultural stereotypes.The episode wraps with festival plugs, reflections on dark comedy and censorship, and a reminder that comedy’s job has always been to challenge ideas, provoke discussion and find the funny.Links:Craig Quartermaine original Reel regarding Queensland grant rejection: Click hereSailors Grave Brewing Fig Leaf Saison: Click hereThe Kid, starring Charlie Chapman: Click here

Episode seven of This Week in Comedy hits the “magic number” (apparently the average podcast only makes it to 7 episodes) and Morry and Lily celebrate by diving into big comedy news, bigger opinions, and an even bigger beer - an 8 per cent Garage Project “Pernicious Weed” that tastes like intense bitter melon and threatens to end the podcast early.The episode opens with a field trip to Raw Comedy at the Esplanade Hotel’s Gershwin Room in St Kilda, one of Australia’s biggest amateur stand up competitions. The hosts catch up with two Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School alumna, Jorgia Rice and Kiara Ariza, before and after their heats. Jorgia, less than a year into comedy and already around 40 gigs deep, talks about the thrill of performing for her biggest crowd yet, and shares how she's leaned into her now signature “rice” material. Kiara shares her own pre-show nerves, festival plans, and a background in performance work that is clearly paying off. Both comedians end the day on a high: they are announced as heat winners and progress to the next round.From there, the conversation turns serious: censorship and free speech in the arts, sparked by the recent Adelaide Writers Festival controversies and the broader tension around political viewpoints, particularly those influenced from abroad. The hosts argue that debate and creative expression cannot be selectively allowed. It is either all on the table or none of it is.Another scandal follows: Brisbane comedian Craig Quartermaine receives an arts grant rejection stating stand up comedy is not supported as an eligible performing art form, a line the hosts call equal parts absurd and illuminating, and a rallying point for better recognition of comedy as a legitimate art.The episode wraps with a quick “funny in the moment” Aldi encounter and a nod to comedy pioneer Phyllis Diller and her data driven comedy approach. Finally, Morry shares an interview with Bob Stevenson and the upcoming Hard Knocks Comedy Course in Sydney, from 1 to 5 February in Newtown.Links:Raw Comedy entry: Click hereCraig Quartermaine original Reel regarding Queensland grant rejection: Click hereSydney Hard Knock Knocks Comedy Course Sign-up: Click here

The first episode of This Week in Comedy for the year kicks off with relaxed, self-aware chaos as Lily and Morry ease into 2026. The conversation opens with Christmas reflections, including a clarification that while Christmas at Lily’s house isn’t fully “cancelled”, it has been significantly scaled back. So don’t worry, the kids ain’t getting coal. This leads into a surprisingly long and joyful discussion about objectively ugly footwear, with moccasins and Crocs emerging as the clear winners (for losers).From there, the episode shifts into comedy news and history. The hosts note the Golden Globes introducing a podcast category for the first time, sparking dreams (and realism) about future international recognition. Then they go dark. Dead at 88, did you know that Charlie Chaplin was a Communist?! I mean, who isn’t these days. All the kids are doing it. This theme darkens further with discussion of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack. Satire, free expression, and the real-world consequences comedy can provoke, before the mood is intentionally lightened again.A major focus of the episode is “Comedy Country”. This is a large, PhD research project examining comedy’s cultural impact, inclusivity, and economic sustainability. Involving major universities and substantial funding, the project explores how comedy has broadened representation and reduced cultural barriers, while also asking how the industry can remain financially viable. This naturally connects to the business of comedy, streaming platforms’ obligations to fund Australian-made content, and the possibility of digital taxes on global tech companies profiting from comedy without directly supporting creators.Beer is back, baby! Morry had popped into Swords Select at the South Melbourne Market, and picked up a Kiwi lager, called ‘Mutual Drift‘ – a hoppy beer, which was well received.And then the episode looks at a near-death experience in Collingwood. That might be an exaggeration. In short, it’s a dry generational joke about football colours that lands with tension and awkwardness that one would expect when Morry tries to be ‘funny in the moment’. Ah, you just had to be there.Finally, attention turns to Raw Comedy, with an in-depth interview with comedian Drago Ivan. He talks with Lily regarding winning his heat and surviving a serious car accident that pushed him into comedy. Ivan also discusses running rooms, networking, and offering practical advice for newcomers. The episode wraps with optimism as Australia’s comedy calendar ramps up, major festivals loom, and the year ahead promises momentum for the local scene.Links:Register for Raw Comedy: Click hereThe Business of Comedy Conference: Click hereMelb Comedy Scene on Instagram: Click hereSlow Lane Brewing, New Zealand: Click here

Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan are back with a slightly end-of-year, pre-Christmas edition of This Week in Comedy. the weekly hang for comedy lovers who like their industry chat served with dumb jokes, local context, and a mild sense of impending doom.This episode kicks off with festive season realities (fewer gigs, everyone half-checked-out) before looking ahead to 2026 and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival season. The pair unpack what’s coming up, including the emerging “Business of Comedy” conference within the festival timeline—an event that’s either about to become an annual institution or vanish like Schrödinger’s cat (don’t open the door).In Comedy News, they celebrate Dick Van Dyke hitting 100 and spiral into robots, hecklers, and whether the future of stand-up involves fear-laughter and chest-kicking androids. In Comedy History, they revisit milestone moments like Candice Bergen becoming the first woman to host SNL, and The Simpsons’ first full-length episode.Things get unexpectedly real with a discussion on comedian lifespans, dopamine crashes, and why the job can hit hard after the punchlines. They wrap with podcast recs, festival chatter, and a sneak peek at upcoming comedy courses—plus an open invitation for beer sponsors who can handle honest copy.Links:Marcel Blanch-de Wilt's interview with MICF Director Susan Provan: Click hereHard Knock Knocks Comedy Courses in 2026: Click here

Welcome back to This Week in Comedy, 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 through comedy news, history, technology, beer, festivals, and the creeping sense that the machines are absolutely coming for us.We kick things off in 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. Non-humanoid ones. Ranging from 40 centimetres to two metres tall. Performing non-verbal slapstick. In Melbourne. The duo grapples with what this means for the future of comedy, audience fear responses, accessibility ramps, and whether this is yet 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 - described as “almost too dry” and tasting suspiciously like something a Starfleet food replicator would produce. It’s beer. It’s on trend. It’s reviewed with all the rigour you’d expect from a comedy podcast drinking on mic.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, and why regional festivals might just 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), revisit the legacy of Arrested Development, tip our hats to Billy Connolly’s longevity, talk Raw Comedy, preview the Business of Comedy Conference, and somehow end up discussing under-16s being banned from social media and parents radicalising children on Roblox.Links:Geelong Comedy Festival: Click hereOishi Rice Lager: Click hereRaw Comedy registration: Click here

It's episode 3 of This Week in Comedy and hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan aren't in the Rubber Chicken studios. But that doesn't stop them riffing on crime, public transport lines, shopping centres, and the increasingly common appearance of machetes in local news.The conversation moves into Australian comedy news with the announcement of the Brisbane Comedy Festival for 2026. With strong attendance figures from the previous year, the festival is framed as a major stop on the national comedy circuit, landing immediately after the Melbourne Comedy Festival. It turns out that while the lineup, which includes Denise Scott, Melanie Bracewell, Ray O’Leary, and Tom Cashman, is of top comedians, it might also be a little Kiwi-heavy for Lily's mum.Up and coming comedian Elouise Eftos and her show Australia’s First Attractive Comedian show then takes centre stage. Lily highlights the satire, and the irony that a few female comedians couldn't take the joke. Were they the usual suspects? Probably. You'll have to listen.The episode’s history segment looks back to 1963, when British theatre critic Kenneth Tynan intentionally dropped the first F-bomb on live television, causing public outrage and political fallout that now feels almost quaint. This leads into a trivia discussion about Fawlty Towers, revealing that Basil Fawlty was based on a real hotel owner, Donald Sinclair, whose rudeness toward guests and Monty Python cast members directly inspired the character.And in the 'whip-around' segment Morry chats with Sydney comedian and producer Seizure Kaiser, who offers insight into Sydney’s comedy scene, paid rooms, touring acts, and his Comedy on Edge venues. The episode closes with a call to embrace being “funny in the moment,” finding small opportunities for humour in everyday life as a way to push back against an increasingly bleak world.Links:Brisbane Comedy Festival: Click hereSydney Laugh Inn comedy tickets: Click hereComedy on Edge: Click here

This Week in Comedy takes a sharp, funny, and occasionally unhinged look at what’s happening in comedy around Australia. Hosts Morry Morgan and Lily Geddes blend comedy history, industry insight, festival intelligence, and off-the-rails conversation, delivered with the loose energy of a green room chat and confidence of a drunk uncle.In Episode 2 the duo spotlight the Hobart Comedy Festival, celebrating Tasmania’s growing comedy presence and reminding listeners that great comedy doesn’t only happen on the mainland. Morry does a whip-around to Adelaide, with an interview with Adelaidian comedian Big Al. Al is one of the city’s most connected comedy voices and in their chat Al highlights local rooms, paid gigs, and what’s worth checking out in the lead-up to Adelaide Fringe.Beyond Australia, This Week in Comedy explores how humour operates on a global stage. Morry points to New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and how he used comedy, satire, and short-form humour to help him win mayoral race. And again, this episode is sponsored (ie. self funded) by a beer. This time around it's the pickle-flavoured 'It's a Big Dill' beer, by Sailors Grave Brewing of Tasmania.And if you'd like to recommend a comedy room, comedian, beer, or share some comedy gossip, reach out to us here.Links:'It's a Big Dill' Beer by Sailors Grave Brewing: Click hereRaw Comedy competition entry: Click here