Episode 12 of This Week in Comedy delivers a lively mix of industry gossip, comedy nostalgia, craft insights, and the usual offbeat banter. The episode opens with weekend reflections, including a rainy but memorable boat cruise along Melbourne’s Yarra River with a lineup of Australian comedy personalities. Among those on board were Elliot Goblet (Jack Levi), Trevor Marmalade, Wilbur Wilde, Luke McGregor’s family, and David “Hughesy” Hughes. Despite the drizzle, Melbourne’s skyline stole the show, providing a cinematic backdrop and reinforcing the sense of community within the comedy scene.

The conversation then shifts to radio drama surrounding Kyle and Jackie O, currently under pressure in the Melbourne market despite their enormous $200 million, 10-year contract. An on-air clash saw Kyle criticise Jackie’s contribution to the show, prompting her to walk off mid-broadcast. The hosts explore whether the blow-up reflects genuine tension or a strategic stunt designed to generate headlines and boost ratings.

Attention turns to the BAFTAs, where Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson involuntarily shouted a racial slur during a presentation by Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. The team unpacks the broader context, noting the ceremony was pre-recorded and selectively edited, raising questions about production decisions and public reaction, while also clarifying misconceptions about Tourette’s.

Comedy history features throughout, including anniversaries of Comedy Inc., The Simpsons reaching its 500th episode, and the passing of Richard Belzer, best known for Law & Order: SVU but originally a stand-up comedian. There’s also nostalgic discussion of early 2000s sketch television and long-running shows like The Bill.

The “Beer of the Week” segment reviews a 6% Venom IPA in a smaller-than-standard 330ml can, sparking a humorous investigation into shrinkflation and Australia’s alcohol tax system.

A major highlight of Episode 12 is the conversation with Stig Wemyss and Anthony Littlechild, speakers at the upcoming Business of Comedy Conference. They share practical insights into producing, directing, shooting and editing comedy films, emphasising collaboration, improvisation and strong on-set energy.

And the episode wraps up with another “Funny in the Moment” at Bunnings.

The Business of Comedy Conference: Click here

The Business of Comedy Conference session with Stig Weymyss and Anthony Littlechild: Click here

Venom IPA beer: Click here

Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au

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Episode 11 of This Week in Comedy kicks off with a quick housekeeping correction. Lily and Morry apologise for mistakenly saying comedian Eloise Eftos was from Adelaide when she was actually born in Perth.

In comedy news, the hosts discuss Celeste Barber and her partner Apy Robin (often dubbed “Hot Husband”) separating after 20 years. The tone stays light and speculative as they reflect on Celeste’s evolution from Instagram parody posts to a broader comedy personality, while also joking about modern weight-loss culture and Ozempic. Next up is Jim Jefferies, who has announced his biggest Australian tour to date. The hosts praise his international rise, particularly in the UK and US, and note how unusually well Australia has embraced his success without much tall-poppy backlash, even if some audiences have taken time warming to his edgier material.

Lily then brings up Heathers: The Musical, describing its dark-comedy high school vibe and noting a TikTok-driven resurgence that’s expected to draw both comedy and theatre crowds. A quick aside follows on Ben Bankas, whose controversial joke about a recent homicide caused a venue cancellation, only for the show to move elsewhere and sell out, sparking a broader chat about venues, safety, and free speech.

Comedy history highlights include the deaths of sketch pioneer Sid Caesar (2014) and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz (2000), plus anniversaries for Wayne’s World (1992) and The Chaser’s War on Everything (2006).

Beer of the week is “Herb Your Enthusiasm”, a raspberry and rosemary sour from Slow Lane Brewing, which they gleefully describe as oddly gin-like. That leads into a Pringles fact: inventor Fredric J. Baur requested some of his ashes be buried in a Pringles can.

The episode’s centrepiece is an interview with Peter Josip, winner of Raw Comedy 2025, who explains the prize trip to Edinburgh to compete in 'So You Think You’re Funny?' Pete even made the final, rare for Australian Raw winners, then performed at the Cyprus International Comedy Festival, and spent months gigging hard in Toronto, landing an agent and spots at clubs like Yuk Yuk’s. Back in Melbourne, he’s slated for Comedy Zone at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

They wrap with a “Funny in the Moment” story about a son’s school uniform, and a review of Is This Thing On?—praised as a relationship film, but criticised as an unrealistic stand-up movie.

Morry's 'Is This Thing On?' six part TV show: Click here

Will Arnett's 'Is This Thing On?' trainer: Click here

Read more about Peter Josip's Melbourne Comedy Festival Raw Comedy win: Click here

Herb Your Enthusiasm beer: 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 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.

Morry's 'Is This Thing On?' six part TV show: Click here

Barossa Valley Brewing’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake Stout: Click here

Hobart Festival of Comedy: Click here

Red Ned Townsend Instagram: 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 9 of This Week in Comedy finds the hosts Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan broadcasting from a makeshift studio in an Airbnb in Newtown, Sydney, swapping their usual setup for a lively, on-the-road energy. Newtown itself becomes an early talking point, described as Sydney’s alternative, youthful, and proudly LGBTQIA+ hub, a Brunswick-meets-St Kilda hybrid with graffiti, share houses, and strong opinions everywhere you turn.

The episode kicks off with reflections on the road trip up from Victoria, including a surprise koala encounter near Shepparton and observations about regional Australia’s growing multiculturalism. From there, the show shifts into comedy news, led by a discussion of Matt Rife’s recent Australian tour and ongoing controversies. The hosts unpack his “rage-bait” persona, tongue-in-cheek apologies, and commercial savvy, noting how controversy, engagement, and branding increasingly go hand-in-hand in modern comedy.

A major focus of the episode is the return of Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School to Sydney for the first time in five years. Recording from Newtown is no coincidence, with the course running at the Newtown Hotel’s Laugh Inn. The hosts highlight the importance of live comedy education post-COVID and the value of rebuilding local scenes.

The episode features an in-depth interview with veteran comedian Tommy Dean, who reflects on decades in Australian comedy. Tommy offers thoughtful insights into how the industry has changed, particularly the impact of social media, fast news cycles, and the pressure on younger comics to chase topical jokes and crowd work. He strongly advocates for solid joke writing, personal storytelling, and being paid properly for gigs — dismantling the myth of “exposure” work along the way.

Later, rising Sydney comic Stella Wu joins the show, fresh from strong festival sets and her Comedy Zone 2026 announcement. She talks about her rapid career momentum, her show Asian Baby Girl, and the surreal realities of joke-writing, family expectations, and creative chaos.

The episode wraps with reflections on Australia’s comedy pipeline, the importance of developing mid-career comics, and a relaxed beer-fuelled sign-off — capturing the spirit of a podcast deeply embedded in the comedy scene, both onstage and behind the scenes.

Raw Comedy entry: Click here

Grifter Pale Ale by the Grifter Brewing Co: Click here

Sydney Comedy Festival: 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 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.

Craig Quartermaine original Reel regarding Queensland grant rejection: Click here

Sailors Grave Brewing Fig Leaf Saison: Click here

The Kid, starring Charlie Chapman: Click here

Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au

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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.

Raw Comedy entry: Click here

Craig Quartermaine original Reel regarding Queensland grant rejection: Click here

Sydney Hard Knock Knocks Comedy Course Sign-up: 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.

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.

Register for Raw Comedy: Click here

The Business of Comedy Conference: Click here

Melb Comedy Scene on Instagram: Click here

Slow Lane Brewing, New Zealand: 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.

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.

Marcel Blanch-de Wilt's interview with MICF Director Susan Provan: Click here

Hard Knock Knocks Comedy Courses in 2026: 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.