Simon Taylor at Sit Down Comedy Club

Simon Taylor at Sit Down Comedy Club

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Posted 2015-12-09 by Kitty Goodallfollow

Thu 10 Dec 2015 - Sat 12 Dec 2015



In an advertising-saturated world where the walls shout hyperbole at us incessantly, it can be easy to become immune to dazzling claims. So when confronted with the barrage of superlatives thrown into everything one reads online, or hears ye olde word-of-mouth style about comedian Simon Taylor, I admit to some cynicism. How can one man – a mere human who is performing three shows at Paddington's Sit Down Comedy Club this week – possibly live up to the hype? Will I interview a spoiled brat; an attitude riddled digital media savvy Gen whatever-he-is, a man on the brink of stress induced breakdown, or an inflated egotist?

None. I interview none of these.

Despite all his exalted achievements, Mr Taylor isn't drinking the Kanye Cool Aid. He's thoughtful, affable, and importantly, genuinely funny. I know a lot of guys who don't like being called nice guys, but at the risk of upsetting him, Simon Taylor comes across as a really nice guy who cares a whole bunch about giving his absolute best and making people laugh until they emit embarrassing noises.

"I spend so much time working on the craft," Simon says, earnestly, "That's all I really care about. I care about being as funny as I can, saying the funniest things and making people laugh."



If you're wondering why Simon Taylor has so much buzz about him right now, it's not just about pretty facial hair, Bambi eyes and a charming smile. He has gone from success to success: writing for [i]Mad as Hell[/i], oh and also for a little show you may have heard of, [i]The Tonight Show with Jay Leno[/i]. No big deal. We've probably all laughed at Simon's jokes before, but like Santa taking credit for parents, Leno got all the kudos for our 'Ho ho hos'.

Simon's also won a bunch of awards and done super cool stuff including but not limited to: being an MICF Raw Comedy Finalist, Winning the Adelaide Magic Convention; he's a Victorian Poetry Slam Champion, he's been a TEDx Speaker, and has hosted his own TV show.



[i]Flashback Int. Fancy Bar in Fortitude Valley.
The interviewer is setting up her camera when a friendly but professional Simon Taylor walks in and confidently introduces himself. During their pre-interview banter he drops the bombshell that he's met a couple of Kardashians and she scrambles to start recording.

"Sooooo Simon Taylor," she breathes, "You've met the Kardashians..." the journalist smiles, adding the typical Australian upward inflection. This time she [b]is[/b], however, indicating the statement is a question.

"Just a minute," he says tangentially, "Is my hair okay?"

Of course his hair is okay. He's a good looking young guy. She compliments the hair, eager to return to the meat of the issue: what are Kardashians like in their natural habitat? Like all journalists are genetically programmed to, she's salivating with pre-schadenfreude.

"I met Kris and Khloe," he smiles as she braces for a nasty comment, "They're just humans trying to get on with their life."

In this one comment she has the comedian's measure: here's a man who is humane, has empathy and is too gracious and gentlemanly to be a nasty, egotistical jerk.

"They're good business people," he adds, "I suppose you don't want them polluting your mind, but other business people are polluting our air, they're polluting our seas, they're polluting our rivers and ruining our future children's lives, where the Kardashians are just polluting our brain a little bit."

Anyone who can throw positive spin on the K-Dash Crew in this age of vehement celebrity-bashing has to have attained a certain level of enlightenment. The journalist throws away all prejudices formed pre-interview. This is not a vacuous pretty-boy comedian dripping with nothing but ego and bravado.
[/i]



On Thursday the 10th of December Simon kicks off the first of three shows here in Brisbane, entitled [i]Simon Taylor Human[/i].

"At the Sit Down Comedy Club I'll be doing the best jokes that I have," he admits, "So it will be the best of the lot of my last few shows. [i]Simon Taylor Funny[/i] was a show that I did, [i]Simon Taylor Personal Best[/i] was a show that I did and my new show is [i]Simon Taylor Human[/i] and a lot of it is about identity, it's about working out who we are."

If that doesn't convince you to see Simon in the flesh, check out the longer, uncut interview with Simon here or pop over to his website where you can catch up on clips of him in action, making with the funny. Tickets are on sale now at the Sit Down Comedy Club website or by calling 3369 4466 during office hours.

#brisbane_city
#comedy
#fun_things_to_do
#indoor
#nightlife
#paddington
#performing_arts
#december
!date 10/12/2015 -- 12/12/2015
%wnbrisbane
209035 - 2023-06-16 06:16:31

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