The affectionate way I describe my job currently is “making stupid videos for the internet”. I hope people scroll and find my content. I also scroll; I am a pro-scroller. TT, IG, FB, YT, SC, X: I scroll them all, looking for inspiration, news and – of course – things to make me laugh. I like silly, funny, absurd, more silly, slapstick, weird, random stuff – and here are a few people I have found who make me laugh. The algorithms know me well.
1. @adrianbliss
Adrian Bliss green screens himself multiple times into a video to do things like recreate a moment in history or personify parts of the human body. His costumes are excellent and his awkward looks to camera are very funny too.
2. @theoshakes
I was introduced to Theo Shakes’ videos with one of his skits about “actors who go off script”. It is very fly on the wall, but it is so spot on. This is my favourite, where he recreates two celebrities pranking each other on the red carpet. When they turn away and have a silent chat to each other before getting back into the hype of the red carpet, it is all about the attention to detail.
3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
John Oliver is a lunatic. I love his show Last Week Tonight, which is both funny and informative. They’ll often go and throw some budget at something incredibly random to make a point about something very important, or sometimes just silly. His recent campaigning for the pūteketeke to win New Zealand’s bird of the century award was brilliant.
4. Troy Hawke
Troy Hawke, AKA the comedian Milo McCabe, basically situates himself outside a pub/club/store/football club/the entrance of the Australian Grand Prix and says he is from “the Greeters Guild”. He then greets guests with positive comments that are often on the verge of a backhanded comment. People’s reactions are great. He exudes positivity – I believe he genuinely makes their days.
5: Nicole Piastri on X
Ughhhhhh! Let’s wrap this up race control! It’s 1am here in Melbourne and I’m booked in for an early morning pilates class😫
— Nicole Piastri (@NicolePiastri) August 27, 2023
Nicole is mum of the Aussie Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri and she comes up with some great zingers on X, like complaining about the F1 dragging on because she has a Pilates class in the morning. If you’re an F1 fan, it obviously makes more sense!
6. Thomas Sainsbury
Just a guy from New Zealand being ultra-relatable to anyone who has a boomer parent. He has created some wild and weird characters who will make you think of a person you know, cringe at the person you know and also laugh … a lot.
7. Game Changer
Whose Line Is It Anyway for the internet age. I don’t think I need to say any more, right? Some impressions are great, some are not … but all contribute to a laugh!
8. @peteyusa
This guy makes stupid videos of multiple versions of himself talking about the most random stuff, like the integrity of the Loop, Swoop and Pull shoelace knot. I know I know, it sounds bizarre, but that’s the point. Creative, silly … gold in my book.
9. Chef Reactions
This guy reacts to the weirdest recipes people are cooking up in their houses. His reactions are heavily salted with a side of sarcasm.
10. Frankie’s Cultural Observations
Direct from Irish TikTok, Meditations for the Anxious Mind AKA Frankie McNamara’s comedic, documentary-style videos are a must-watch. He delivers observations about Swifties, Audi drivers and boomers (who get a bit of a rinse), all the while standing right next to them. I love a good accent too.
Jimmy Rees’ Let’s Get Regional national tour is running February-July 2024. Presale tickets are available now; general sales begin Wednesday 22 November
