Web Comedy: The New Joke?

Interested in web comedy? The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and The Wheeler Centre are co-presenting a free talk at 4pm Saturday 13 April on everything webbish: blogs, social media, YouTube, iTunes, live streaming and podcasts.

It’s hosted by TV producer Todd Abbott (most recently of Josh Thomas’s “Please Like Me” on ABC2), and the speakers are comedian and YouTube star Alex Williamson, comedian and one half of the The Little Dum Dum Club podcast Tommy Dassalo, US comedy producer Sam Kinken, and me. I’m there as a comedian, former Rove website editor, and current Can of Worms social media producer, in case you’re going “Wha-?”.

Book your free tickets on The Wheeler Centre website.

spineless-leaf-artSometimes other people can describe your show better than you can. A few reviewers came to Jennifer Wong is Spineless on my media night, and here’s what some of them had to say:

“The show centres on Wong’s fascination with literature and language, drawing insightful parallels between her native tongue of English and her not-so-perfect attempts at Cantonese and Mandarin.
Although softly spoken, Jennifer is the loud voice of reason, depicting the clashes of culture and difficulties second-generation Chinese-Australians face as our nation’s relationship with China grows, in terms of business, culture and language. Yet, despite some serious undertones, she still delivers her material with quick wit, plenty of puns and charisma.”

- What’s On Comedy

“The show’s overall humour is self-deprecating with touches of dorky enthusiasm. Wong unashamedly declares her love of puns and tests out her favourites with the audience. Some puns are brilliant; others are terrible in the best possible way, but Wong’s strengths lie in her storytelling abilities. Her off-kilter observations on racial stereotypes and the Chinese language are charming and entertaining, and perfectly paired with her unique vernacular and wit. Her delivery skews towards awkward, which is very endearing.”

- artsHub

“If there’s a quiet achiever award for comedy, Sydney stand-up Jennifer Wong might be your winner.”

- Herald Sun

The media night was not without its hiccups, and you can read about that here. Thanks to all the reviewers and writers for their time and consideration!

Want to come to the show anyway? It’s playing at The Portland Hotel until 21 April. Book tickets here.

Here’s a recording of the live Comedy Bites broadcast from the RMIT Capitol Theatre this week, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

It was hosted by the ABC’s Lindy Burns, and co-hosted by Lawrence Mooney, with a bunch of comedians in the following order: Harley Breen, Mike Birbiglia, me, Dave O’Neil, Dixie Liongate, Karl Chandler, Damien Power, Loretta Maine, Sean Choolburra, Ivan Aristeguieta, Iliza Shlesinger, Cal Wilson, Stuart Goldsmith, Elbowskin, Laura Hughes, Danny McGinlay, Simon Munnery, Kevin Kropinyeri, Urzila Carlson, Ronny Chieng and Adam Rozenbachs.

 

Hello, Melbourne! I’m starting the comedy festival by being part of 774 ABC Melbourne’s Comedy Bites live broadcast tomorrow from 8pm, hosted by Lindy Burns and Lawrence Mooney. To get things started auspiciously, here’s a special offer to my show…

ABC Comedy Bites special offer

Book here with the password ComedyBites774:
http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2013/season/shows/spineless-jennifer-wong-is

Update: you can listen to the live broadcast online!. Comedians include Elbowskin, Ivan Aristeguieta , Mike Birbiglia US, Harley Breen, Urzila Carlson (RSA/NZ), Karl Chandler, Ronny Chieng, Sean Choolburra, Stuart Goldsmith (UK), Laura Hughes, Kevin Kropinyeri, Dixie Longate (US), Danny MacGinlay, Loretta Maine (UK), Simon Munnery (UK), Dave O’Neil, Damien Power, Adam Rozenbachs, Iliza Shlesinger (US), and Cal Wilson.

micf-2013-flyer-1000x1414

Tickets now available on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival website.

$20 tickets for 20 hours at MICF

Hello. You’re probably not going to save enough money on my ticket today to even buy a self-published e-book about the history of quilting (my tickets are usually $22), but there are some sweet savings today and you should definitely go to the comedy festival website and see what you can pick up, because there’s nothing quite like having a nice full schedule of comedy to look forward to.

asianshowcase_imageTonight and tomorrow night at 7pm, a series of young Asian comedians will not be doing Asian jokes at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville.

Hosted by Michael Hing as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, the line-up includes Jonathan Lee, Aaron Chen, Ronny Chieng, Alex Lee, and me.

Interested? Visit the Sydney Fringe site for more info and to book tickets.