SAM TAUNTON - MY AUSTRALIA
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Pinder Prize winner, and Network 10’s The Project co-host, Sam Taunton, shares his thoughts on what Australian means to him.
WHAT AUSSIE SHOW OR MOVIE HAVE YOU RECENTLY WATCHED AND LOVED, AND WHY?
Colin From Accounts! Just a powerhouse in comedic writing and acting. So many jokes! The chemistry between Patrick and Harriett is obviously amazing, but I think the writing is what kept me hooked. It makes me want to adopt a dog on wheels.
ARE YOU AN AUSSIE SUMMER OR AUSSIE WINTER PERSON AND WHY?
Summer! Being a little coastal rat I grew up surfing, fishing and hanging out on the water. It just makes more sense to me. I’d love to be a snow person though. Whenever I go skiing I have an absolute blast. I feel the cold though. No one will whinge more about Melbourne winter than me.
WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD TO BE AN AUSSIE?
I think our comedy scene. We have so many great comedians. We punch above our weight for population and industry. When I’ve performed at Edinburgh Fringe the respect for Australian comedians from performers and audiences makes me think we do ‘funny’ pretty god damn well.
IF THERE IS ONE THING YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT AUSTRALIA, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Closer to the rest of the world! Imagine a quick flight and you’re in Europe or America?! My girlfriend is from Argentina and it would be a treat to fly for only a few hours and not experience 5 days of crushing jetlag that makes your understanding of the Spanish language worse than it already is.
WHICH AUSSIES HAVE INSPIRED YOUR CAREER AND WHY?
Most recently – Trent Dalton. I read Boy Swallows Universe a few years ago and (like everyone else) watched the Netflix series this year. He’s got an amazing story, but the way he talks about the weird wonders of life with such an open and interested mind, really has altered the way I write stand up and think about storytelling.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING ON SUCH AN ICONIC TV PROGRAM AS “THE PROJECT?”
There’s so many things! Getting to work with all the amazingly talented hosts, meet all the amazing guests that come on the desk, and learn from all the amazing people behind the scenes that put the show together.
I think for a lot of comedians, getting to make jokes on a live TV show is the dream and I’m very fortunate to be in the position to do it.
With how the media landscape is changing, doing live TV is a thing not many people get to do. To be a part of that is one of the real joys of my career.
Oh, and teasing Waleed about the Richmond Tigers. Thank god I didn’t work on the show when they were winning premierships. He would have been too much.
