Q&A
Tell us about your new single/ album/ tour?
Paul Culliver Controls the Media is a news comedy quiz show that will pay due deference to the satire and news comedy legends of past. While the show might look a lot like Good News Week or Spicks and Specks, fans of The Daily Show or Last Week Tonight will find something they like in here too. More than ever, Australia’s elite and powerful need to be checked, and we’re going to do that in a quiz format! [pullquote]Whenever I start watching a lot of a comedian I like, inevitably some of that works its way into my comedy.[/pullquote]
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
I’d like to think Controls the Media is like a fish with lots of little bones. You shove it straight in your mouth because it looks so delicious, but it turns out you got more than you bargained for. But you’ll be damned if you’re going to let some fish bones stop you. It ends up being the best damn fish you’ve ever eaten.
Any on the road anecdotes?
I make the trip across to Adelaide Fringe every year, whether I’m performing or not. It’s like a big party 700km away from home where everyone just knows to turns up. We usually road trip and pretend that every truck on the road is the truck from Duel. I’ll wait here while everyone looks up what Duel is.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
For political comedy, you can’t go past Jon Stewart and John Oliver. They are masters at ridiculing the abuse of power and are far smarter than I’ll ever be. I recently watched the trailer for Trainwreck with Amy Schumer and promptly binged on her entire TV show. Whenever I start watching a lot of a comedian I like, inevitably some of that works its way into my comedy.
What’s next for you?
[pullquote]We usually road trip and pretend that every truck on the road is the truck from Duel. I’ll wait here while everyone looks up what Duel is.[/pullquote]Debuting a new quiz show just before the Melbourne International Comedy Festival may have been a crazy decision, because three weeks later, I’m debuting my solo stand up comedy show ‘Paul Culliver is the Best Newcomer’. That, along with several podcasts I present (Bath Time & Movie Autopsy) – soon either people will be sick of me… or have heard of me.
What’s your scene?
Comedy. But I wish I was a rockstar. Probably why I got into comedy.
About Paul Culliver
Paul Culliver is no stranger to the intersection of news, media and comedy. He hosted C31’s Antenna-award winning satirical news show The Inquiry , he is debuting his solo stand-up comedy show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year, and in a previous life produced radio for Jon Faine, Steve Price and Andrew Bolt.
Show Details
Dates: Saturday the 7th of March
Time: 10.30pm
Cost: $20/15 (full / concession)
Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne 3000
Ticket link: thebutterflyclub.com
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