Episode 31, hosted by Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan, welcomes veteran comedian Jack Levi, better known as the deadpan character Elliot Goblet. The conversation mixes career history, comedy news, personal anecdotes and spontaneous observational humour. From the opening exchange, the episode feels strongly influenced by Curb Your Enthusiasm: ordinary social encounters are examined for their awkwardness, petty logic and unexpected comic consequences. Morry’s stories about gym memberships, covered cars and interactions with strangers especially echo Larry David’s habit of turning minor inconveniences into elaborate moral debates and uncomfortable misunderstandings that somehow become matters of principle instantly.

Levi reflects on the rise of Elliot Goblet, recalling sixty national television stand-up appearances, including twenty-nine programs with Daryl Somers. He discusses the character’s trademark contradiction: grandiose stories delivered with almost no facial expression. What once seemed like an acting weakness became his greatest comic asset, helped by nerves and a teacher who told him he lacked expression. Levi also revisits his ARIA nomination, American touring, Montreal, working at Telecom (pre-Telstra), and the double life of maintaining an office job while becoming famous. His calm recollections create another Curb-like contrast between extraordinary success and mundane practicality.

The hosts move through comedy anniversaries and industry news, celebrating Mel Brooks at one hundred, Jim Owen’s tour, Richard Watts’s departure from ArtsHub, and birthdays connected to Sammy J, Larry David and Peter Kay. The Larry David segment reinforces the episode’s flavour, with the hosts praising Curb Your Enthusiasm and its ability to make social discomfort hilarious. Elsewhere, they discuss Bob Franklin, Lawrence Mooney, Glynn Nicholas, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Rodney Rude and other comedy figures. Even serious memories of 1987, including the Queen Street massacre, are handled with care before returning to levity.

A beer tasting featuring Love Shack Aotearoa IPA opens further tangents about Vegemite, coriander, New Zealand and South Melbourne. Levi shares stories about audience recognition, ageing in comedy, famous colleagues and using humour to escape conversations. Morry’s “Funny in the Moment” story, involving a covered Honda mistaken for a Ferrari, could almost be a lost Curb scene: a harmless remark becomes a miniature negotiation about status, taste and social pride. The episode closes with Levi promoting upcoming performances with Lawrence Mooney at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute.

Links:

Love Shack Aotearoa IPA : Click here

Lawrence Mooney, Elliot Goblet and friends at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute: Click here

Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School: Click her

Learn more about This Week in Comedy by visiting www.thisweekincomedy.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.