From Fisk to Taskmaster, the ‘really small’ Aaron Chen is riding high

Aaron Chen had only met Taskmaster Australia’s gold-headed honcho Tom Gleeson once, backstage at a comedy gig, before he stepped onto the set of Network Ten’s local version of the UK improvisational series.

“I’d never worked with Tom in a formal context but I have a lot of admiration for him,” says Chen from New York, where he recently moved with his new wife, Sydney publicist Esther Shim. “I’d say that, in terms of Australian comedy, he’s the closest to the Steinowitz Method, and he has it naturally.”

On Taskmaster Australia, Aaron Chen enjoyed any task that “involves lateral thinking and puzzles, and figuring out clues”. Credit:

Chen is referring to a “secret” American industry method of comedic training he is undertaking in New York that is available only to a select handful of comedians. Except there is no such method. So perfectly deadpan is his delivery, even in conversation, that this interviewer fell for it.

“Steinowitz Method is an advanced level of stand-up comedy that was invented in the 1950s and then developed through the ’70s. Some of the comedians who know it are Jerry Seinfeld, guys like [father of modern comedy] Mort Sahl, a lot of guys from the Borscht Belt and the Catskills, but it’s kind of secret. People who learn the eight-week intensive course, and then the 52-week practical element, go on to really improve their craft, and have a few new tools on stage. No one in Australia has learnt the Steinowitz Method yet so I’m quite proud to be the first.”

In reality, Chen has been performing as part of the New York Comedy Festival and doing the rounds of the city’s hallowed stand-up venues. “I’m doing a lot of bar shows at the moment. I’m struggling to get a foot in the door at the clubs because these places, they’re institutions, and they don’t look kindly upon guys like me.”

By that he means “guys who are really small”.

Aaron Chen (middle) with fellow Taskmaster Australia contestants Peter Helliar (left) and Rhys Nicholson. Credit:

“In the clubs they’re all confident,” he says. “Not necessarily alpha male, but it is about height. Like, there are a few people who are really shy, but they are six or seven foot. They’ve got a ruler next to the door, and if you don’t reach the height you can’t go backstage.”

The crowds have been welcoming, and no more prone to more heckling than in Australia. But he has had to make one tweak to his repertoire. “The club scene is quite fast-paced here, so you fill your set with a lot more jokes per minute … I haven’t always talked about stuff that is too topical or location-specific, so it was easy to come to America and do stand-up comedy over here.”

Back in Australia, Chen has been busy not only filming Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee but another season of Kitty Flanagan’s award-winning ABC sitcom Fisk. “Acting is not one of my main pursuits in life,” says Chen, who plays droll probate clerk George. “It’s kind of just like the cherry on top. So if a nice thing comes along, I don’t really mind what it is. If I like it, I’ll do it … Fisk is amazing. Kitty Flanagan is also one of my favourite comedians.”

On Taskmaster Chen gets to indulge his love of games. In the first episode, in which he is competing against Rhys Nicholson, Mel Buttle, Peter Helliar and Concetta Caristo, the challenges, overseen by Gleeson’s sidekick, Tom Cashman, include doing “an epic wink”, acting out horoscopes and throwing a Frisbee through a caravan door.

“I enjoy any task that involves lateral thinking and puzzles, and figuring out clues,” say Chen. “I really thought that stuff was sweet.”

Some of the antics didn’t make the final cut. “It tends to get out of control. They give you the authority to do whatever you like. There’s not many things you can’t mention, except for brands because of Channel Ten’s branding deals …

“There was one task where we had to make stuff smell really disgusting but I don’t think they ever aired it. It was too crazy because Peter Helliar farted into a jar.”

Taskmaster Australia returns on Tuesday, September 24, at 7.30pm on Ten.

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