Old school comedian Austen Tayshus backs Barry Humphries and attacks Hughesy, Tom Ballard
Comedian Austen Tayshus has come out in support of Barry Humphries and slammed popular comedians Tom Ballard, Dave Hughes and Hannah Gadsby as unfunny and “sanctimonious” in an explosive Twitter tirade.
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Iconic Australian comedian Austen Tayshus has launched a wild Twitter tirade against Tom Ballard’s comedy and come out in support of his hero Barry Humphries.
This comes after Humphries’ name was dumped from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s top gong, The Barry Award.
The Festival decided to remove Humphries’ name after outrage followed his 2016 comments to The Spectator where he described transgenderism as “a fashion” and reassignment surgery as “self-mutilation.”
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Austen Tayshus retweeted Tom Ballard’s spot from the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow, saying: “Another totally humourless TED lecture, by one of the vanguard (sic) of tame losers passing themselves off as comedians. One voice, dull and Hughesy. Comedy is going nowhere, about nothing. A great shame.”
Speaking to Herald Sun, Tayshus explained his actions: “I watched something by Ballard and I thought it was piss-weak. He’s a part of that sanctimonious, ponderous bulls---- bunch with Wil Anderson, Dave Hughes and Hannah Gadsby. I’ve watched Nanette; didn’t laugh once.”
Tayshus doesn’t believe the name of The Barry Award should have been changed.
“I’ve got a huge regard for Barry Humphries, he’s the best comedian Australia has ever produced. He’s the only one in the whole world I look up to. He wouldn’t piss on me if I was on fire. He made a transphobic comment; that’s not the correct thing to do these days. Whether he really believed that I have no idea,” he said.
“Barry is a great satirist and he’s highly educated. There’s a backstory to all of his jokes. It’s not just talking rubbish.
“I believe comedians should have the right to say what they want on stage. I find a lot of modern comedians have no substance. And they say every comedian who has come before them is rubbish.”
Austen Tayshus had a hit in 1983 with the comedy single Australiana, a spoken word piece written by comedian Billy Birmingham.
According to Austen Tayshus’ Wikipedia page “It is Australia’s best-selling single ever.”
Ballard’s first tweet included a description of the short comedy bit: “Here’s some of my typical Millenial snowflake whinging about intergenerational injustice.”
Ballard retweeted Austen Tayshus’s fiery words to his 87,000 followers, saying “Don’t normally RT compliments but this is a special case.”
In his TV spot Ballard asks “When are Baby Boomers going to die … and give me a house?”
Tayshus took umbrage.
Tayshus also stated he didn’t like Tom Ballard’s Holocaust ovens joke from 2012 which was broadcast on Triple J.
Ballard and Triple J apologised for the badly received gag.
Tayshus said: “I didn’t like Tom Ballard’s comments in 2012; I’m the son of a Holocaust survivor. As a Jew I don’t like jokes about the Holocaust … unless they’re funny.”
“Hughesy has only one whiny voice. My show is about versatility and vocal dexterity, it’s very fast moving and current.”
Another totally humourless TED lecture,by one of the vanguard of tame losers passing themselves off as comedians. One voice,dull and Hughesy. Comedy is going nowhere,about nothing. A great shame
— AUSTEN TAYSHUS (@AustenTayshus1) April 18, 2019
Tayshus continued: “I’m a provocative entertainer. I’m not a Rodney Rude or a Kevin Bloody Wilson, I’m much better. All these idiot kids wouldn’t know what I do.
“I’ve had a career without Billy Birmingham. When the kids come to my show they’re in awe because it’s fast moving and aggressive and powerful. It’s current and irreverent.
I’m one of the best at taking down hecklers.
“I’ve done lots of stuff and these idiots go on like Australiana is the only thing I’ve done.”
He also tweeted: “When I was starting out I was a smart-arse, disrespectful and condescending as all these unfunny c---- are towards myself and Barry Humphries. But the harder I worked and I have worked hard in thousands of venues where Tom Ballard would last 15 seconds (sic) I did a 2 hour show.”
Tayhus also had a go at comedy titan Wil Anderson.
Only four shows left. Last night was the best of the run so far so I feel like it’s coming home strong. Tonight almost sold-out but tickets left Fri-Sun @micomfestival https://t.co/YvOLzkCRxo
— Wil Anderson (@Wil_Anderson) April 18, 2019
To make matters even spicier, comedian and actor Greg Larsen (Edge of The Bush) challenged Tayshus to a fight, which he accepted.
When asked which comedians were worthy of praise, Tayshus responded:
Humphries of course. Genuinely talented sharp and hilarious. And me
— AUSTEN TAYSHUS (@AustenTayshus1) April 18, 2019
Earlier in the week, Comedy Festival director Susan Provan confirmed Barry Humphries’ references to transgenderism were the reason for the removal of the famed comedian’s name from the Barry Award.
“I think those comments were hurtful and inappropriate. It doesn’t represent all of his humour but I don’t know what he was driving at,” Ms Provan said.
She accepted Humphries, 85, and his alter ego Dame Edna Everage were among the world’s most famous Australians, but “he doesn’t necessarily represent the breadth of what we’re doing.”
“There’s absolutely no doubt he has promoted Australian comedy internationally and has been a trailblazer and iconoclast,” Ms Provan said.
“He has put Australian comedy on the map many years before anyone else was, but comedy … is much larger than Barry and what it was when he paved the way … The festival has grown, the environment has changed, and it’s appropriate we recognise that our important awards couldn’t be named after one man.”
The award will now be known as The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award, abbreviated to MICFA or “The Mickey.”
Deadpan American comedian Demetri Martin is a Barry Award winner from 2006 for Dr Earnest Parrot Presents Demetri Martin.
“The Barry Award’s gone now, it’s a relic just like the Perrier.” The Perrier Award was the top gong at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It’s now known as the Edinburgh Comedy Award. Martin also won the Perrier in 2003.
“Things have to change, usually there’s a pretty good reason for a change like this. It sounds like he (Humphries) said some pretty offensive things. Ironically, unless you call it a really catchy name it may not take off. People need to call it a really catchy name. I think The Mickey is fun and catchy.”
The 33rd Melbourne International Comedy Festival awards will be announced this Saturday at 1pm.
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