SMH Interview

Found this online today while searching for Arj Barker's 'Balls' " title="" border="0"/>


Arj Barker

by Charles Purcell
October 19, 2007

Arj Barker is hungry. Manager-type in tow, he is walking down the street in Melbourne searching for a place to eat. This means that his attention will be split during our phone interview - half on me, half on the pressing need to find somewhere to have lunch.

As the American comedian hunts for a decent cafe, I tell him I've just been editing a story on George Clooney. I ask Barker how he think he compares to him. "
I'm not worthy. He's a legend. He's a cool, classy guy."


Clooney is also a hit with the ladies. Are comedians a hit with the ladies?

"
I don't think happiness is found in being a sexual conquistador. I'd rather have a meaningful relationship."


Some think comedians are in the business of making people happy.

"
Sometimes someone will say, 'Hey, I was really having a terrible day and then I saw your show and realised that compared to your show my week was great.' That makes him happy."


By now Barker has found a likely cafe for lunch. I can hear him talking about the menu. I wait until his attention returns to me. How would he describe his sense of humour?

"
People say Australians like self-deprecating humour but unfortunately I'm just shii at it."

Barker says he "
jokes about anything"
.

"
My main goal is just to do something funny and unexpected. I don't have any rules."
He pauses. "
My balls, I could get some jokes out of that."


I wonder what the cafe waitress is thinking about this exchange. There is another pause while Barker discusses what is on the menu. The phrase "
don't do breakfast"
comes over the phone.

Barker is a regular at Australian comedy festivals such as Cracker and the Big Laugh. Since his first visit here in 1998, his laid-back observational humour has been a hit with Australian audiences.

"
[Australians] lean towards more drier and sarcastic humour here and that sort of suits me because I'm pretty sarcastic."


One of Barker's recent riffs was on our failed "
So Where the Bloody Hell Are You?"
tourist ad campaign.

"
I was just commenting on how it could come out as a little intense. It's really just Australian warmth, vigorously welcoming people to their country. Sometimes people back [in America] are a little more reserved."


When did Barker first realise he was funny? "
Last week. I think it was Tuesday. It was a sold-out gig. The audience was pissing themselves and I was thinking, 'Geez, I'm pretty good at this.' "


On his website (www.arjbarker.com), Barker has a series of cartoons called The Arj & Poopy Show, where he co-stars with a cat that communicates through flatulence.


Link:

"
I don't think happiness is found in being a sexual conquistador. I'd rather have a meaningful relationship."

ARJ!
GAH, my heart just melted.


and I thought this was just adorable.

When did Barker first realise he was funny? "
Last week. I think it was Tuesday. It was a sold-out gig. The audience was pissing themselves and I was thinking, 'Geez, I'm pretty good at this.' "