2008 Woodie Awards
John Oliver brings British class to Quincy Market
Daily Show correspondent riffs on being Helen Mirren, getting deported and other bloody things
Gabrielle Dunn
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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During the diplomatic love affair between President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006, it seemed only natural for Comedy Central's award-winning political satire, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, to add British comedian John Oliver to its cast of sarcastic correspondents.
In college, Oliver was a member of the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, which spawned such comedy greats as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams and Monty Python members John Cleese and Eric Idle.
He has since participated in numerous English comedy shows both live and for BBC radio and television. Currently, Oliver is a fan-favorite on The Daily Show. The Beacon got a chance to exchange some e-mails with Oliver before he brings his across-the-pond perspective to Boston for four stand-up shows this weekend. That is, unless he gets deported.
Set the scene for us a bit: Where are you? What are you wearing? What's going on around you?
I'm in the office I share with [fellow correspondent] Rob Riggle. He is currently filling in a mandatory fitness report for the marines, and I am filling in this questionnaire for The Berkeley Beacon. We both have important work to be getting on with. Today Rob is dressed like a Roman Centurion, and I am dressed like Helen Mirren dressed like the Queen.
What can an audience expect from your stand-up routine? Does it differ significantly from your stuff on The Daily Show?
No, it's fairly similar. I've been doing broadly political stand-up for the last eight years, which was always in the pseudo-authoritative style of The Daily Show. The only difference is that I will be performing stand-up, as I always do, in a strong Boston accent.
When did you realize you wanted to do comedy? Would you consider yourself a political person?
I would absolutely consider myself a political person. I watch the news with almost as much devotion as I watch sport. Almost, but not quite. As for when I realized I wanted to be a comedian, I actually tell the story of that in my stand-up set at the moment, so if you're interested come along. It involves a 400m race as an 11-year-old.
In college, Oliver was a member of the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, which spawned such comedy greats as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams and Monty Python members John Cleese and Eric Idle.
He has since participated in numerous English comedy shows both live and for BBC radio and television. Currently, Oliver is a fan-favorite on The Daily Show. The Beacon got a chance to exchange some e-mails with Oliver before he brings his across-the-pond perspective to Boston for four stand-up shows this weekend. That is, unless he gets deported.
Set the scene for us a bit: Where are you? What are you wearing? What's going on around you?
I'm in the office I share with [fellow correspondent] Rob Riggle. He is currently filling in a mandatory fitness report for the marines, and I am filling in this questionnaire for The Berkeley Beacon. We both have important work to be getting on with. Today Rob is dressed like a Roman Centurion, and I am dressed like Helen Mirren dressed like the Queen.
What can an audience expect from your stand-up routine? Does it differ significantly from your stuff on The Daily Show?
No, it's fairly similar. I've been doing broadly political stand-up for the last eight years, which was always in the pseudo-authoritative style of The Daily Show. The only difference is that I will be performing stand-up, as I always do, in a strong Boston accent.
When did you realize you wanted to do comedy? Would you consider yourself a political person?
I would absolutely consider myself a political person. I watch the news with almost as much devotion as I watch sport. Almost, but not quite. As for when I realized I wanted to be a comedian, I actually tell the story of that in my stand-up set at the moment, so if you're interested come along. It involves a 400m race as an 11-year-old.
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