Comedian Sammy J isn’t one to shy away from new opportunities.
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Already, his comedy career (which he chose over the legal profession) has seen him perform solo, and alongside notorious purple puppet Randy.
Last year, he was welcomed into the ABC television family as part of the broadcaster’s federal election coverage with Sammy J’s Playground Politics.
This year, he’s pursuing not only stand-up comedy and television work, but is also directing a show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Oh, and he’s writing a children’s book.
“For me, I just like doing things until I get bored of them,” Sammy explained.
“If I’m ever doing something and get bored of it, I won’t enjoy it any more.
“There are easier ways to do it, but for me, creatively, it would be a very quick death.
“There’s constant fear and judgement but on the upside, I’m doing something that interests me.”
It’s a lot to have on one’s plate, but Sammy said it’s the energy that comes with trying new things that keeps him going, and pushes him into new circles.
If I’m ever doing something and get bored of it, I won’t enjoy it any more. There are easier ways to do it, but for me, creatively, it would be a very quick death.
- Comedian Sammy J
“It’s exciting and it makes me nervous,” Sammy said of penning a book for children.
“And I’m sure whatever I do next will make me feel the same.”
The new challenge in political satire almost fell into his lap, Sammy said.
He was approached by the ABC to do daily updates around the election antics.
“It wasn’t something that I hunted down just something that came my way,” he said.
“It’s a lovely combination of my two passions: comedy and politics.”
And, he said, with the political circus at its peak last year and this year, it wasn’t a particularly hard job: “All I do is just show up and just say what happens during the day and it’s funny enough.”
Sammy J will in November embrace his third love, Tasmania.
“It sounds like a total suck-up job but I’m very, very excited, because I love Tassie,” the native Melbournian said.
Sammy J will join a host of other funny folk – Denise Scott, Rhys Nicholson, and Anne Edmonds – for The Fresh Comedy Gala on November 4 at the Princess Theatre in Launceston.
Tickets are on sale now at theatrenorth.com.au