Getting to know Glenn Robbins and Dave O’Neil
Byron Comedy Fest | Byron Surf Club | 17–19 May
It’s impossible not to love Glenn Robbins. He’s created some of the funniest and most enduring comedic characters in Australia’s comedy history, with Russell Coit and Kel Knight being two all-time crackers, and Uncle Arthur still holding a soft spot for many who remember the cranky old cardigan-wearing gent.
What a lot of people don’t know about Robbins is that he is also a standup comedian. He is joined by two of his closest comedy comrades, Peter Rowsthorn and Dave O’Neil. I wanted to get under their skin, to find out how these guys tick. So Dave and Glenn finished a couple of sentences for me as part of the psychiatric evaluation: End diagnosis. These are very funny blokes…
From Glenn Robbins
If I weren’t a comedian… I would have launched a thing called Google back in the 90s.
What I have learnt about life is… that there is one thing you should never forget… just can’t remember what it is.
The secret to getting more out of life is to… watch and learn all your life skills from MAFS.
When I was a kid I thought… too much.
The people I most want to impress… are the voices in my head.
When I am alone… I like to mind my own business.
One of the things I most like to do naked is… have sex; I know, call me crazy.
If I could have dinner with anyone on the planet it would have to be… Dave O’Neil and Peter Rowsthorn. We like to share dessert.
My ultimate superhero is… Super Dave Osborne – RIP.
If I were a superhero, my superhero power would be… Aromatherapy. Solving smell problems all over the world.
My biggest personal challenge is… to not have any personal challenges.
My mother always said… that I could see dead people; should have written a film about it.
The other kids at school… are probably in jail now.
The biggest misconception about comedians… is that we all take size nine in shoes.
When I have a great gig… people laugh hysterically and throw money at the stage… then I wake up.
The things that make me laugh… are what’s about to happen at the Byron Comedy Festival.
The album I love most that embarrasses me… is my Duets album I recorded with Andre Rieu back in the 90s – available at all good petrol stations.
When I dance I like to… keep hip dislocation to a minimum.
What should we expect for your show at Byron Comedy Fest?… What happens at Byron stays at Byron.
From Dave O’Neil
If I weren’t a comedian I would… be the funny guy at work annoying people.
What I have learnt about life is… to try to find what you love and do that as a job.
The secret to getting more out of… an orange is to SQUEEZE!
When I was a kid I thought… I was going to be an archaeologist, but I blame Indiana Jones for that.
The people I most want to impress are… my parents; they still want me to be an archaeologist or a dentist.
When I am alone I like to… eat junk food in my car.
One of the things I most like to do naked is… walk down the street but the police aren’t keen. Nor are the neighbours.
If I could have dinner with anyone on the planet it would have to be… Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn and it’s going to happen in Byron!
My ultimate super hero is… the Phantom. Because he lived in a cave with his dog. He was basically homeless but he made the best out of it.
If I were a superhero, my superhero power would be… eating while driving.
My biggest personal challenge is to… stop smoking, stop drinking, stop snoring, stop eating junk food… just stop!
My mother always said… your brother is the really funny one.
The other kids at school… used to laugh at me; well I did repeat quite a few years and I had a beard by Year 7.
The biggest misconception about being a comedian is… you’re funny all the time. Just ask my wife!
When I have a great gig… I buy a big bag of chips and say, ‘You deserve this’. No wonder I’m fat.
The things that make me laugh… are funny people like Glenn Robbins, Peter Rowsthorn, Denise Scott…
The album I love most that embarrasses me is… Air Supply’s Greatest Hits. I saw them last year; they were awesome!
When I dance I like to… pretend it’s 1984 and I’m skinny and a great mover.
What should we expect for you show at Byron Comedy Fest?… Just a whole lot of laughs from two comedy legends… and me!
Glenn Robbins and Dave O’Neil headline with Peter Rowsthorn at the Byron Comedy Fest in their show Mixed Nuts at the Byron Surf Club on Friday 17 May at 9pm. Tix are $65. byroncomedyfest.com
