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Pulp Comedy: Series 5, Episode 3 (Rhys Darby, Mike Loder, Justine Smith)

Rhys Darby, Mike Loder, Justine Smith and 1 more

TV3 (New Zealand) · 2000 · 30 min

A 2000 television showcase featuring working New Zealand comics.

A limber T-Rex impression anchors the appearance by Rhys Darby on this televised comedy showcase in New Zealand. Long before gaining international fame, Darby brings his trademark elasticity and a barrage of sound effects to the stage. His time is dominated by a surreal story about taking his grandfather to a 3D movie, which eventually escalates into imaginary dinosaurs running amok down Auckland’s Queen Street.

Hosted by Mike King, the year 2000 broadcast serves as a time capsule of the Kiwi stand-up circuit. Mike Loder steps up with an observation about the absolute impossibility of Tiger Woods ever losing his sponsorships due to personal disgrace, a premise that has aged into an accidental punchline. Justine Smith rounds out the broadcast with a dry set focused on the extreme lack of excitement in her hometown of Christchurch.

The set list

3 bits
  1. Taking his grandfather to the movies

    Rhys Darby performs a very limber Tyrannosaurus rex impression animating a surreal story where dinosaurs run amok on Auckland's Queen Street.

  2. Tiger Woods' sponsorship deals

    Mike Loder concludes that no disgrace could ever cause Tiger Woods to lose his commercial sponsorships.

  3. Life in Christchurch

    Justine Smith offers her opinion that her hometown of Christchurch is severely lacking in excitement.

How it plays

Tone
Surreal, humorous, and observational.
On stage
Surreal storyteller known for energetic physical comedy routines, mime, and sound effects.
Pace
Energetic and very limber physical performance.
About
Dinosaurs, Movies, Family, Sports sponsorships, Hometown life

What the critics said

Rhys Darby arguably steals the episode with his physical T-Rex impression and surreal Queen Street dinosaur story.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: nzonscreen.com, pro.imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, brickwallcomedy.com.

Backstory

An episode of Pulp Comedy, an eight-year New Zealand stand-up television series produced by Mandy Toogood and Simon Sinclair for TV3 that grew out of Auckland's early 1990s comedy scene and showcases at the Powerstation.