Who is Michael Williams?
My name is Michael Williams, the third most famous comedian from Warrnambool. Dave Hughes, Tom Ballard… me.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I’d get more sleep. At the moment, I start work at 5am at the airport and finish the night at 11pm when comedy is done for the day.
Who inspires you and why?
Abraham Lincoln because I like to aim high.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
If there’s junk on the road, I always pull over and take drag it off the road.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Disneyland. I haven’t been since 1994 but I’m going again this year and my planning for it has recently ticked over to ‘obsessive’.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I would dutifully start my friends off on a tour of the sights of my suburb of Epping. I would show off the fact we have two Nandos.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Patton Oswalt’s Silver Screen Fiend. I wish I could spin words like Oswalt. He can do more with a sentence than I could with a book.
What are you currently listening to?
Podcasts are always playing in my life – The Flophouse and We Hate Movies, for my movie talk. Reloaded 2000 and Failure To Launch, for my Aussie laughs. Stop Podcasting Yourself and Harmontown for my international laughs.
Happiness is?
Happiness is still having your Christmas tree up in March because it still is fun to look at.
What does the future hold for you?
A trip to Disneyland, in 6 months, 12 days, 13 hours, 41 minutes…
From the mean, mean, quiet streets of Warrnambool, Michael Williams is a comedian. In 2006, after only a handful of gigs, Michael Williams was runner-up in the national grand final of the Raw Comedy competition. Since then Michael has performed all around Australia, and in the UK as Josie Long’s support act for her Trying Is Good tour.
His the topics for his solo shows have run the gauntlet from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln to video games, but one thing remains constant his use of drawing, animation and music in every show. In 2012, his show Mild Spectacular was nominated for a Golden Gibbo. He lives in Epping with his wife and unwashed dishes.
Directed by Russell Fletcher, Michael will be starring in Escape from a 90s educational CD-ROM! in the Games Room – ACMI: 30 March – 23 April as part of the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. For more information, visit: www.comedyfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Michael Williams