Review – Rob Hunter: Late O’clock with Rob Hunter

Late O’Clock with Rob Hunter is a live comedy show in the style of a Letterman/Conan O’Brien/Rove talk show. It features several of the festivals better known comedians, who each do a short stand up routine and then sit down to be interviewed by Hunter. The guests are punctuated by banter between Hunter and his announcer.

Hunter’s comedy, both in the scripted banter with his announcer and in the seemingly ad-libbed interviews, is mostly to do with undermining the people he talks too. He does his research, and tries to concentrate on his guest’s personal and professional shortcomings. His insults are petty and brutal, and always cleverly disguised as questions, comments or even compliments.

The funniest thing for me about Hunter’s comedy is the representation of the jaded short man. He invites very successful comedians, the night I saw featured Claire Hooper and Dave O’Neil, and does everything he can to cut them down. The comedians are often lost for words, and there is sometimes a sense of genuine awkwardness. The majority of the humour is based around Hunter’s desire to be unpleasant. It is a classic representation of the ‘tall-poppy syndrome’, and the audience is invited to laugh at both the tall-poppy successful comedians and the short-man host.

The show is now in its third season, and it is easy to see why. It is extremely funny, has a unique style and changes night to night, always featuring talented comedians from around the globe (but usually from Australia) as guests.