Episode 5: Robotic Van Dyke, Comedians’ prognosis and a look at 2026

Описание: Lily Geddes and Morry Morgan are back with a slightly end-of-year, pre-Christmas edition of This Week in Comedy. The weekly hang for comedy lovers who like their industry chat served with dumb jokes, sharp observations, local context, and a mild sense of impending doom.

This episode kicks off with festive season realities (fewer gigs, everyone half-checked-out) before looking ahead to 2026 and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival season. The pair unpack what’s coming up, including the April 16, 17 and 18 ‘Business of Comedy Conference‘ in Melbourne – an event that’s either about to become an annual institution or vanish like Schrödinger’s cat (don’t open the door!).

In Comedy News, they celebrate Dick Van Dyke hitting 100 before (naturally) spiral into robots, hecklers, and whether the future of stand-up involves fear-laughter and chest-kicking androids. In Comedy History, they revisit milestone moments like Candice Bergen becoming the first woman to host Saturday Night Live (SNL), as well as The Simpsons’ first full-length episode, plus that one all about Australia (I’m go’n all the way to the Prime Minister!).

Things get unexpectedly real with a discussion on comedian lifespans and how being a comedian (and American) could be an early death sentence. Then the topic of dopamine crashes, underage drinking and being peer group pressure in kicking off stand-up comedy careers. They wrap with podcast recs, festival chatter, and a sneak peek at upcoming Hard Knock Knocks comedy courses. Not to forget an open invitation for beer sponsors who can handle honest copy.