Wil Anderson

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For other people with the same name, see William Anderson (disambiguation).

Wil Anderson
Charlie Pickering GQ 2011 (2).jpg
Anderson in March 2014
Born
William James Anderson

(1974-01-31) 31 January 1974 (age 47)
Sale, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
  • Comedian
  • writer
  • radio and television presenter
  • podcaster
Years active1994−present
TelevisionGruen
RelativesStuart Anderson (cousin)

William James Anderson (born 31 January 1974) is an Australian comedian, presenter, and podcaster.

Career[]

Media[]

Anderson has appeared on Good News Week, Under Melbourne Tonight, What's Goin' On There?, The Project, and Have You Been Paying Attention?

From 2000 to 2004, Anderson co-hosted the triple j breakfast radio show with Adam Spencer.[1] Between 2001 and 2006, Anderson hosted the comedy talk-show The Glass House, broadcast on ABC, alongside Corinne Grant and Dave Hughes. In November 2006, the show was cancelled amid media speculation that the cancellation was made due to pressure from the Howard Government.[2] Howard responded with, "I do not tell the ABC what programmes it should run. I respect the independence of the ABC."[3] In 2007, Anderson was nominated for the "Most Popular Presenter" award at the Logies for his role on the show.[4]

Anderson was the subject of controversy after he made jokes about the late father of Australian Idol finalist Shannon Noll at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.[5]

From April 2007 to November 2008, Anderson joined with Lehmo to host Wil & Lehmo, an afternoon drive-time radio program on Triple M. He also replaced Mick Molloy as co-host of the station's Hot Breakfast early morning show alongside Luke Darcy and Eddie McGuire in 2018, leaving the show at the end of 2019.[6][7]

In May 2008, Anderson became the executive producer and host of The Gruen Transfer, a panel talk show about advertising televised on ABC.[8] The show debuted with a record-breaking audience of 1.287 million viewers, the highest-rating debut entertainment program in the history of the ABC.[9]

Standup comedy[]

While Anderson's television and radio career has made him a recognised figure in Australia, standup comedy remains his foremost discipline.[10] Anderson started his career in newspaper journalism before venturing into standup comedy.[11] In his early career, Anderson made numerous appearances on Good News Week, on both the original and revamped versions. On 19 June 1996, Anderson appeared as the guest comedian on the RMITV Show Under Melbourne Tonight,[12] and appeared with RMITV again on the Under Melbourne Tonight spin-off What's Goin' On There? on 3 June 1998.

Live shows[]

Anderson has performed at numerous festivals, including Just For Laughs in Montreal. For over a decade Anderson has started every live show with the opening riff from Back In Black as a tribute to his late friend comedian Dave Grant. [13]. Since 1997, he has used a pun regarding his first name for the title of his live shows:

  • Whatchu Talkin' 'Bout WIL? (2020)
  • Wil-Informed (2019–2020)
  • Wilegal (2018, 2020)
  • Critically Wil (2017)
  • Fire at Wil (2016)[14]
  • Free Wil (2015)
  • Political Wil (2015)
  • What You Talking 'bout Wil? (2015)
  • Wiluminati (2014)
  • Goodwil (2013)
  • Wilarious (2012)
  • Man vs Wil (2011)[15]
  • Wilful Misconduct (2010)
  • Wilosophy (2009)
  • BeWILdered (2008)
  • Wil of God (2007)
  • Wil Communication (2006)
  • Kill Wil (2005)
  • Licence to Wil (2004)
  • Jagged Little Wil (2003)
  • Wil By Mouth (2002)
  • Wil of Fortune (2001)
  • Who Wants To Be A Wilionaire (2000)
  • 5ive Thirty with Adam Spencer (2000)
  • Willenium and Terra Wilius (1999)
  • I am the Wilrus (1998, 2006 Edinburgh Fringe)
  • Diet Life (1997)
  • Show Pony (a 10-week season with Corinne Grant)

Podcasts[]

Anderson has created a number of podcasts, including TOFOP, a comedy podcast with friend and actor Charlie Clausen; FOFOP, where he chats with "Guest Charlies" in lieu of Clausen; Wilosophy, where he interviews guests about their life philosophies; and 2 Guys 1 Cup, an Australian rules football podcast with Clausen. He has also expressed interest in starting a Survivor recap podcast entitled Outwil, Outplay, Outlast.

TOFOP (Thirty Odd Foot of Pod) debuted in 2010 as a weekly podcast in which Anderson and Clausen discussed a variety of subjects, including film, popular culture, sport, personal anecdotes, and detailed discussions on bizarre hypothetical situations. Following significant media coverage in June 2012, TOFOP rose to become the most popular comedy podcast in Australia.[16][17] In September 2012, the podcast was placed on hiatus as a result of Clausen gaining a starring role as Zac MacGuire in popular Australian soap opera Home and Away.[18] The podcast resumed in June 2014.[19] In February 2013, Anderson launched the spin-off podcast FOFOP.

Anderson launched his Wilosophy podcast in December 2014. The inaugural episode featured Todd Sampson, while subsequent guests include Judith Lucy, John Safran, Felicity Ward, Osher Günsberg, , Annabel Crabb, Marc Maron, , Nazeem Hussain, Corinne Grant, Namila Benson and Karl Kruszelnicki.[20] Wilosphy has, over the second half of 2018, released compilation episodes with themes such as religion, comedy, and mental health. These episodes take clips from past Wilosophy episodes and compile them based on subject matter.[20]

In a January 2015 episode of podcast TOFOP, Anderson recalled his first Logie Awards ceremony, held in 2008, when he garnered controversy for his live tweets from the event. Anderson explained that he has never been a fan of the event, as he believes that a large number of other causes for celebration exist in Australia that never receive the recognition they deserve.[21]

In 2020 he was a guest on the podcast The West Wing Thing.[22]

Personal life[]

Anderson was born in Sale, Victoria, and grew up on a dairy farm near Heyfield, Victoria.[23] He attended Gippsland Grammar School in Sale,[24][25] and later studied journalism at the University of Canberra.[26]

Between 2011 and 2017, Anderson split his time between Australia and the U.S.[10][27] He has a form of osteoarthritis, which he mentions in some of his performances and smokes marijuana daily for the pain. Anderson is also an advocate of medical cannabis and says it is the only way he can survive. [28] [29]

Anderson is a passionate supporter and longtime fan club member of the Western Bulldogs FC, who compete in the Australian Football League. On 20 May 2014, he was named as a club ambassador for the 2014 season.[30][31]

Awards[]

2017[]

  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Critically Wil "People’s Choice" (shared with Judith Lucy and Denise Scott)

2015[]

  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Free Wil "People’s Choice"

2014[]

  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wiluminati "People’s Choice"

2012[]

  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wilarious "People’s Choice"

2011[]

  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Man vs Wil "People’s Choice"
  • Winner: GQ Man of the Year, "Media Performer of the Year"

2010[]

  • Winner: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer "Wilful Misconduct"
  • Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wilful Misconduct "People’s Choice"
  • Nominee: Barry Award MICF, Wilful Misconduct "Best Show"
  • Nominee: Gold Logie, The Gruen Transfer, "Most Popular Personality"
  • Winner: GQ Man of the Year, "Media Performer of the Year"

2008[]

  • Winner: GQ Man of the Year "Comedic Talent"
  • Nominee: GQ Man of the Year "Radio Presenter"
  • Nominee: GQ Man of the Year "TV Presenter"
  • Nominee: Australian Commercial Radio Awards "Best New Talent"
  • Nominee: Aust Commercial Radio Awards "Best Sketch"

Recordings[]

  • 2015 DVD - Wiluminati released through Universal
  • 2009 DVD – Wilosophy released through Universal
  • 2007 DVD – MICF: Best of Gala Collection
  • 2006 DVD – Release of The Best of The Glass House (2002–2006) by ABC Enterprises and distributed through Roadshow Entertainment
  • 2001 CD – Release of the Melbourne Comedy Festival CD compilation through Rubber Music, distributed by BMG Australia

References[]

  1. ^ "Bio". Adam Spencer - The Big Book of Numbers. Adam Spencer. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ^ McManus, Gerard (1 November 2006). "I didn't axe Glass House: PM". News.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2006. By staff writers, Gerard McManus and AAP
  3. ^ "I didn't get Glass House axed: PM". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 1 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Logie Award nominations". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 April 2007. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  5. ^ Braithwaite, David (1 May 2006). "Where there's a Wil there's a way out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Lehmo to join Wil Anderson on Triple M drive". Radioinfo. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Wil Anderson, Tony Lehmann sacked from Triple M". The Daily Telegraph. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  8. ^ Ziffer, Daniel (7 February 2008). "Anderson plays nice with Aunty". The Age. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Wil Anderson - Celebrity Speakers". www.celebrityspeakers.com.au.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Marshall, Konrad (6 April 2013). "Lunch with Wil Anderson". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  11. ^ Yoshinaga, Peta (4 September 2015). "'Milking cows harder than stand-up': Why Wil Anderson ran from dairy to comedy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Wil Anderson, The Five of My Life Podcast with Nigel Marsh", Apple Podcasts, 2021
  14. ^ "Wil Anderson, Fire at Wil", Comedy.com.au, 2016, archived from the original on 19 February 2016
  15. ^ "Wil Anderson performs Man Vs Wil", Beat Magazine, Furst Media, 2011, archived from the original on 12 November 2013
  16. ^ Bennett, Sally (23 June 2012). "Podcasts Freed the Radio Star". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  17. ^ "TOFOP: Wil Anderson & Charlie Clausen". Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  18. ^ "TOFOP #83 - Weng Weng". TOFOP. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  19. ^ http://www.tofop.com/tofop-84-were-back-were-bad-youre-black-im-mad-2/
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "WILOSOPHY with Wil Anderson". iTunes Preview. Apple Inc. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  21. ^ "FOFOP 177- Sniglets Really Satisfy" (Audio upload). TOFOP - Wil Anderson & Charlie Clausen. libsyn. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  22. ^ "The West Wing Thing: Posse Comitatus w/Special Guest Wil Anderson". westwingthing.libsyn.com.
  23. ^ Twenty Questions Tuesday. Retrieved 3 March 2016
  24. ^ Anderson, Wil (September 2012). "Wil Anderson" (Interview). Interviewed by Angus Fontaine. GQ.com.au. pp. 2–6. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  25. ^ Callaghan, Greg (30 July 2011). "10 questions - Wil Anderson". The Australian. News Corp.
  26. ^ Samaras, Denholm. "Wil Anderson links up with alma mater to celebrate UC's 30th". Canberra Weekly. Newstate Media. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  27. ^ anthony, dave. "Storytelling is dead" (Podcast). Fofop.
  28. ^ https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/legalising-medical-marijuana-in-australia-will-save-lives-comedian-wil-anderson-says/news-story/362e069b4d8f93e0b86b4b59ef80e116
  29. ^ Blake, Elissa (8 September 2013). "Wil Anderson: laughing at adversity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  30. ^ "Anderson named Bulldogs ambassador". www.westernbulldogs.com.au.
  31. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PJjqSVsGLE Will Anderson on Fox Footy

External links[]

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