Back in your life just to leave for a month again! But ain’t that just the way it goes sometimes?
You are reading the latest edition of I shaved my legs for…THIS?! The newsletter explores my theory that shaving your legs or putting in that bit of extra effort should translate to having an above-average day. To test this theory I critically review every shave and the subsequent day/week/experiences and give it all a rating out of 100. Any day that scores higher than a 75 was definitely worth the shave.
And if you are new, please subscribe below and you’ll hear from me again in…a short while.
The Shave
I got home and as a rare occasion for someone who lives with the world’s biggest introvert, I had the house to myself. Perfect time for a bit of self-care, which of course for me was some chicken wings, wine and the movie it’s complicated. Even after all that decadence, I still managed to take the time for an everything shower.
Except for spending that extra time in the shower, when you’re home alone under the flickering fluorescent light of your rental’s bathroom. Having received letter upon letter from your body corporate (who seem to have received a new printer for Christmas) about thefts of mail in the building and their concern that apartments are the next target… Well, it was a little more unsettling than luxurious (what if someone stole my psychopath-esque morning pages notebooks).
Rating: 2/20 shaving isn’t always a solo activity. Will have my partner guarding the door from here on out.
The Content
The only content I can recommend in good conscience is a list of comedy festival shows that are my must see’s. As there are over 100 shows I have earmarked on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival website, I’ve focused this list on my local favourites and people you might not have heard of/aren’t selling out due to massive online success.
Obviously, Bronwyn Kuss is a must-see, their jokes are so perfect they make me jealous. Especially every joke about her family which are so relatable they feel like they could have been my own jokes if I was a better writer and half as good at holding my nerve on stage.
Suren Jayemanne is not only funny but also a Moosehead Award winner, directed by John Safran and every time I talk to him about my innermost fears he tells me “that is exactly what my show is about”. Seeing it will heal you and leave you indestructible.
Taylor Griffiths is a knockout performer, doing beautiful and hilarious sketches. I saw a little taste the other day and immediately fell in love with Evan. Plus you get to feel super high-brow by going to The Malthouse (first two weeks only!).
Patrick Golamco is my bitter rival, having stolen the show at both RAW and Comedy Zone. But he is so funny I have to forgive him. This will be a must-see/cult hit/absolute scene stealer.
Jordan Barr’s show is the perfect show for every astrology girlie and those that don’t know what a Saturn Return is but really should. It’s pop culture. It’s good awkward. It’s unashamedly team Diana. It’s everything.
Ben Searle has created a show that is wall-to-wall killer material. It’s just none stop jokes and his endearing self.
Raewyn Pickering has done the same for Bush Week. It’s a must-see for anyone that moved to the big city but has never quite let go of their country upbringing (and emotional toughness).
Matthew Vasquez is the biggest cutie in comedy and I absolutely can’t wait for this show.
You should also catch Tim Hewitt, Grace Jarvis, Angus Gordon, Harry Jun, Comedy Zone and Urvi Majumdar’s hit show from last year (which is on for 4 nights only). Plus so many others, but this should at least get you started.
Rating: 20/20 there is nothing better than the enjoyment of great comedy and all of these shows have my absolute stamp of approval.
The Food
I have become obsessed with the Great British Menu on Binge. The format is something like Bake Off meets Chefs Table and by that I mean a mix of incredible-looking food from people you love and some inedible disasters by people you love less.
The four contestants are required to cook a canape, starter, fish course, main, pre-dessert (what a revelation!) and dessert across two episodes. The lowest-scoring chef is ousted at the end of each episode and then two are left to compete in a final showdown…with an opportunity to improve their dishes with the feedback they’ve received.
The thing that strikes me the most is that for the first two episodes, all the chefs taste and score each other’s dishes, as well as having to score their own for the actual judge. Even though these scores are not considered for the judging it tells you so much about who each chef is to see how they score themselves. As my own harshest critic (or at least, I hope there is no one harsher), I can’t help but root for the chefs that work their little butts off and then get cornered into rating their own food a 7. The chefs that ask for a 10 will forever be impressive in their mental fortitude…but dead to me.
Rating: 20/20 incredible good fortune to find a show with 17 seasons going into comedy festival.
The Social Stuff
I normally write this newsletter on a Saturday, and it takes me all day. But this Saturday I was too busy doing this instead:
So nice it was worth posting even though there is some spinach from lunch stuck in my teeth. Big thanks to Grapes of Mirth, you should absolutely check it out if there is one near you. The only unfortunate thing is that everyone thought the hat was free promotional material and not something I had chosen and paid for.
Rating: 20/20 the best-scoring social stuff is the social stuff that is worth being a day late for.
The Miscellaneous Stuff
I need to get my hands on so many of these clocks.
A good last minute trick for anyone worried about their own festival show.
I would love to read this article on the new middle age, if you can read it maybe screen shot for me?
Saving Julia Ostro’s Tokyo address book for future trips.
Rating: 10/20 a bit under cooked. Wouldn’t get through the Great British Menu kitchen.
Final Rating (72/100)
Well! We were close but no cigar this time! I hope this will tide you over until I get back in a little over a month! There are plenty of newsletters (59!) to go back to if you missed them, or you can snag the more carefully edited book version.
My Melbourne Comedy Festival show Unfriended starts in less than two weeks! I’m not the best at promoting myself, but Stephen Nicolazzo my wonderful director has described the show as “a really frank, sweet and demented tale of friendship breakups and Chumbawumba.” Which to be honest, I would absolutely want to see that show.
As always, if you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter, please share it with a friend? I think of this newsletter as a pyramid scheme, but with no risk to you and only your love and readership as reward to me.