Comedian Jeff Green
Comedian, writer and UK TV star, Jeff Green swings by Hong Kong for three nights of spectacular stand-up. The full-time funnyman spares a few minutes to tell Natasha Stokes his favorite knock-knock jokes.
HK Magazine: How about a quick career bio?
Jeff Green: The exact time I knew I wanted to do standup was when I went to the Comedy Store in 1987 with friends. We saw the late show, and it was like “The Road To Damascus” – I was simply blown away. It was a turning point in my life, and I just decided this is what I want to do. My first performance was then in April 1988 – in front of six people. It went by in flash and the bug just stuck. In comedy, I really look up to Billy Connelly, Richard Pryor and Dick Emory (he’s an old English comic).
HK: What’s “funny”?
JG: We are all fragile people trying to get on in life. Particularly in Britain, where society struggles with everyday things, there is an overwhelming fear of politeness and fear of embarrassment. This is of course all perfect for stand up comedy. If you go to Holland for example, nothing is funny. Everything is open - there are no taboos, like drugs or sex, so there is nothing to take the piss out of. If you are in Holland and do a joke about drugs in Holland, everyone is like, "So what?"
HK: What’s your favorite, hilarity-inducing book or movie?
JG: My favorite comedy film is without doubt Monty Pythons “Life of Brian.” And my the greatest book would have to be “Three Men in a Boat” by Jerome K. Jerome, which was written in 1887, and is still as funny now as it was back then. Not that I know, I just imagine that it was funny then as well.
HK: Do you have any knock-knock jokes?
JG: Everyone should always have a knock-knock joke just in case they need to entertain children.
“ Knock knock
Who’s there?
Jeff.
Jeff who?
That’s showbiz...”