bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Lauren James

Few foreign comedians have got to know Hong Kong as well as Arj Barker, who will be making his third appearance for the city’s Punchline Comedy Club this month.
The US-born stand-up first performed here for Punchline 15 years ago, and says he always looks forward to returning to the city to explore the markets, hone his photography skills and spend time with the club’s founder, John Moorhead.
The Hong Kong jester standing up for the Cantonese community
Over three nights at locations in both Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, Barker will present his “best stuff”: the sharpest material honed during performances in Australia, his adopted home since the early noughties, plus jokes tailor-made for a Hong Kong crowd.
“I like to do some jokes about expats and all that. What’s that acronym? ‘Failed in London, try Hong Kong?’” he says over the phone from Melbourne. “I used to have a joke about getting drunk in that one district where there are all the tailors and waking up with several new suits. I’ve got to dust that off.”


Barker, whose real name is Arjan Singh, first achieved widespread fame when he was named best newcomer at Scotland’s Edinburgh Fringe festival in 1997. He is best known, though, for his role in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, the Emmy-nominated television series following New Zealand comedians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement as they try to achieve success as a band in New York City.
The show, which ran for two series from 2007 to 2009, starred Barker as Dave, the duo’s mellow-mannered, bandana-sporting, pawn shop-owning friend and self-elected relationship guru, who doles out pearls of wisdom such as: “Women like three things. Southern Comfort, men in kilts and Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game.”

The 43-year-old accompanied McKenzie and Clement when they revived the Conchords for a string of live shows in the United States in 2016. He delivered his own stand-up routine to open the show, while also performing as Dave during the main act. However, due to his busy schedule of solo gigs this year, Barker is disappointed that he won’t be able to join the New Zealand duo when they embark on a tour of the UK and Ireland in March.
“Touring with them is one of the most fun things because it’s really easy – there’s no pressure,” he says. “I come out and do 20 minutes to these huge audiences who are in a great mood.”


Although Clement just this week hinted that an hour-long Conchords special is in the works, Barker isn’t sitting on his hands waiting to wrap Dave’s signature bandana around his head once more. Instead, he will spend the next few months in residencies at fringe festivals in Australia.
With his shaggy brown hair and soul patch below his bottom lip, Barker has the surf-shack slacker look down pat. However, in person, he is articulate, astute and cares deeply about animal rights and current affairs. His latest show, “We Need to Talk” – which launches this year in Adelaide – focuses on the role of technology, touching on its more sinister applications while simultaneously celebrating the ways it facilitates certain aspects of everyday life.
I do have some Trump material, but … making fun of him is redundant because he already beat you to it. It’s already a farce. How do you make fun of a farce?
Arj Barker
“I try to be even-handed about it,” he says in his Californian drawl. “But I think that technology is making us worse people. It’s supposed to make our lives better – in some ways it makes certain tasks easier – but it just means you have more tasks than you did before. You’re never finished responding to emails and texts. Now we’re inundated by them. The amount of time we spend on our phones, I don’t see that as a positive thing.
“I love technology – my gadgets, my phone, gaming, beautiful camera lenses. But it’s a love-hate thing and I think a lot of people can relate to that. But if you had to say ultimately is it going to benefit us? I think the jury’s still out. A majority, if not all, of the existential threats facing mankind are technology-related. I find AI [artificial intelligence] fascinating: when computers surpass human intelligence, what will happen? It’s all interesting but kind of scary at the same time.”

Barker, whose motto is “never not funny”, says it is essential that he lifts the darker aspects of his routine with humour. “If I want to say something and make a point, I have to do it in a way that’s also funny. I don’t want to sacrifice being funny for making a point because then I’m preaching and that’s not what people want. You can make your point while also staying funny.”
The Pacific-hopping comedian, who splits his time between Melbourne and San Francisco, says that he will always have ties to the US no matter how long he spends away from his home country. But like many of his fellow countrymen, he is dismayed by the current political administration.
“I do have some Trump material, but I don’t spend a lot of time on him because it’s rather disheartening and we hear enough in the news. Someone like Trump is similar to George W. Bush in that making fun of him is redundant because he already beat you to it. It’s already a farce. How do you make fun of a farce?
British comedian Michael McIntyre says the further he travels from home, the ‘better audiences get’
“It’s sad for the whole world because there are a lot of things happening that will affect everybody. A lot of people around the world need help. I made a dollar per ticket of my Organic tour [in 2017] go to Doctors Without Borders – a really good organisation.”
The big-hearted comic is also a vocal supporter of the Hong Kong-based Animals Asia Foundation, a charity that fights against animal cruelty throughout the region. “They’re superb,” he says. “They try to stop bear bile farming in Vietnam and have had some real success. They let me name one of the bears because I did a benefit for them. I named her Manuka, after the honey.”
Faithful to his motto, he adds: “I try to do little things but ultimately the world’s pretty f****d. That’s why you need a laugh. Come down to Punchline and leave it with us.”


Arj Barker, Punchline Comedy Club. Jan 25, 8pm, Kafnu, 2/F Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Rd, Hung Hom; Jan 26-27, 9pm, Tamarind, 2/F Sun Hung Kei Centre, 30 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. All shows HK$350 from Ticketflap


Stand-up comedian Arj Barker returns to Hong Kong with sharpest material honed during performances in Australia

US stand-up comedian Arj Barker has the motto “never not funny”.

Arj Barker in Flight of the Conchords

Handout promo pix of Arj Barker

Culture

Lifestyle

Arts

Ahead of his three shows for Punchline Comedy Club, Barker, who also plays Dave in US TV show Flight of the Conchords, talks about jokes he has tailor-made for Hong Kong and why he spends little time making fun of Trump


Hong Kong gigs

Comedians and comedy