Two legends of Australian comedy, with career trajectories that feel eerily parallel despite often appearing on competing TV networks, Julia Morris and Julia Zemiro are the very definition of warm, professional and punctual.
asserted
that → feel → networks
“We’ve just been low-level hugging in the make-up room so neither of us were able to get our make-up done on time,” says Morris, laughing.
asserted
Morris → hug → time
“But that is the thing when you put glorious humans together … it’s not going to be a short journey to the set.”
asserted
it → put → set
Their instant chemistry and infectious enthusiasm for one another is the kind that only ignites when there’s a shared history in the mix, like finally catching up with your best friend from high school after life has spent years pulling you down different roads.
asserted
life → ignite → roads
“Having been around the industry for the exact same period of time, and watching the ebb and flow of our careers go along,” says Morris, “I always feel like I know everybody as well as I did in the early days.”
asserted
I → watch → days
Similarly, Zemiro has fond memories of seeing Morris on stage during the early days of her career.
asserted
Zemiro → have → career
“Listen, I remember in the ’90s going to see stand-up comedy fairly regularly, and the two women that stood out the most were Kitty Flanagan and Julia Morris.
asserted
that → listen → comedy
Now they’ve finally found themselves back on the same network, with the ABC banking on a one-two punch of Julia for its new Wednesday night line-up.
asserted
ABC → find → up
First up, it’s Morris, taking six Australian comedians – Bron Lewis, Luke McGregor, Becky Lucas, Matt Okine, Nina Oyama and Dave Hughes – back to school for Class Clowns.
asserted
it → ’ → Clowns
Filmed at The University of Sydney’s sandstone showstopper St Andrew’s College, the contestants navigate pop quizzes, impromptu performances and the all-knowing eye of “Principal Morris” in the hopes of nabbing the Class Clowns Cup.
asserted
contestants → film → Cup
“When you put big personality comedians into a vulnerable setting like school, everybody reverts to their childhood self,” says Morris.
asserted
Morris → put → self
“But they’re competing in teams, so there’s less emphasis on performing a routine.
asserted
they → compete → routine
They can be their hilarious selves with no pressure, and I think it’s wonderful to get to know them in a completely different way.
asserted
it → think → way
Beyond Taskmaster, comedians don’t normally get to do that sort of fun, silly stuff.”
asserted
comedians → get → stuff
Class Clowns is followed by season two of Crime Night!, where Zemiro hosts a panel of criminologists and comedians trying to navigate the psychology and science behind crime and human behaviour.
asserted
Zemiro → follow → crime
“It’s really thrilling to be back,” says Zemiro, acknowledging that not every show gets picked up for another season these days (though it has to be said, anything she touches does seem to find a way).
asserted
she → ’ → way
“There’s a really deep-thinking and rigorous team behind the scenes, and this season we’ve brought in a ‘sixth chair’ for some episodes; a person with a particular field of expertise who can add another perspective to the conversation.”
asserted
who → ’ → conversation
Covering topics such as false confessions and “crimetainment”, Zemiro hopes it will encourage some critical armchair thinking.
asserted
it → cover → thinking
“It’s about being a jumping-off point for people to talk on the couch at home.
asserted
people → ’ → home
I think we live in a time where maybe we don’t question enough, and it’s good to be a healthy questioner.
asserted
it → think → enough
The fact Morris and Zemiro are now serving up a double bill on the national broadcaster is testament to not only their longevity in the industry (Morris first appeared at age 17 on talent show New Faces) but also their adaptability.
asserted
Morris → serve → Faces
“I think you should be a little bit tired, a little bit hungry and a little bit cold because that’ll bring out the best in you.”Julia Zemiro, on life in the entertainment industry
“It’s a certain kind of resilience that you need to have that keeps you working, and not expecting to be pampered,” says Zemiro.
asserted
Zemiro → think → you
“I always think you should be a little bit tired, a little bit hungry and a little bit cold because that’ll bring out the best in you.
asserted
that → think → you
You can’t really survive as a performer otherwise.”
asserted
You → survive → performer
Both women have carved formidable careers spanning multiple genres.
asserted
women → carve → genres
Zemiro is the queen of presenting, having hosted Eurovision, Home Delivery, Great Australian Walks and Rockwiz (she still tours with Rockwiz, hosting live performances of the beloved rock music quiz show around the country), while Morris is best known for her 12-year run hosting I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
asserted
I → host → Me
They also both started on TV in sketch comedy, with Morris breaking out in the mid-1990s, alongside Eric Bana, Shaun Micallef and Kitty Flanagan on the sketch show Full Frontal.
asserted
Morris → start → show
When the show moved to a new network in 1998 and became Totally Full Frontal, it also served as a launchpad for French-born, Bondi-raised Zemiro (then an up-and-comer in Sydney’s comedy scene).
asserted
it → move → scene
Each has also navigated the “serious actor” route.
asserted
Each → navigate → route
Morris went to Los Angeles to hone her craft before returning to Australia and earning a lead role in all five seasons of Logie-winning drama House Husbands.
asserted
Morris → go → Husbands
More recently, Zemiro took home a silver Logie for her portrayal of straight-laced solicitor-turned-mediator Roz in the ABC’s little comedy that could, Fisk.
uncertain
that → take → comedy
You name it, they’ve given it a crack.
asserted
they → name → crack
“The industry hasn’t been that open to [talent] having multiple skills,” says Morris.
asserted
Morris → have → skills
“You’re either allowed to be a singer, or you’re allowed to be a presenter, or you’re allowed to be a comedian.
asserted
you → allow → ?
And so if you happen to do all of those jobs, often you’ll be waiting for a job to fall over to be able to go and do the next one.
asserted
job → happen → one
I think that both Julia and I have been incredibly fortunate, alongside really hard work, to be able to do that.
asserted
Julia → think → that
”
But with age comes wisdom and, in the past five years, each has narrowed their focus while embracing the confidence that comes with having more than earned your stripes.
asserted
that → come → stripes
You know, I’m the elder.
asserted
I → know → ?
That’s got to count for something,” says Morris.
asserted
Morris → get → something
Having reached a point in life where less really is more, Zemiro isn’t just glad to jump off the proverbial hamster wheel.
asserted
Zemiro → reach → wheel
…and 25 more, not listed.
The Aporia
