By Luke Voogt
Australian comedy veteran Joe Avati will bring his new show, 20/20 Vision, to Geelong next month as part of his 20th Anniversary tour.
The second-generation Italian has performed in the USA, UK and Canada, and had two albums reach number one on the Canadian comedy charts.
At shows in Canada during 2001, he sold 6400 tickets in just two hours.
“I think I still hold the record for the fastest-selling comedy show there,” he said.
Despite Avati’s accolades, the ultimate highlight of his career is a personal one.
“The best thing was I got the chance to take my grandparents to Canada and film it all in 2002,” he said.
Avati still has the recording – a treasured memory of his grandparents who have since passed away.
“If I did a movie and won an Oscar that wouldn’t matter – that was still the highlight.”
Avati brings the same ‘family man’ attitude to his comedy, which he said was suitable for people of all ages.
“You don’t often see musical theatre where you can get three generations in and all laughing.”
Avati said he had loved working with Austen Tayshus, although following “Australia’s best comedian” on stage was not always an easy gig.
“He was great but difficult to work with – though not as a person,” he said.
“He was very divisive – the audience either loved him or hated him. Either way, you had to go on after him.”
Avati idolised Denis Leary and Jerry Seinfeld in his early years, although he has a controversial favourite comedian in Bill Cosby.
Despite recent charges against Cosby, Avati still regards him as a comedy great.
“If you watch his 1971 special he recorded in Canada now, you will laugh as much 40 years later as you would have laughed then.”
Joe Avati will perform at the Sphinx on 3 November.
