profile
ADAM HILLS
Famed funny man Adam Hills talks to Heather Arnold
about the Muppets, the Dalai Lama and happy comedy.
“
It was inspired by Billy Connolly,” says Hills
as he explains how he became a comedian.
“I’ve been doing stand up since I was 19, but
the big moment came in 1997 when I decided
to leave my radio job and focus full-time on stand up
comedy.
“I met him backstage that yea r and he told me to
‘Just do it. It’s the best job in the world. You’ll hate it
but you’ll love it’. I was told by a radio boss I would
have to choose between stand up and radio, and the
echo of Billy Connolly told me to ‘just do it’.
“I met him years later at the London Comedy Story
and repeated the story. He gave me a hug and said
‘You did it!’”
“Kermit the Frog is
almost the Muppet
incarnation of
The Dalai Lama”
After making his name as the host of the Paralympics
entertainment show The Last Leg, Adam has
embarked on a UK wide tour.
“I have noticed that my audiences have increased a
lot since the last tour,” he says. “Every night I thank
the Paralympics for the continuing gifts they have
given me. I knew it was a new audience when after
my first show I overheard an audience member say
‘I didn’t know he adlibbed so much’. That is clearly
someone who has never seen me perform before.”
Adam’s new show Happyism is all about taking
a step away from cynical stand-up and bringing
positive energy into the room. Hills decided to create
his new routine around ‘happyism’ after a bad
experience a few years ago.
“I was on an American TV show a few years ago, and
they asked me to be edgy,” he explains. “They said
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‘we’ve seen your stuff and we want you to push the
envelope a bit’. So I tried to be mean and edgy and
it bombed so badly they won’t have me back on the
show.
“Trying and bombing with cynical jokes on US TV
really scarred me, and reminded me that I am at my
best when I am celebrating stuff. The Dalai Lama
actually told myself and a group of musicians –
‘you have a microphone, use it to say something’.
Meanwhile The Muppets reminded me that people
like to feel joy coming from the stage.
“The Dalai Lama and The Muppets taught me the
same thing – to just try to uplift people. I’ve never
thought about it before, but Kermit The Frog is
almost the Muppet incarnation of The Dalai Lama.
“I have learned that the best way to get the best out
of an audience is to put some positive energy into a
room. I’ve changed the set up to jokes from ‘I hate
Americans’ to ‘I love Americans’ but then kept the
rest of the joke the same. I don’t see any reason to
pretend to hate people just to get a laugh. And more
often than not, my audience is willing to play more
because they know I’m not going to ridicule them.
“Audiences have been so positive,” notes Hills, “but
the joy of touring Britain for me is that every show
is different. For example in Wolverhampton I
asked what song sums up the city, and someone
suggested Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck. So
I got the sound guy to find it and play it. When
it came to the chorus the entire audience
stood and sang ‘Hi Ho Wolverhampton’. I
filmed it all and uploaded it to YouTube.
Again, if I put good energy into a room, more
often than not it comes back tenfold.”
Though it has only just begun, Adam already
has plans for when he finished his UK tour,
and is looking forward to working on the new
series of The Last Leg.
“The Last Leg is a genuine joy to make from
start to finish,” says Hills. “Honestly we love
every second we are on air. A similar thing
happened in Australia when I hosted a show called
Spicks And Specks. There was a real chemistry
between us on air, and it showed to the people at
home. It was a hit in Australia and ran for seven years,
and I’m hoping for the same from The Last Leg.”
Adam Hill: Happyism, Sherman Cymru,
Cardiff, Tues 12 Nov. Tickets: £17. Info:
029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.
co.uk. Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Thurs 21
Nov. Tickets: £16. Info: 0845 2263510
www.theatrausirgar.co.uk