Facial DBX - Funny As Interview

The Manawatu has provided fertile ground for New Zealand comedic talent, including producing six-person comedy group Facial DBX. Members Jeremy and Nigel Corbett get their own Funny As interview elsewhere. In this interview, they join fellow Facial DBXers Jon Bridges, David Downs, Paul Horan and Paul Yates to talk about Palmerston North’s comedy roots, as well as:

• Early influences and memories of what made them laugh, including The Goons and Monty Python
• Paul Yates seeing John Clarke “doing Fred Dagg in front of a camera” while shooting a TV advert
• Massey University’s capping revue being an “ugly duckling phase” that led them on to better and greater things
• Coming up with the “excruciating name” Facial DBX
• Being mistaken for Billy Bragg while on tour
• Wishing they were more rock’n’roll, but being the “nerdiest little tourers”
• Starting the comedy club at Kitty O’Brien’s pub in Auckland, before the “massive leap” that was setting up The Classic Comedy Club

This interview was recorded for 2019 TV series Funny As: The Story of New Zealand Comedy. All audiovisual content is copyright to Augusto, and may not be reproduced. Publication of Funny As extended interviews made possible with funding from the NZ Lotteries Grants Board.