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ARJ
BARKER
Arj Barker is a funnyman with plenty of punchlines as well as a
nice line in self-deprecation. And, because he's a foreigner he
can get away with saying things about the British that a native
would be excoriated for. As a matter of fact, we love him for it.
Arj Barker, a likeable American stand up, constantly battles with
British prejudices about his nation's sense of humour - or lack
of it. "So many people over here come up to me after shows and say,
"You're pretty funny - for an American". I feel like replying "You
have pretty good teeth - for an Englishman." Over the past couple
of years I've heard that about 50 times I suppose it's a back handed
compliment. He should certainly take it that way because his baffled
American stance is charming audiences and critics in Britain.
To prove the point, he has the Perrier Best Newcomer Award from
this year's Edinburgh Festival on his mantlepiece.
The nearest vein Barker mines in his act is that old saw about Britain
and America being two nations divided by a common language. He is
shocked for instance that Boots sell foodstuffs. "I don't buy a
sandwich from a place that sells butt-cream" he says in mock horror.
On stage he cultivates this wide-eyed innocence about Britain. "I
can comment on things here with an outsider's perspective" he reckons.
"I can say things that British people could never get away with.
I can play with my naivety as a foreigner. Of course, it's a persona
because I'm not really like that out of it," he adds, hastily. Like
any good stand up though, he can also fire out one lines with the
best of them. "I'm in love with a philosopher, and she doesn't even
know I exist." he moans. "What's worse, she can prove it." Later
he muses that he's thinking of asking his doctor for a prescription
for some medicinal marijuana. "I set my car keys down, and five
minutes later I know exactly where they are.
" Barker is in many ways an old fashioned comedian, he doesn't need
to dress up as a failed showbiz legend, for example, to raise laughs.
"I have no problem with conventional stand up," he says, "What I
like about it is its simplicity. It's just you, a microphone and
the audience." ARJ BARKER BIOGRAPHY HEIGHT: 6'0" HAIR: Black EYES:
Brown AGE RANGE: 20-30 NATIONALITY: American SKILLS: Good range
of U.S. Accents (native accent: San Franciscan / Californian), improvisation,
snowboarding, guitar, harmonica, drives. INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP: AFTRA.
In the US Arj has appeared at many venues including the prestigious
Improv chain of clubs (San Francisco, Hollywood and Santa Monica)
and outside his hometown of San Francisco at clubs ranging from
The Comedy Underground in Seattle to Laff's Comedy Cafe in Tuscan.
Arj has also become a popular face on the UK comedy circuit and
has toured Europe three times (including Denmark, Sweden, Holland,
Ireland as well as the UK) and regularly performs at clubs that
include The Comedy Store and Jongleurs.
He performed at Montreal's Just For Laughs Fest this summer to critical
acclaim, and his debut Edinburgh show "Letter to America" played
to rave reviews and sellout audiences and won Arj The 1997 Perrier
Best Newcomer Award.
The Spring of '98 sees Arj make his television acting debut as Garnett
in Stephen Poliakoff's Trilogy for BBC Television Transmission date
is to be confirmed. TV (UK) Trilogy (Garnett) Talkback for BBC Television
- Director Stephen Poliakoff Kings of Comedy Granada Television
The Stand-Up Show BBC TV (transmitted Autumn '97) Nights Out At
The Empire Channel 4 Edinburgh Nights BBC TV Scotland Tonight STV
The Jack Docherty Show Channel 5 Live At Jongleurs ITV (x 2) The
Comedy Store Channel 5 (x 2) 5's Company Channel 5 (US) Comedy Product
Comedy Central Busters Happy Hour VH1 An Evening At The Improv A
& E Apartment 2F MTV RADIO (UK) Loose Ends BBC Radio 4 The Treatment
Radio 5 Live Globe Trotting Pilot for Radio 4 Stand Up Radio 2 Radio
2 After Hours Radio 5 Live Plus appearances on Radio 4, Virgin Radio,
GLR and several regional programmes Criminally talented, detain
this man now in the interests of comedy:
The Herald A superior delivery, wit and sparkle. He certainly has
a promising future: The Scotsman.
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