ComedyClub point Interviews with comedians point Judith Herbig
Interviews, comedy, comedians, standup comedy, humour, humor, South Africa, stand-up comedians, Judith Herbig
What's the first funny thing you remember saying?
When 4 yrs. old, I hid behind a couch during hide-and-seek game and fell asleep. After police were summoned because of my disppearance, I woke up, peeped out, and yelled: Oink! Oink!" like a pig.

What drove you to choose comedy, when you could have been a mechanic or a doctor or something decent like that?
I enjoy the power of making people laugh.

What's your favourite fashion accessory?
A neclace with silver letters which spells my name.

How has the way you look affected your identity as a comic?
I have substantial "boere-thighs" and being a boeremeisie started making fun of it. I also think I look like a 40-plus housewife and therefore a lot of my material is based on these facts.

Are there things you wouldn't say on stage? Eg, any words you'd never use or subjects you'd never tackle?
Politics and sport. (Find it boring because I don't understand it and therefore cannot say anything funny about it!)

Who is your major influence? And your major South African influence?
Bill Cosby and S.A. influence = Casper de Vries.

Is there any figure from your past that you'd like to see in your audience? What would you do to them or for them?
My mom - but that would give me a hell of a fright because she is not alive anymore; so I may forget that I would like to impress her.

What's lacking from South African comedy, or audiences, that it remains such a small scene?
They are too damn lazy to go out for good entertainment and pay for it - just sit in front of the TV.

Do you think all South Africans can all laugh at the same joke at the same time. What kind of joke would it be?
Yes - some Van de Merwe joke in which they can identify their own human stupidity.

Do you ever steal jokes?
No, I just borrow them.

Would you sell your material?
Yes - depending if it's the right person and they pay the right price.

Would you promise never to use it on stage again after the sale?
No.

Which internationally renowned comic would you most like to work with? What would you do to him/her?
Casper de Vries. Would like to do a sketch which we both wrote.

What's the most embarrassing death you've ever seen another comic die on stage? (names not necessary) Describe the incident, and how you felt.
A woman started yelling obcenities at her ex-boyfriend - I felt like yanking her off the stage because she made the audience think that all women are silly bitches who cannot be funny.

Where would you like to live when you retire - if ever?
Cape Town.

How funny do you Really think you are?
Quite funny - given the right audience.

Will you matter 50 years after you're dead? Will it matter to you?
Yes - especially to my son. I want him to remember me as the funny person in his life.

What's the interview question you'd most like to be asked, and what is the answer?
Q: Are women as funny as men on stage?
A: Yes and funnier!

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