Christy Murphy's Otter Blog

Kanga House in Kings Cross aka a blog featuring Jonny

I'm staying at the Kanga House in Kings Cross here in Sydney. I mentioned to my housemate, Jonny, that he was in my blog, and he seemed disappointed that he was not in my blog more. So throughout this entry I will randomly insert quotes and tidbits about Jonny, my housemate and one of the few people in the hostel over the age of thirty.

The Kanga House Hostel is pretty cool, and I've discovered that fate has delivered me into very cheap accomodation very cleverly located near Sydney's redlight district.

BTW, Jonny is from London, if I'm remembering correctly. For the entire six days that I've known him he has a habit of saying that he has to get himself "sorted out." I think that in Londenese, or whatever it is that Jonny speaks, that getting oneself "sorted out" is the equivelent of an American saying he's going to get his shit together, but it sounds way more charming.

I'm online and typing from a coffee house called the Coco Cubano on Darlinghurst. The cafe is interesting in that it features chocolate, cigars and mixed drinks. Yes, a coffee house with BOOZE. Although despite its Cuban name, they do not serve cafe con leche. The cafe is located across the street from a place that claims to be "The World Famous Love Machine" and the Happy Hockers pawn shop.

Other facts about Jonny, according to his Facebook his favorite activities are: pubs, clubs, travel, backpacking, drawing, painting, and goon. When Jonny says the word "goon" his accent is particularly English and it seems to have nine syllables. His second favorite phrase other than goon, I suspect is "fruity elixir."

I will post photos as soon as I find the plug thingy for my camera, which could be tomorrow or never. I have been told I am a "backpacker" by Jonny despite the fact that those who know me well, no I'm a little lite on the "back" part, but I guess I make up for it in the "packer" department.

Life is Sydney is fun. I do miss my fellow comics, writers and misfits back home. I am seriously trying to convince the other guests at the Kanga House to form a band. There are two open mic nights within walking distance of the hostel. They think I'm joking, but I am dead serious. Naturally, Jonny has volunteered to be lead singer. :)

P.S. I performed at the Laugh Garage Comedy Club on Tues and Wed, and the shows were fun. The club is smaller than the ones in the U.S., but the owner actually talks and is FRIENDLY to the comics on the show. What a novelty! I will be back there on Sept. 16th

Your Comedian Down Under

I am living in an insane asylum, oh wait, I mean hostel in Sydney. It's actually pretty okay except when someone vomited in the sink. Since I never lived in a dorm during college, I get to have that experience at the age of 37, but WITH ACCENTS. It really makes the standing on tables and vomit-fest all the more charming.

I've met more British people than Australians, but I think that it's because there are fewer Australians living in hostels. Here are some words that I have learned since I've been in Australia:

goon - cheap wine in a box that you have to mix with lemonade or Sprite in order to tolerate

walking - this is a very strange mode of transportation they have here. It's the thing I did in Los Angeles to get to the parking spot with my car in it or if you are wealthier what you do to get to the  valet.

Um, well, I think the box wine consumption has altered my ability to remember what else I have learned. I have a show at The Laugh Garage Comedy Club, and I get to find out whether or not the dateline and being in the Southern Hemisphere has acted as kryptonite to my Superman-esque comedy genius.

Clip of Me Hosting Comedy 90210

This week's Comedy 90210 show features amazing Comedy Central Comedians and more: Jimmy Shubert, Jimmy Dore, Tom Clark, Brett Gilbert, Murray Valeriano, Steve Benaquist, Mike Phirman plus me, Christy Murphy, & Stamie Karakasidas.

Happy Birthday Day to Me!

It's official, I'm 37 years old and Comedy 90210, our Beverly Hills Comedy Show, is a hit! My co-producer Stamie Karakasidis and I had an awesome time. We both had great sets with tons of funny guests including Comedy Central comedians Maria Bamford, Chip Pope and Brett Gilbert and other really funny comics such as the King of TV Paul Goebel, Dave Mishevitz, Larry Vasseos, Vance Sanders, Robert Yasumuro, April Robertson. I hope I'm not leaving anyone out. My sister Edie brought the world's most delicious cake. It rocked!

A Comedy Clip from the World Famous Laundromat Show

Here's a comedy clip of me performing in front of a pay toilet next to a set of dryers at one of Los Angeles's most fun, most news-making, comedy shows ever.

The show actually even featured Comedy Central comedians like Howard Kremer, Maria Bamford, Brett Gilbert and more. Just watch Comedy Central and you'll see them.

The Los Angeles show is not in progress right now, because I'm working on a national tour. This is the kick off show for our Southern California tour. It was funny, weird, and an exhausting. I can't wait to do it again. Do you want us to come to your laundromat? Join Operation Otter.

Steve Martin - Born Standing Up

I totally recommend Steve Martin's book, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life. If you love stand-up comedy, Steve Martin, biographies or just breathing air, I recommend it.

In the book he even mentions having anxiety attacks and how long they lasted. I found that comforting as someone who has also experienced recurring anxiety attacks. I felt less alone when I read it. He even wrote about being somewhat uncomfortable with attention yet still wanting to have a career in show business. His reasoning: Who wouldn't? I agree.

I've been working on building a new half hour act. It's really strange and humbling go back out to the open mics. I'm actually nervous and excited. I keep seeing old faces of comics I've worked with a million times before and there is a whole new crop of comics that remind me of people I used to work with, too.  Everything feels new and exciting yet familiar, too.

An Evening at the Improv

I went to The Hollywood Improv on Melrose to see my friend, Bret Ernst perform and participate in the one thing about stand-up comedy that I haven't missed at all--begging for slots. I didn't get up, but Bret was kind enough to introduce me to the runner in the show. The bartender guessed I was a comedian, which was cool, because I didn't have to buy my diet coke. Woo-hoo. There was some kind of Montreal Comedy Festival showcase tonight, but I split to check out another show. The parking was bad, and my back was killing me so I went home. I've got to say, I love the Improv. I haven't performed there in years. I never really dug the hanging out thing. Just standing in the hall was cool, but listening to male comics talk about thumping each others private parts (seriously, yes an actual conversation) just sort of makes me go, "Am I really cut out for show biz?" It was really cool to see Bret though. He looks exactly the same, but his act has grown so much. I really dug it.

And the SCOOMIE Goes to

Every year, shortly after the Oscars, the Los Angeles Stand Up Comedy Community gathers together to put on an award show to honor and poke fun of itself. The jokes are pitched on the inside. Comics don formal wear, and we hand out awards fashioned from foam and coffee cups (representing the many coffee houses we all perform in out here).

We call the awards the SCOOMIE awards, which stands for Southern California Organization Of Open MIc Entertainers. (Yeah, the I is kind of awkward.)

Bret Ernst and Bocanuts

While I was in the Philippines I saw an old comedy friend on television. Bret Ernst and I started comedy about the same time in South Florida over ten years ago. He's doing incredibly well now, (he's in Vince Vaughan's Wild West Comedy Show), and I left him a MySpace comment. I wasn't sure if he would remember me, but we ended up talking on the telephone. I'm going to meet up with him at the Improv in a couple of weeks. We spoke for about an hour, and he said he was glad I didn't give up stand-up comedy, because I was one of the talented ones. For the longest time when friends of mine did well in comedy I was happy, but there was this pang of envy. This time I let myself be happy and listened to that voice inside that said to say 'Congratulations' to an old friend. For the longest time, I would hear the voice that and say to myself, "Yeah, but he'll think you're just kissing up." This time I just wanted to let an old friend know I was happy he was doing well. When I actually share the feelings that come from my heart instead of the insecurities that I have in my head that pang disappeared. He even remembered we were both picked to be the house emcees for a club called Bocanuts a million years ago. I'd almost forgot.

Flu and the Fake Gallery

It feels like my skull has gone into manufacturing snot full time. I've am way old-school sick. Like I was nine, and I really want to be better for the school field trip, but I can't muster the energy to walk to the bus stop. I had the GREATEST time at The Fake Gallery. The Fake Gallery is really cool space and the owner, Paul was way cool too. The show was very Los Angeles comedy scene. Top notch comedy, and a virtually one to one ratio of performers to audience. And I loved every second. Mental note: Buy stock in Dayquil.