Brace yourself: Josh Thomas is coming to Perth and/or to a TV near you.
Either way, he will be clad in skinny jeans and sweaters that would rival your granddad’s wardrobe.
And unless you hide under a rock that’s somehow soundproofed to block out his untraceable accent and hilariously awkward tales – you’re going to be left in stitches.
He’s the face of Gen Y on Channel Ten’s hit-game show, Talkin’ Bout your Generation; the poster boy for folks born between 1980 and 1996.
Basically, he’s the proverbial Facebook profile picture of Generation Y.
For those who have somehow escaped his presence, he has also dabbled in the past five Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, toured abroad and generated a substantial following online.
Thomas will be trekking over to the West Coast this month with his latest show, ‘Surprise’.
‘It’s about my first long-term relationship with a boy, Tom Ballard; we were going out,’ Thomas said over the phone from Melbourne.
‘We’re not (together) anymore which is awkward because I had to change my show.’
The 23-year-old touched on the beginnings of his former relationship with comedian and Triple J breakfast presenter Tom Ballard.
‘It was pretty dull, I fell in love with Tom and then we started dating; that was my first man-on-man action,’ Thomas said.
For many same-sex attracted people, coming out can seem like a great crescendo moment;
however, Thomas felt like there was no climatic build-up when he dropped the G-bomb.
‘I worry about calling it that (coming out). I don’t think it’s very interesting,’ Thomas said.
‘I ignored the fact he’s a boy a lot of the time.’
As his first relationship with a man, Thomas remained fairly nonchalant about the whole experience.
‘Well, you know, I’ve had sex with heaps of bitches. I don’t want to brag, it’s not a big deal but I’ve slept with seven girls,’ Thomas said.
‘I’ve had sex with more girls than some of my straight friends.’
And what lessons were learnt from his first serious relationship?
‘Do you learn things from stuff? I don’t think I ever have,’ Thomas said.
‘Nothing profound, I had a nice time.’
Now faced with the prospect of amending his stand-up show for a third time since meeting Ballard, Thomas deals with his troubles of the heart in a pragmatic nature.
‘I’m jealous of guys when they are 16 because they have never felt love,’ Thomas said.
‘I learnt it was easier when I wasn’t having a relationship. Love is a lot of hard work.’
Outside of his former relationship, Thomas’ show traverses a range of side-splitting stories including a situation many will identify with: trapped in traffic with a full bladder.
Long story short, Thomas concedes in his show that ‘you haven’t lived until you’ve urinated on your own face.’
This is perhaps where the charm of Thomas’ humour resonates; taking the ordinary and retelling it through his uncouth yet honest storytelling.
Thomas said his favourite gigs to date have been at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, having made the bill for the past five years.
‘Yeah I love it. People know me there and they come to my show which is a really good thing. I’ve got friends there, so that’s really nice,’ Thomas said.
However what Thomas hadn’t anticipated from his career were the hoards of pubescent girls that would make up a decent proportion of his fan base.
‘These days I just get heckled by 16-year-old girls telling me that they love me which is annoying,’ Thomas said.
‘One of them got a tattoo of my name on their wrists, I don’t even know if she was a teenage girl. She got me to write on them and then she got it tattooed,’
While his shows as a comedian have brought him so far, it’s his regular exposure on shows such as TAYG, as well as guest spots on the likes of The 7PM Project that have propelled him into the lounge rooms and minds of Australians.
After a brief interval in season two, the show has returned for more laughs and some extraordinary challenges.
‘Well it’s pretty much exactly the same, its bigger, the games are bigger,’ Thomas said.
‘It’s really fun. I don’t think there’s controversy though; it’s not a controversial show. I don’t think we’re really pushing boundaries, are we?’
Thomas also revealed that he was working on a pitch for his own sitcom on the ABC.
Remaining tight-lipped on its premise, he admitted he was unsure it had any future.
‘Do these things ever get made? I don’t think these things ever get made,’ Thomas said.
So what’s the next big thing for Josh Thomas.
‘I don’t really have any plans. I just hang out and sometimes people call you and ask if you want to do something,’ Thomas said.
‘That’s my five year plan.’
Josh Thomas’ show ‘Surprise’ is on for just three nights at UWA’s Octagon Theatre on August 20, 21 and 22. Tickets are on sale now through BOCS.
Benn Dorrington
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