Those who know the term cleanliness is next to godliness would be shocked by the stage antics of Sydney comedian, Jimbo. Gracing our Geraldton audience as part of his extensive regional Australian tour last Thursday night, the comedy experience was not not for the feint hearted.
"What I provided was uncensored comedy," he said. "It's got a bit more grunt than anything you'll get in the comedy festival."
Performing a suprising combination of hysterics, real life situations and crowd interaction, the improvised show pushed the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, with the local crowed loving every minute of the spectacle.
"I was really impressed with the good, young crowd - I love a crowed that entertains me as much as I entertain them and I wasn't disappointed."
Entertaining a broad range of sexually explicit topics, the two hour stand-up comedy event allowed local punters to take over the show - with Jimbo drawing material from their experiences for an interesting mix. Thriving in a room beset by hecklers and oddballs, Jimbo encouraged the local crowd to "hijack the stage" - which definitely brought the unexpected.
One local man even went so far as to strip completely naked in order to win one of Jimbo's tour t-shirts.
And what advice does Jimbo have for Geraldton audiences next time he comes to town? "Don't forget to bring your goat!"
Broome Advertiser - 21st June, 2007
Newman Mail 27th April 2007
Who do you get when you cross Sydney's most popular children's party clown with a wandering comedian who does interactive comedy in some of Australia's roughest outback pubs? For those who've seen Jimbo perform, it means a combination of hysterics and crowd interaction. He raises "thinking on your feet" to a whole new level.
Last Saturday night, the Red Sands Hotel hosted a free Jimbo show in the front bar. His humour mined the profound and the profane: there was much patron participation and serious competing for the various prizes on offer.
Unlike most stand-up comics who prepare a 'set' of gags, Jimob thrives in a room awash with hecklers, wackos and weirdos. Jimbo's version of stand-up has to be seen to be believed. He doesn't pretend to have prepared for the evening; he just sees who shows up and goes from there. His current focus is on the people and places he has discovered during his two and a half year odyssey around outback pubs. And Jimbo will "drop it all" if a good heckler comes in.
His shows have included talent quests, balloon animals, chin-balancing and dating quiz shows. It all depends on the audience.
With 15 years on the comedy circuit under his belt, you might remember Jimbo as the quintessential Aussie guy watching the footy on the couch for the VB commercials. Or perhaps more recently, getting into trouble for his Aussie version of Kasey Chambers' "Not Pretty Enough".
For someone who doesn't condone racism or sexism and never falls back on humour which degrades or insults the listener, Jimbo has been banned from a record number of venues. Sydney's Comedy Store wouldn't let him back in after a couple got a little intimate on stage, and even the troops in East Timor lost him after the powers that be banned him, ironically for "swearing like a trooper".
But Jimbo doesn't mind, because "Western Australia feels like my home. And besides, I have less demerit points on my driving record in WA." he said.
To see just what happens when Jimbo applies his children's party skills to a room full of drinkers, come and see him do his thing before he gets banned from WA. With no two performances alike, Jimbo is truly one of a kind.
Yalgoo Bulldust Newsletter - 25th May 2007
Kalgoorlie Miner - 5th March, 2007
Back by popular demand, wandering Aussie comedian Jimbo is set to compere Boulder's Rock Inn annual Labor Day wet t-shirt competition this weekend.
"Aussies fought hard for Labour Day. What better way to celebrate than necking a few beers and straining your brain over which local girl has the best jugs?" says Jimbo, who also spent Australia Day introducing what he fondly terms "chest puppies" to the Rock Inn crowd.
Rock Inn's owner-manager Justine O'Meara says with $500 prize money for the winner up for grabs, she was only going to give the coveted compering job to a pro.
"Jimbo emcee'd our Australia Day wet t-shirt comp, and we had such a great response that I thought I'd better snap him up in advance for Labour Day," she said.
"You always have a few guys who think it's rigged, but Jimbo leaves it to the crowd to decide who wins so you can't accuse him of favouring one rack over another!"
On picking the winner, Jimbo says, "I don't judge on shape or size, I just assess who gets the most noise from the crowd, so if your sister's in it, don't forget to bring a megaphone!"
The Australia Day competition was won by Shea, a local medical centre receptionist.
With 15 years experience as a stand-up comedian under his belt, Jimbo began his current three year odyssey of Australia's outback after being banned from a Sydney gig when a couple from the crowd got a little too intimate on stage during the infamous Talent Quest.
Jimbo says he only ever gets banned for bad language and encouraging the odd bit of nudity. "Surely there's worse things in the world to be worried about", Jimbo laments.
With a unique brand of humour that favours audience interaction over a set of memorised 'gags', you never really know what will happen at one of his gigs.
Jimbo gets his fair share of punters wanting to check his qualifications for such an enviable gig as a wet t-shirt competition. Aside from performing at hundreds of Australia's roughest outback pubs (and being banned from many of them), Jimbo has judged a wide range of wet t-shirt competitions and recently emceed Darwin's Sexpo.
Jimbo believes that the main reason he's such a good wet t-shirt compere is the same reason his gigs are so entertaining. "At the end of the day it's all about letting the crowd decide what makes a good show. If they roar at the person on stage, I crown them the winner."
To cast your vote or even compete at the Rock Inn's Labour Day wet t-shirt competition, kick-off is at 4pm sharp on Monday. Jimbo is also performing live at the Rock Inn with his usual mix of unpredictable and racy humour on Saturday March 3 at 730pm and entry is free.
"Bring your grandmother for a fun family night out", Jimbo cheekily adds."
The Rock Inn is on the corner of Burt and Lane Streets, Boulder.
Kalgoorlie Miner - 5th March, 2007
The Rock Inn has a non-stop line up of entertainment in store for you all this long weekend.
Beginning on Saturday night with stand up comic Jimbo and his raucous front bar pub show, giving everyone a chance to be a little naughty and win a prize at the end of the show by taking part in his talent quest.
Jimbo is a highly intelligent comic who conveys his message through comedy, within one of the last public places where he believes people have a free flow environment to exchange ideas.
Jimbo has been travelling Oz for the last three years supplying thousands of pub goers with riotous nights of laughter, and a few sore ribs the next day!
Rather than use standard, pre-prepared material, Jimbo interacts with the crowd and invites hecklers to join in.
He has performed for our Aussie troops in East Timor and has recently returned from a headlining stint in South Africa, and is now back to Kalgoorlie - Boulder continuing to entertain the people of the goldfields.
Kalgoorlie Miner - 20th October, 2006
From lampooning Kasey Chambers' hit song, "Not Pretty Enough", to being banned from a Sydney club, "comedian with a difference" Jimbo, seems to love controversy. Either that, or it just follows in his wake effortlessly.
His version of stand-up is so unique that it's difficult to compare him to anyone else, but try this on for size - What do you get when you cross Sydney's most popular children's party clown with a wandering comedian who does 'interactive' comedy in some of Australia's roughest outback pubs?
The answer it seems, is Jimbo. He's about to bring his quirky show to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and hecklers are welcome. In fact, they're encouraged!
A typical performance by Jimbo includes a surprising combination of hysterics, laughter and crowd interaction. Unlike your average stand-up comedian who prepares a 'set' of gags, Jimbo thrives in a room beset by hecklers, wackos, weirdos, and your average Joe just walking past who wondered what all the fuss was about.
Jarring with his sincerity, Jimbo makes no pretensions that he has prepared for the night, instead he just sees "who shows up", and goes from there.
Though his humour centres on the profane and the profound, and his current focus is on the people and places he has discovered on his past two and a half year odyssey around the pubs of outback Australia, Jimbo will drop it all if a good heckler comes in. His shows have included talent quests, balloon animals, chin-balancing and dating quiz shows. Apparently, it all depends on the audience.
With 15 years on the comedy circuit under his belt, some readers might recognise Jimbo as the quintessential Aussie guy who was watching footy on the couch in the VB commercials.
Or perhaps more recently, getting into trouble for his Aussie version of Kasey Chambers', "Not Pretty Enough".
For someone who doesn't condone racism or sexism and never falls back on humour which degrades or insults the listener, Jimbo has been banned from a number of venues. Sydney's Comedy Store wouldn't let him back in after one couple got a little too intimate on stage, and even the troops in East Timor lost him after the powers-that-be banned him, ironically for "swearing like a trooper".
But Jimbo doesn't mind because in his words, "Western Australia feels like my home. And besides, I have less demerit points on my driving record in WA."
To see just what happens when Jimbo applies his children's party skills to a room full of drinkers, you may want to go and see him do his thing before he gets banned from this state as well.
Jimbo performs at The Rock Inn in Boulder on Friday, October 27 at 8pm.
Review by Ewan Gordon (May 2006)
This review appeared in the print and online version of "The Pun".
There are those who would class Jimbo’s Big Night Out as crass comedy, appealing only to the lowest common denominator. Although I can concede that the show is rather blunt and coarse, it isn’t the lowest kind of people that will enjoy this show but the deepest and darkest parts of everyone. Jimbo’s Big Night Out is a virtual cavalcade of jokes that will make even the foulest mouthed sailor want to blush.
Jimbo’s Big Night Out is your typical pub comedy show, something for those true blue Australians who think that dick and knob gags are funny. However, Jimbo’s, no matter how descriptive or expletive it may be, does not contain any homophobic or racial material, which saves it from degenerating into something only the worst audience would want to watch.
Jimbo’s Big Night Out has been banned from several locations around this great red land of ours for being too severe when it to comes to language and content. So once again, this is not a show for those who get easily offended. Audience participation is a must!
The Picture magazine - 23/11/2005
What would you do to get a T-shirt that said "I fucked a goat"? The answer from most Australians seems to be any-fuckin-thing. The giver of this salubrious fashion article is 35-year-old Jimbo from Sydney - a roaming comedian who travels Australia telling people funny stories and encouraging them to show their genitals.
We wanted to get the low-down on this caper so we sent nude spunks Jenna and Alex along. He got them on stage at the Winnellie Hotel in Darwin in front of about 200 champions.
So what usually happens next, Jimbo? "I basically do jokes, incite hecklers and encourage party tricks from audience members in return for an 'I fucked a goat' t-shirt."
What kinda shit do these people do to cop the clobber? "Stuff like setting their pubes on fire...that's always a good one. One bloke pissed in a schooner glass and his mate drank it."
Fucken hell! "Ha ha ha! Yeah, that wasn't my idea of getting on the piss either. The best one, though, was when a girl came up and sucked a blokes dick while he sung a song. I think the only thing I haven't seen yet on stage is a guy actually fuck a goat. When I give a t-shirt to someone who does that, I'll retire."
What did our girls - Jenna and Alex - do for ya? "Got up on stage and did a tandem strip. It was a bit of a highlight, actually."
You get in a bit of strife over your material, don't ya? "Yeah, I've been banned from heaps of places, especially in the bigger cities. Publicans get worried they'll love their licenses over me. I even got banned from performing for the troops in East Timor. Apparently the top brass reckoned I was 'swearing like a trooper'."
Does it give you the shits? "Fuck 'em. Thre are worse things happening in the world to worry about than watching tits and hearing a comedian swear."
Fucken Amen, brother.
The picture sez: For more info on booking or seeing Jimbo, go to www.jimbo.com.au. Also scrute Readers' World in future issues as Tiges will have some of this champion's DVDs to giveaway. And finally - keep your cocks out of goats, blokes. Seriously
Northern Territory News - 04/10/05
A comedian who is touring the NT has been labelled "too rude". Sydneysider Jimbo had his month-long stint at Squires Tavern in Darwin cut short for being too rude. Co-owner of Squires Julia English, said she did not like the show.
"It was offensive and in bad taste and not for the demographic we would like to attract to this club," she said.
Jimbo did two shows at the pub. The first one attracted 20 people, but the second one 100 people. The "Big Night Out" show consisted of Jimbo telling jokes, responding to hecklers and encouraging nudity.
"It's an interactive show where I get people up on the stage to just let their hair down and have a good time," Jimbo said. He said it was disappointing the show was cancelled as he was getting a good audience response.
"I love what I do," he said. "I packed the club out, then was told I was too rude. Everyonne asks, 'when is your next show?'. When I tell them I've been banned, they can't believe it".
But he did agree the show is not for everyone. It is rough and rude," he said. "(And) it does have lots of swearing and nudity. It's a comedy show, so, to me, if you think it's too rude, you can just walk out. I just want to go around and make people laugh."
While in NT, Jimbo also performed at Howard Springs Tavern, Nhulunbuy's Walkabout Tavern, Jabiru Golf Club and the Katherine Hotel. He said all these shows had great feedback.
Jimbo has been performing his two-hour show for about five years. He said this is not the first time his show has been banned. He has also been banned from the Sydney Comedy Store and Parramatta's Albion Hotel.
Northern Territory News - September 2005
Darwin Times - September 2005
Narrogin Observer - March 2nd 2005
Parramatta Sun - November 2003
The Albion Hotel's Thursday night show, "The Big Night Out", has been canned because of its explicit content. The show's creator, Jimbo, said that even though "The Big Night Out" was bringing in record crowd numbers, management had cancelled the weekly gig because it may be too offensive for some patrons.
Upset and angry at the decision, Jimbo said that management had told him the show was "rude and disgusting". This comes just weeks after a woman got on stage, bared her breasts and had two of her friends licking them. Jimbo said "The Big Night Out" show pushed the boundaries of entertainment and he could see nothing wrong with that. "It's like it might be rude and have swear words, but people are laughing. What more do you want?", he said.
After a residency of nearly three years at the Albion Hotel at Parramatta, "The Big Night Out" had it's final show last Wednesday. Fans are circulating a petition to ask management to reinstate the show. One fan, Jeannie said that she was devastated because Thursday was her night hang out and she had been going there for three years.
smh.com.au - June 6 2003
Big Night Out : Host a Tonight Show in a pub and throw away any taste and you've got the Big Night Out. James Dezarnaulds's alter ego, Jimbo, drags up audience members for chats on the couch and humiliating game shows such as Perfect Snatch. Then there are guest musos, comedians, fire breathers, snake handlers and a goat to break up the action. The Big Night Out started out at Parramatta's Albion Hotel, where it's held on Thursday night. On Wednesday it's at the Wentworth Hotel, Homebush. On Fridays, starting from tonight, Jimbo takes the bad taste east, to the Paddington Bowling Club. Go to http://www.thebignightout.com.au
To book Jimbo and his 'Big Night Out' show: Mobile: 0411333349 E-mail: jimbo@jimbo.com.au
