SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE


TVSA Interview: Barry Hilton

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Interviews on 17 Apr 2008
Favourite this post


Stand-up SA comedian Barry Hilton's currently on the box co-hosting SABC2's gameshow The Generation Game, alongside Cindy Nkabinde.

I called him up at his home in PE to have a laugh:

Tashi: So what made you become a comedian?
Barry: I was too lazy to get a real job.

Tashi: How did it happen that all your live performances are based on your own personal experiences?
Barry: 'cos I just talk about life - what I see.

Tashi: Have you ever spoken about someone in a routine who's been fuming with you afterwards?
Barry: Um, ja - but I only tell the truth and the truth is right.

Tashi: How do you handle things when people confront you about what you say?
Barry: Well in a show I once said: "I'm sure God's a Leb because he's from that area," so this woman phones me up and says:"How dare you say that God's Lebanese."

I said, "But why?" and she says, "Because you can't talk about God like that," so I said, "But he's from the middle East - he couldn't have blond hair and blue eyes."

She got very upset with me so I said, "Ag please man - go away. God's supposed to be everywhere so it means he's Lebanese and Chinese and black and Indian and white and coloured."

Tashi: Did you convince her?
Barry: Eventually she had a good laugh about it.

Tashi: What would you say the difference is between comedy and rage?
Barry: An extremely. Fine. Line.

I think it's the same thing as the difference between love and hate.

Tashi: What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you on stage?
Barry: I have a hiatus hernia - I've had it for like 25 years and I was on stage in Swaziland this one time. I was in so much pain with it I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.

It was burning and my arm was sore and yissssterday - I went on stage and did an hours show and thought, "Bugger this, if I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die here. This is it." So that was scary - but it was also quite exciting.

I'm a bit of a hypochondriac - on my gravestone it's gonna say: "See - I told you I was sick."

Tashi: What's your funnest moment on stage? Have you ever corpsed?
Barry: Yes - I have a friend called Richard Drummond and I was doing a show in a kitchen before I was Pro - at a party. We were very close, me and him - we still are - so I told a story and just as I got to the punchline he told the punchline of the joke.

He didn't know the joke, it was a joke I made up so he'd never heard it - he just knew what the punchline was before I got to it. We were so close he knew exactly what I was gonna say and we just collapsed - everybody thought were nuts - I laughed for two hours!

Tashi: The Generation Game's about trying to master a new skill on the spur of the moment. Besides being a stand-up comic - what other things are you a master in?
Barry: Cooking. I absolutely love cooking. When I get home my wife is relieved of the kitchen duty - I do it all.

Tashi: What's your ultimate dish to make?
Barry: Paella - I make a sweet paella and I'm getting quite nifty at making different curries.

Tashi: You're very much an observer of things aren't you?
Barry: Yes - actually, I'm more of a life narrator than a stand-up comic. I narrate about everything I see, touch, hear and taste in everyday life.

Tashi: Can you give us your observations on ... Eskom.
Barry: Eskom's fantastic - they used to be switched on but now they're no longer a current joke.

Tashi: Banks.
Barry: Last week my bank manager phoned me up and said, "You're R20 000 overdrawn."

I said, "Really?". He says "Yes."

I said: "Tell me, how was I last month?" and he says,"You had a great month last month - you were R200 000 in credit," and I said, "Really?? So did I phone you??"

Tashi: Dogs.
Barry: I love dogs.

Two dogs talking. The one says: "What's your name bru'?" and the other says, "I think it's Down Boy."

Tashi: Debra Patta.
Barry: Who the hell's that?? Oh! from Hard Talk - the 3rd Degree. When she dies I think she's definitely going to be burnt.

Tashi: The Bold and the Beautiful.
Barry: I would really not like to talk about myself and my wife!

-----

You can catch Barry on The Generation Game on Thursdays at 19h30.



3 Comments

Toxic
17 Apr 2008 00:25


lol, great one Tash. I watched the Gen game once and just thought he's the king of puns!

lepogo
18 Apr 2008 05:25

Riot!

Kakapana
18 Apr 2008 09:18

"See - I told you I was sick." this is a classic LOL!!!!!


Only TVSA members can reply to this thread. Click here to login or register.






LATEST ARTICLES

The Wife 3 Teasers - April 2024

Naledi’s sex tape sees the spotlight again and catches her in the headlights.


Skerpioen Teasers - April 2024

A torched boat, poison in wine and youthful memories die when Ferda tries to kill Ahmet.


Gqeberha: The Empire 2 Teasers - April 2024

The Mxenge Hotel turns into a whodunnit. A gunshot. Murder. In which room and by who?


Imlie Teasers - April 2024

Imlie takes Ashu to the hospital when he falls ill, but kidnappers attempt to abduct him.


My Desire Teasers - April 2024

Kaashvi clears her name and reports Pradyumna's bribery attempt to the police.


New on TV today: Thursday 28 March 2024

Season 2 of Dam premieres on M-Net and Grey's Anatomy 20 drops on Disney+.


Hlomla Dandala confirmed to debut as Caesar on Smoke & Mirrors Season 2

The past collides with soon in the latest on Hlomla's whereabouts.


Smoke & Mirrors Teasers - April 2024

Season 1 finale and crossover alert! Caesar takes Thandiswa to the House of Zwide for her wedding dress.


Smoke & Mirrors 2 Teasers - April 2024

Season 2 premiere! Caesar's dark suspicions unravel as he demands the truth from Thandiswa.


Bitter Sweet Love Teasers - April 2024

Vandana and Kunal have a tiff after she hits him with a broom.

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS





×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.