Sammy J

Infobox Comedian
name = Sam McMillan


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pseudonym = Sammy J
birth_name = Samuel Jonathan McMillan
birth_date = July 2, 1983 (age 25)
birth_place = Australia
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medium = Stand-up, radio, television
nationality = Australian
active = 2003-present
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influences = Lano and Woodley, Tom Lehrer, Tony Martin, Shaun Micallef, The Mighty Boosh, Ross Noble, Adam Hillscite web |author=Davidson, Erin | url=http://www.thegroggysquirrel.com/articles/2006/06/18/nuts-about-sammy-j/ | title=Nuts About Sammy J |work=The Groggy Squirrel |date=2007-06-18 | accessdate=2008-08-19] [cite web |author= | url=http://www.sammy-j.com/jworld.htm | title=Interview |work=Sammy-J.com |date= | accessdate=2008-08-19]
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website = http://www.sammy-j.com/
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Sam McMillan (born July 2, 1983) is an Australian musical comedian and writer who performs under the stage name Sammy J. He embraces a variety of media in his comedy, including the use of video and self-composed music. He has released two CD compilations of his comic songs, "The Burden of Popularity" and "Sammy J - Live?". He has performed at comedy festivals in Australia and Britain and has appeared on various Australian television shows.

Personal background

McMillan studied law at the University of Melbourne for two and a half years, where he also directed and appeared in the Melbourne Law Comedy Revue. [cite web |author=Taylor, Darlene | url=http://www.thegroggysquirrel.com/articles/2007/02/12/q-a-with-sammy-j/ | title=Q & A with Sammy J |work=The Groggy Squirrel |date=2007-02-12 | accessdate=2008-08-19] He says he was more interested in writing jokes than studying, and halfway through the course decided to drop out. He subsequently completed a media degree and began to pursue a full-time comedy career. [cite web |author=McMillan, Sam | url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2008/03/20/2213253.htm | title=Stephen K Amos and Sammy J - Interview |work=ABC Melbourne |date=2007-03-20 | accessdate=2008-08-19]

Career

In 2006, McMillan took the Best Newcomer award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his debut solo show, "Sammy J's 55 Minute National Tour". He has since performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne comedy festivals, as well as starring in the Comedians' Theatre Company's production of Breaker Morant at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe. [cite web |author=Bingham, Ron | url=http://www.thegroggysquirrel.com/articles/2007/07/24/edinburgh-fringe-preview---breaker-morant/ | title=Edinburgh Fringe Preview – Breaker Morant |work=The Groggy Squirrel |date=2007-07-24 | accessdate=2008-08-19] In 2008, he collaborated with puppeteer Heath McIvor on a musical, "Sammy J and the Forest of Dreams". The show, which stars McMillan and 14 foul-mouthed puppets operated by McIvor, is an adult fairy tale parodying the format of Disney children's movies. It revolves around the lead character—Sammy J—and his discovery of a portal in his kitchen cupboard which leads him to the magical Forest of Dreams. [cite web |author=Richardson, Jar | url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/-Rude-toys--comic.4365489.jp | title=Rude toys - comic puppetry for adults only |work=The Scotsman |date=2008-08-07 | accessdate=2008-08-19] "The Forest of Dreams" was well-received by critics in Melbourne, earning a nomination for the festival's Barry Award for the most outstanding show and winning "The Age" Critics Award for the best local act. [cite web |author=Ziffer, Daniel | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/quirky-acts-share-top-prize/2008/04/13/1208024987504.html?page=2 | title=Quirky acts share top prize |work=The Age |date=2008-04-14 | accessdate=2008-08-19]

At the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival then-25 year-old McMillan launched "The 50 Year Show", the first in a series of live comedy shows which he plans to reprise every five years, ending in 2058 when he will be 75. McMillan describes the show as "a living, breathing comedic time capsule. Every five years we can observe the world, make predictions, see how the world's changed." It includes segments such as a 50 Year Soap Opera, a 50 Year Story; and the 50 Year Dancers, a group of five year-olds performing a routine which they will repeat at each show. McMillan first conceived the idea for "The 50 Year Show" in 2007 while sitting on a London bus full of elderly people and wondering how he could make his mark.cite web |author=Baily, John | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/executive-style-home/culture/the-50-year-plan/2008/09/23/1221935613841.html | title=The 50 year plan |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2008-09-23 | accessdate=2008-10-04]

He has appeared on various Australian television shows, including "Spicks and Specks", "Good News Week" and "Stand Up Australia", and was featured on the "Laughapoolooza" DVD released in Australia by Madman Entertainment. He has also written and performed on The Comedy Channel's satirical news show "The Mansion". [cite web |author=l | url=http://www.sammy-j.com/bio.htm | title=Biography |work=Sammy-J.com |date= | accessdate=2008-08-19]

Discography

*The Burden of Popularity (2005)
*Sammy J - Live? (2006)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=1933064|name=Sammy J