Jason Chong

Jason Chong: Stay Puft – Heckler.com.au review (Melbourne Comedy Festival)

Before this show I’d never heard of Jason Chong, and I’m not sure why; the man is a very strong comic talent who should be a household name. This sharp, punchy show brought the hits and laughs with relative ease and comfort, the crowd involvement was well timed and well received, and the show as a whole fell right into place like circle into circle hole, square into square hole, but not as predictable.

As you enter the Hairy Little Sista (God I hope I never have to type or say that ever again) you bypass the busy and pumping restaurant and bar and slip into a stair way to heaven. Heaven filled with ghosts, or at least, Ghostbusters. Chong delivers a show of great importance to one of the forgotten cinematic canons of our time, Ghostbusters. The comedic masterpiece is dissected and trawled for clues as to which Ghostbuster Chong would be and is also tied into his futile efforts to lose weight and achieve the godlike body he was always meant to have.

The show features many technological aspects, which I am told is a trademark of Chongsters, and also a few amazing puns. I FUCKING LOVE PUNS! And his were great.

The delivery was clear and concise and he was very confident, he never stumbled over words but still had the flow of a conversation, with a fair bit of ad-libbing. The show was a tremendous success and I would recommend it to all. Well done Chongy. Well done.

Original article: http://www.heckler.com.au/2014/04/13/review-jason-chong-stay-puft-2/

Jason Chong: Stay Puft – Heckler.com.au review (Adelaide Fringe)

Be sure to rock up early for Jason Chong: Stay Puft, to hear mashups of the Ghostbusters theme song with Super Marios Bros and Kelis’ “Milkshake”. An ode to the franchise that Chong says has most shaped him (pun intended), he quips that he has seen Ghostbusters so many times that he recognized Ron Jeremy in the porn parody as an extra from the original film. Of course, he only watched it as research for the show, “At least, I watched it in five minute increments.” Chopping and mixing (choose your own pun here) his lifelong obsession with Ghostbusters into his recent desire to shed a few kilos, Chong shares with us his exploits in exercise – whether they be sweating it out at Bikram Yoga or falling asleep in hypnotherapy. They are funny to hear about, but he knows his source material well enough to make his pop-culture multimedia project the real meat and potatoes of the show. He could (and should) do a longer show entirely about the Ghostbusters saga, covering the controversy of Winston Zeddemore losing his audition to be cast as the voice of his own character in the animated series, and how the theme song so blatantly ripped off “I Want a New Drug” by Huey Lewis & The News that the matter was settled out of court.

Known as a go-to host in the Adelaide Comedy scene, “Chongy” knows not only how to warm up a room, but how to make a room feel warm. He won’t hesitate to throw himself under a heckler to save a newcomer, and can easily comb over a collective unity between Fringe hipsters and Clipsal mullets.

Stay Puft’s story arc revolves around Chongy pondering which Ghostbuster he is most like. There is a fitting tribute to recently deceased Harold Ramis’ Dr Egon Spengler. As Sigourney Weaver once says to Bill Murray’s Dr Venkman, “You don’t act like a scientist. You’re more like a game show host.” Jason Chong is the best of both camps, revealing that he shares traces with the spirits of all the Ghostbusters, as we all do. More than any other, however, he is Dan Akroyd’s character, Dr Raymond Stanz: “I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never, ever possibly destroy us. Mr. Stay Puft.”

Enthusiastic and engaging, both characters are the loveable hearts of their stories, no matter how much cholesterol those big-hearted men may have. Chongy is playful enough to try the occasionally undercooked ad-lib here and there. He’ll apologise if something new doesn’t land, but he’ll do it with a cheeky smirk that will grow on you. He may giggle at his own jokes now and then, but you can bet you will be giggling as well. These little pauses – the ums and ahs – aren’t so much Chong dropping character as much as a part of his schtick. Or rather, proof that he has been doing this long enough to need no schtick, and would rather just be himself so he can have a down-to-earth chat with you. And he would love nothing more than for you think of him as a mate telling you a funny story at the pub, except your mate is 2009’s Adelaide Comedian of the Year and still punching strong.

Who you going to call? Jason Chong!

Original article: http://www.heckler.com.au/2014/03/08/review-jason-chong-stay-puft/

Jason Chong’s Mum – Review (Beat Magazine)

Fresh from an 18-month tour of his award winning Il Dego show, Jason Chong returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a brand new show. You know Jason from The Project, Today, The Footy Show, NOVA and SAFM, now get to know Jason Chong’s Mum.

The fact that Jason Chong has named his show Mum solely for the fact that he enjoys the idea of people being able to request “two tickets to Jason Chong’s Mum”, is a testament to Jason’s quintessential comedic outlook.

‘You’re welcome,’ he writes about the little giggle he has be-gifted his audiences with upon ordering their tickets.

Watching Jason do his thing is a pleasure, I have seen people excrete both tears and mucus from intense, unrelenting fits of laughter.

His defiant energy is utterly compelling, his storytelling superb.

Chong’s 2011 show Real Life featured him discussing ‘Chongplicity’ with two other projections of himself . His originality is widely acclaimed, yet he is masterful at even the most basic comedy practices like timing.

Jason Chong is ingenious, you simply must get inside Chong’s Mum. Go on, there’s room for hundreds.

Original article: http://www.beat.com.au/gig/jason-chong-jason-chongs-mum

Jason Chong’s Mum – Review (Herald Sun)

COMPLETELY in control and in tune with his audience, Jason Chong’s 50 minutes of stand-up is a ripping ride.

Bursting out of the gates, Chong warm-heartedly skipped across race and relationship gags, delivering punchlines as though they were bursting out of a berretta by exacting every drop out of each set-up.

Bogged down briefly while seemingly testing new material, the 31-year-old overcame a patchy period to deliver a predominantly polished performance. Given this was his opening night, these lulls may well be ironed out as his festival advances.

Chong flagged the show as being “about the two most important people in my life’’. He was at his best while dissecting his relationships with his mum and fiance.

Brilliantly interactive, Chong had the audience on side throughout and when the curtain fell he suitably left them wanting more.

Stars: ★★★½

Michael Howard – Apri 12, 2012

Original Article: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-features/review-jason-chongs-mum/story-fncv4qxa-1226324812545

Jason Chong’s Mum – Review (The Advertiser)

Jason Chong begins his show with a warning: If you don’t like crass humour you’re not going to like this show.

This may come as a surprise because Chong is usually known for his smart and inventive humour, something which he says this show lacks.

But he is selling himself short because, while the show is more straight stand-up than in the past, his jokes have depth with much of the show centring on some of the most important people in his life even if he is mocking them.

Chong loves to bounce off the audience, which makes every show just that bit different, and he even handled well an unexpected interruption from an extremely drunk woman who suddenly appeared in the tent.

After an hour it is safe to say Jason Chong’s Mum has staying power and vitality.

Thanks Jason Chong for allowing people you don’t know to talk about your mum in inappropriate ways.

Original article: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/jason-chongs-mum/story-fnb4rm6u-1226298430636

Minority Retort – ThreeWeeks Edinburgh Review

Sometimes traditional formulas work the best. After all, there is a reason they are traditional. Jason Chong’s set was nothing extraordinary; it was just plain funny. He began by explaining his national identity – Australasian – and what his heritage meant to him. Race jokes ran close to the line, but the skilful wording kept Chong on the audience’s good side. He told tales of his parents, his girlfriend and moved onto random bits about ethnicity and the film ‘Transformers’, where some clever props and a guitar were used. By merging anecdotes of humorous circumstances and jovial reflection, Chong has crafted a near-perfect piece.

Adam Bell – August 2010

Original article: http://edinburgh.threeweeks.co.uk/review/10131

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