Chris Taylor (comedian)
Chris Thornton Taylor (born 1974) is an Australian television and radio comedian. As a member of The Chaser team, he is best known for his role on satirical ABC television shows CNNNN and The Chaser's War on Everything. He formerly co-hosted the drive radio show Today Today on Triple J with fellow Chaser member Craig Reucassel.
He worked as a TV news reporter for ABC Melbourne before moving back to Sydney to work for The Chaser's newspaper full time. After critically acclaimed stints on the ABC with The Election Chaser and two series of CNNNN, Taylor united with fellow Chaser Craig Reucassel to present the Triple J Drive slot, Today Today. Taylor also wrote and voiced a weekly Coma FM sketch, satirising the format and style of commercial radio.[1] The two took a break from presenting the show in 2004 to work on the Logie Award-winning election special, The Chaser Decides. He left Triple J at the end of 2005 to return to television on The Chaser's War on Everything in 2006.
The Chaser team produced 26 episodes of The Chaser's War on Everything for the ABC, in which Taylor appears as one of several hosts. He is also the program's script editor.
In one skit on The Chaser's War on Everything, Taylor supposedly made a guest appearance on Sunrise, a morning talk show on Channel 7. He said he had a surprise announcement for his wife and ended up yelling a profane statement down the camera, begging her to get out of his life. The appearance of authenticity of this clip made it appear as though the segment went live to air on Sunrise, but in fact it only ever appeared on The Chaser's War on Everything. Taylor and the hosts admitted it was a staged event, filmed on the Sunrise set after one of their shows. A clip of this segment has become an internet phenomenon and been sent via email all around the world.[2][3]
Taylor also occasionally co-hosts the radio program Bloody Sunday on Triple J with Reucassel.
Taylor has written a play called "Dead Caesar" which premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company on 1 February 2007. The play is a musical comedy based on the life of Julius Caesar, featuring original music composed by fellow Chaser member Andrew Hansen.[4]
During the 2007 TV Week Logies, Taylor and Reucassel were forced to leave by security guards after trying to do a sketch for The War. The Chaser had been under heavy surveillance during the night. Their footage and cameras were confiscated, but later returned to the team the following Monday[5]
References
- ^ Javes, Sue (2004-04-26). "Merry Pranksters". The Sydney Morning Herald. John Fairfax Holdings Limited.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Marcus Casey (2006-05-31). "Broadcast News". Daily Telegraph. News Ltd.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Ian Porter (2006-05-26). "Full Disclosure". The Age. John Fairfax Holdings Limited.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sydney Theatre Company - Dead Caesar". Retrieved 2007-01-23.
- ^ "Chased, checked, chastened". Retrieved 2007-05-14.