Jordan Shea: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

The Guardian

30-04-2025

I grew up pretty much without the internet until its apparent boom in my teenage years, around 2007-2008, at which point I hijacked my family's very limited bandwidth to watch the evolution of Tony award openings, and reruns of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Other experiences included picking up our landline to be met with the unholy screech of dial-up and ripping a CD on LimeWire, causing the monitor to slightly combust.
Now, as a high school teacher, I battle the internet. Often my students refer to content that sends me to Google or my teacher WhatsApp group in search of understanding. But in the dressing room, my co-stars, who all have done their honours in The Internet, are teaching me, allowing me to feel less in the way and more part of the crowd.
So, here are my 10 funniest things on the internet. Not ranked, just off the top of my head.
This whole clip sums up the hilarity, stamina and pacing that anyone in a Mel Brooks musical requires to deliver the goods. It certainly was my own education while rehearsing The Producers!
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Led by Mama LuLu, this Filipino family from the Bay Area thrive on making content dedicated to affectionately bullying each other. They are all hilarious, representing contemporary Filipino culture in America, with commentary on social issues, cooking, politics – and every single video they put out kills me. Mama LuLu refers to her children by their nicknames: Bottom, Apple and Lesbean – so I never knew their actual names until about two months ago. The family talk really seriously about issues, then pivot to total ridiculousness and screaming. Any video on their page is worth a watch.
Here we see Mr G, in my opinion one of the best comic creations in Australian television, clearing the office of the school's head of drama. She's gone to New Zealand for about six weeks, and he clears the office like she's never coming back and he's replacing her. The way Mr G drops someone else's items into boxes so carelessly shows a contempt for teaching hierarchy that is totally believable. My best friend and I always quote 'Shit, crap, useless. You could use that couldn't you?' when we are in an op shop.
The former Liberal candidate Jaymes Diaz appeared out of his depth when interviewed by Channel 10 ahead of the 2013 election. This was the first election I voted in, and I remember this resonating with me, because I thought the Liberal party were particularly callous in sending out someone so unprepared. The aesthetic of a candidate standing there, blanking entirely to a reporter, between two people who seemingly nod along with him, is like something out of Fast Forward. Fortunately, Diaz paid himself out a little later.
I personally just love anyone screaming loudly in a comic way – on stage or on screen.
Don Rickles is one of my favourite comedians ever. He was in his late 80s here but still shot some barbs that were extremely funny. The full version of this Larry King interview is worth watching, but this clip shows him acting like he has no idea who Justin Bieber is while also dismissing him completely, without saying anything at all.
I will read this usually once a month, because it reads me to filth.
Studio 10 is fascinating. Live audience numbers and applause are as slim as my bank account and waistline when I was in theatre school. The segments were extremely diverse: from political issues to segments on Darling Harbour. In this segment, veteran performer Denise Drysdale and blue tongue lizard aficionado Craig Bennett prepare a full three course meal for $82. It's full of zingers, and everything from thinning out soup with a bit of stock to Mark Trevorrow donating a super sweet 'Gary Sweet' prosecco.
Just watch it.
If I ever get extremely wealthy and have lots of free time, I want to track down the creative director and cast members and pitch to McDonald's the revival of this 1983 ad campaign. It is excellent, and brings a genuine smile to my face. I also have it on good authority that this was recreated by a McDonald's team in western Sydney.
Jordan Shea is appearing in The Producers at Riverside theatres 15-18 May.