Unlikely Friends is an improvised chat show hosted by Damian Callinan, featuring a rotating duo of the worlds best comedians & improvisors, taking on historical roles as they reinvent the past, revealing how they became improbable mates. All episodes are recorded in front of a live audience.
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After meeting at the equine resort, ‘Fetlocks on The Hay at Byron Bay,’ Australasian thoroughbred racing legend, Phar Lap and Pegasus, the winged, thunderbolt conjuring horse of Greek mythology, hit it off. Their prank filled friendship saw them reinvent the stylings of equestrian dressage events at the Modern Olympic games; raid a Steiner school teacher conference, disguised as unicorns & blow up the phone lines on their Bareback Talkback Radio Show. Get some fresh hay, lie in your favourite paddock and prick your ears, as Elf Lyons & Kirsty Webeck, two of the funniest equine improvisors in the world enter the starting gates.
(Elf Lyons, Damian Callinan & Kirsty Webeck backstage in the donkey free green room)
(To their credit, the equine guests never complained once about having to sit on stools clearly made for humans)
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1 Oct 2025
Episode 5 - Neil Armstrong (Brian Nankervis) & Andre The Giant (Rusty Berther)
Brian Nankervis as Neil Armstrong and Rusty Berther as Andre the Giant share humorous anecdotes and insights into Australian culture in a lively interview with Damian Callinan recorded live at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Michelle Brasier as William Shakespeare and Claire Hooper as Coco Chanel discuss their unlikely friendship and creative collaborations, including beat poetry and Shakespeare's influence on Chanel's fashion shows in this interview.
3 Apr 2025
Unlikely Friends - Episode 3 - Joan of Arc (Geraldine Hickey) & Andy Warhol (Andrew McLelland)
In this episode Geraldine Hickey, (https://token.com.au/artist/geraldine-hickey/) pulls on the armoury of Joan of Arc. Winner of the Most Outstanding Show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, her solo shows have gone from strength to strength with TV specials on Paramount +. She is currently selling out the Victorian Arts Centre with her new show Meander, March 27-April 20. You can grab tickets here (https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2025/comedy/geraldine-hickey-meander) & check out her gig guide here (https://comedy.com.au/tour/geraldine-hickey/).
Joining her over the hot flame is Andrew McLelland (https://www.djandrewmcclelland.com/), who’ll be popping out the art as Andy Warhol. A celebrated comedian, writer & DJ, Mr McLelland’s Finishing School (https://www.facebook.com/groups/140688334705/) at Common Grounds, is a Melbourne institution and the talented chappy has even supported Cher & Robbie Williams on the decks. His festival shows are also a delight, especially , ‘A Seated Walking Tour of Europe’ (directed by the author) & ‘The Von Donk Family Old Timey Vaudeville Revue’
Herein, you’ll learn of their first meeting in Melbourne when they surprised everyone by being paired as Moomba Monarchs. Their friendship was solidified when Andy gave Joan a Glow Up & they formed an impenetrable alliance against Denise ‘Ding Dong’ Drysdale on the obscure reality TV show, Celebrity Pinata.
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Did you know that there were originally heaps more animals on the ark, but Noah & his family just kept eating them until there were only pairs left? Did you know that Steve Irwin met Noah at Bunnings & helped him find the cable ties to keep the crocs mouths closed? Did you know that they met for the second time at Jesus’s 3 day bucks weekend? It’s no surprise that Tom Gleeson & Dane Simpson, two of Australia’s funniest men, excelled in the history swivel chairs. I say bring back ‘Noah & Stevo in the Mornings’.
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13 Feb 2025
Unlikely Friends - Ep 1 - Ned Kelly (Wil Anderson) & Estee Lauder (Gillian Cosgriff)
Our first episode comes to you from New York, via Glenrowan. What better way to launch the podcast, than with two of the best improvisors in the business. Wil Anderson brings wit, vulnerability & plausible levels of b******t to the misunderstood, iconic bushranger, Ned Kelly. Gillian Cosgriff brings sass, smarts and so many great one liners to cosmetics queen, Estee Lauder. The result is so compelling, you would swear these besties did meet playing pub trivia in Fitzroy for a team called ‘Law & Lauder.’
(Recorded in front of a live audience at the Comedy Republic at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.)
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Who has been a guest on Unlikely Friends
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Brian Nankervis
Rusty Berther
Michelle Brasier
Claire Hooper
Podcast Authority Score: 1 / 100
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Social presence
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YouTube
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Engagement
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