Wil Anderson

William James "Wil" Anderson (born 31 January 1974) is an Australian comedian, writer, presenter, and podcaster.

Anderson was born in Sale, Victoria and grew up on a dairy farm near Heyfield, Victoria. He attended Gippsland Grammar School in Sale. He later went on to study journalism at the University of Canberra, graduating top of his course.

Anderson started his career in newspaper journalism, before venturing into stand-up comedy. In his early career, Anderson made numerous appearances on Good News Week, on both the original and revamped version. On 19 June 1996, Anderson appeared as the guest comedian on the RMITV Show Under Melbourne Tonight and appeared with RMITV again on the Under Melbourne Tonight spin-off What's Goin' On There? on 3 June 1998.

From 2000 to 2004, Anderson co-hosted the triple j breakfast radio show with Adam Spencer.

Between 2001 and 2006 Anderson hosted comedy talk-show The Glass House, broadcast on ABC. The show saw him working with Corinne Grant and Dave Hughes. In November 2006 the show was cancelled amid media speculation that the cancellation was made due to pressure from the Howard government. Howard responded with, "I do not tell the ABC what programs it should run. I respect the independence of the ABC." In 2007, Anderson was nominated for the "Most Popular Presenter" award at the Logies for his role on the show.

Anderson was the subject of controversy after he made jokes about the late father of Australian Idol finalist Shannon Noll at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

From April 2007 to November 2008, Anderson joined with Tony Lehmann to host Wil & Lehmo, an afternoon drive-time radio program on Triple M.

In May 2008, Anderson became the executive producer and host of The Gruen Transfer, a panel talk show about advertising televised on ABC. It was the water-cooler show of the year, debuting with a record-breaking audience of 1.287 million viewers, the highest rating debut entertainment program in the history of the ABC.

While Anderson's television and radio career has made him a highly recognised comedian in Australia, standup comedy remains his foremost discipline, Since 1997, Anderson has used a pun on his name for the title of his live shows.

Live shows

• Fire at Wil (2016)
• Free Wil (2015)
• Political Wil (Australian Politics show) (2015)
• What You Talking 'bout Wil? (Improvised shows) (2015)
• Wiluminati (2014)
• Goodwil (2013)
• Wilarious (2012)
• Man vs Wil (2011)
• Wilful Misconduct (2010)
• Wilosophy (2009) This was also the title of Anderson's debut DVD
• BeWILdered (2008)
• Wil of God (2007)
• Wil Communication (2006)
• Kill Wil (2005)
• Licence to Wil (2004)
• Jagged Little Wil (2003)
• Wil By Mouth (2002)
• Wil Of Fortune (2001)
• Who Wants To Be A Wilionaire (2000)
• 5ive Thirty with Adam Spencer (2000)
• Willenium and Terra Wilius (1999)
• I am the Wilrus (1998). Wilrus made a return tour for the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe.
• Diet Life (1997)
• Show Pony – a ten-week season with Corinne Grant

Anderson has performed at numerous festivals, including the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada.

Podcasts

Anderson is currently creating or co-creating four free podcasts: TOFOP, a comedy podcast with friend and actor Charlie Clausen; FOFOP, where Anderson chats with 'Guest Charlies' in lieu of Clausen; Wilosophy, where Anderson interviews guests about their life philosophies; and 2 Guys 1 Cup, an AFL podcast with Clausen. He has also expressed interest in starting a Survivor recap podcast entitled Outwil, Outplay, Outlast.

TOFOP ("Thirty Odd Foot Of Pod") debuted in 2010 as a weekly podcast in which Anderson and Clausen chatted about variety of subjects, including film, popular culture, sport, personal anecdotes, and detailed discussions on bizarre hypothetical situations. Following significant media coverage in June 2012, TOFOP rose to become the most popular comedy podcast in Australia. In September 2012, the podcast was placed on hiatus as a result of Clausen gaining a starring role as Zac MacGuire in popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. The podcast resumed in June 2014.

In February 2013 Anderson launched a spin-off podcast, FOFOP, where he is joined by 'Guest Charlies' in lieu of Clausen. Regular guests have included Dave Anthony (known as Guest Charlie No. 1), Justin Hamilton (known as Hamo), Rove McManus, Tom Gleeson, Harley Breen, Lindsay Webb, Felicity Ward, Celia Pacquola, Matt Kirshen, Daniel Sloss, Greg Behrendt, Jen Kirkman and Gareth Reynolds.

Anderson launched his Wilosophy podcast in December 2014. The inaugural episode featured Todd Sampson, while subsequent guests include Adam Spencer, Judith Lucy, John Safran, Felicity Ward, Osher Günsberg, Jarrod McKenna, Annabel Crabb, Marc Maron, Dee Madigan, Nazeem Hussain, Corinne Grant and Karl Kruszelnicki. Anderson explained in January 2015 that the podcast will continue.

In March 2016, Anderson and Clausen launched another weekly podcast, 2 Guys 1 Cup, in which they discuss Australian rules football.

In a January 2015 episode of podcast TOFOP, Anderson recalled his first Logie Awards ceremony, held in 2008, when he garnered controversy for his live tweets from the event. Anderson explained that he has never been a fan of the event, as he believes that a large number of other causes for celebration exist in Australia that never receive the recognition they deserve.

Since 2011, Anderson has split his time between Australia and the United States.

Anderson suffers from a form of osteoarthritis which he mentions in some of his performances.

Anderson is a passionate supporter and long time-member of the Western Bulldogs Football Club whom compete in the Australian Football League. On May 20, 2014 Anderson was named as a Club ambassador for season 2014.

2011

• Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Man vs Wil “People’s Choice”
• Winner: GQ Man Of The Year, “Media Performer Of The Year”

2010

• Winner: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer "Wilful Misconduct”
• Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wilful Misconduct “People’s Choice”
• Nominee: Barry Award MICF, Wilful Misconduct “Best Show”
• Nominee: Gold Logie, The Gruen Transfer, “Most Popular Personality”
• Winner: GQ Man Of The Year, “Media Performer Of The Year”
• Winner: AFI Award, The Gruen Transfer “Best Light Entertainment” (Hosted by Anderson)
• Winner: Couch Potato Awards, Gruen Nation “Best Light Entertainment” (Hosted by Anderson)

2009

• Nominee: AFI Award, The Gruen Transfer “Best Light Entertainment” (Hosted by Anderson)
• Winner: Couch Potato Awards, The Gruen Transfer “Best Light Entertainment” (Hosted by Anderson)

2008

• Winner: GQ Man Of The Year “Comedic Talent”
• Nominee: GQ Man Of The Year “Radio Presenter”
• Nominee: GQ Man Of The Year “TV Presenter”
• Nominee: Australian Commercial Radio Awards “Best New Talent”
• Nominee: Aust Commercial Radio Awards “Best Sketch”
• Nominee: Logie Award, The Gruen Transfer, “Best Light Entertainment” (Hosted by Anderson)

• 2015 DVD - Wiluminati released through Universal
• 2009 DVD – Wilosophy released through Universal
• 2009 DVD – The Gruen Transfer: Season 2 released through ABC Enterprises
• 2008 DVD – The Gruen Transfer: Season 1 released through ABC Enterprises
• 2007 DVD – MICF: Best of Gala Collection
• 2006 DVD – Release of The Best of The Glass House (2002–2006) by ABC Enterprises and distributed through Roadshow Entertainment
• 2001 CD – Release of the Melbourne Comedy Festival CD compilation through Rubber Music, distributed by BMG Australia