Paul Calleja
Writer/Performer/Stand up
Paul Calleja makes the difficult business of being funny look easy with his affable, laid back style and his razor sharp wit. Paul began his comedy career in 1994, and was awarded ‘Best New Melbourne Stand Up Comedian’ in his first year as a stand up.
By 1995, Paul was already writing for the Jimeoin show on the Seven Network. In this same year he became a regular at The Last Laugh and The Comedy Club in Melbourne and featured on ABC TV’s Something Hot Before Bed.
In 1996 Paul teamed up with Dave O’Neil and Fred Rowan to create Smells Like Bin Night. The sketch comedy show that took the mickey out of pop culture. It began its life at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and moved to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Melbourne season sold out and put on extra shows. The show was so successful The Last Laugh picked it up for a six-week season. The Smells Like Bin Night team was back at The Last Laugh for Christmas 1996 and made it’s debut at the Comedy Club for Christmas 1997.
In late 1996, Paul did a stint on the MMM Summer Breakfast show and has written for and appeared on the Austereo Network since. In 1997 he began writing for Artist Services, contributing sketches to a number of shows. In the same year, Paul did a Stand Up spot on Hey, Hey it’s Saturday and went on to become a regular on the ‘Hey, Hey’ segment ‘Joking Off’.
Paul has written for and appeared on The Russell Gilbert Show, also on the Nine Network. In 1999, Paul added guest spots on a number of Foxtel shows including Stand-up showcase Headliners. Paul has also made numerous radio appearances becoming a regular on 3RRR’s Whole Lotta Shonky, MMM’s Crud Show and The Shebang.
In 2001 Paul was asked to open for Mick Molloy’s sold out show as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and wrote and performed on The Big Schmooze for the Comedy Channel on Foxtel.
Paul is in strong demand as a writer on television comedy projects, and was last year one of the key writers and performers on Mick Molloy’s news-based comedy The Nation.
In 2003/4 was Head Writer on Network Ten’s Skithouse, is still one of the creative minds behind Before the Game, and has both written for and appeared doing stand-up on Rove Live. In 2006 he appeared on Channel 10’s 9am with David and Kim.
Paul is passionate about all sport, particularly AFL, and has written and performed in his own Channel 31 AFL show, written for Nine’s The Footy Show, and also last year co-wrote the hilarious book about footy star Strauchnie- Bryan Strauchan- My Story, with Peter Helliar.
Paul’s stand up follows a reasonable logic to bizarre conclusions. Hilariously deadpan.
Paul has been described as follows:
- "A stand-out stand-up comedian" Fiona Scott-Norman
THE AGE - "Worked the crowd like a dream" Barbara Biggs
HERALD SUN - "His insights on life are both witty and clever" Angela Crocombe
SPIN OUT
Upcoming Stand Up Gigs:
Wed 17th December, Dusk Bar, 171 Fitzroy Street St Kilda, 8pm Free, www.duskbar.com.au