Andrew Hansen
{{Short description|Australian comedian, actor and musician (born 1974)}}
{{About||the United States Air Force general|Andrew P. Hansen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Andrew Hansen
| image = Andrew Hansen (30 April 2007).jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = Hansen in 2007
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Andrew John Hansen
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|9|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| medium = Print, television, radio and stage
| nationality = Australian
| active = 1999–present
| genre = Satirical and musical comedy
| subject =
| influences =
| influenced =
| spouse =
| notable_work = The Chaser
CNNNN (2002–2003)
The Chaser's War On Everything (2006–2009)
The Hamster Wheel (2011–12)
The Chaser's Media Circus (2014–15)
Australian Epic (2023)
| signature =
| website = [http://www.mrandrewhansen.com MrAndrewHansen.com]
| footnotes =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
Andrew John Hansen (born 18 September 1974) is an Australian comedian, musician and author, best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser. As a member of The Chaser, Hansen's television work includes co-writing and starring in ABC Television shows CNNNN (2002–2003), The Chaser Decides (2004, 2007), Chaser News Alert (2005), The Chaser's War On Everything (2006–07, 2009), Yes We Canberra! (2010), The Hamster Wheel (2011–12), The Hamster Decides (2013) and The Chaser's Media Circus (2014–2015).{{cite web|last1=Knox|first1=D|title=Airdate: The Chaser's Media Circus|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/09/airdate-the-chasers-media-circus.html|website=TV Tonight|date=19 September 2014|access-date=4 October 2014}} He was co-showrunner of Australian Epic (2023).
He was a producer and regular panellist on The Unbelievable Truth (2012). He has also co-written and performed in The Chaser's stage shows, Cirque du Chaser (2005) and The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour (2008). With Chaser colleague Chris Taylor, Hansen starred in a scripted radio comedy series on triple j titled The Blow Parade, which was released on CD and the iTunes Store.{{cite web|title=The Blow Parade for Triple J
|url=http://www.yourgigs.com.au/news/?i=182222
|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113722/http://www.yourgigs.com.au/news/?i=182222
|archive-date=6 July 2011
}}
Early life and education
Andrew Hansen was born on 18 September 1974.{{cite web|url=http://www.movietome.com/people/161818/andrew-hansen/index.html |title=Andrew Hansen Information, Photos, and Trivia at MovieTome |access-date=27 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115094315/http://www.movietome.com/people/161818/andrew-hansen/index.html |archive-date=15 November 2010 }}
He was school captain of The Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst, New South Wales, and is a graduate of the University of Sydney, with honours in Australian literature{{cite web|title=Andrew Hansen – The Fantastic Leslie Official Site |url=http://fantasticleslie.com/band/andrew.htm|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010415103330/http://fantasticleslie.com/band/andrew.htm|archive-date=15 April 2001}} and Australian history.{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/abccontentsales/s1177201.htm | title=Uni | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
In 1996, he appeared as a subject in Simon Target's documentary Uni, about three students studying at the University of Sydney (Hansen later satirised Target in CNNNN, where he played the network's British correspondent who was also called Simon Target). Soon-to-be fellow Chaser member Charles Firth was one of the other two students featured, with Craig Reucassel and Chas Licciardello also making occasional background appearances.{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/programsales/s1122425.htm | title=Radio, TV, and Online Sales – Uni | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date=29 August 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118231515/http://www.abc.net.au/programsales/s1122425.htm | archive-date=18 January 2009 | url-status=dead}} During the documentary it was revealed that Hansen suffered from clinical depression while attending the university.{{cite web|title=University life in the '90s |url=http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1997/296/296p21.htm |publisher=Green Left.org.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920121454/http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/1997/296/296p21.htm |archive-date=20 September 2006 }}
The Chaser
=''CNNNN''=
Hansen starred in The Chaser's satirical American news show CNNNN as the leader of the "newsband". He was also characters Rudi J Blass, director of "Newstainment", and Simon Target, an English reporter. Hansen's performance in the first season of CNNNN earned him the Australian Comedy Award for Outstanding Television Newcomer.
{{cite web
|title=The Australian Comedy Awards
|url=http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/austcomedyawards/award-recipients.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616194647/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/austcomedyawards/award-recipients.html
|archive-date=16 June 2006
}}
=''The Chaser's War on Everything''=
Hansen has been a regular writer and performer on The Chaser's War on Everything since the pilot episode.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
Hansen is a pianist and guitarist and in addition to his songwriting, Hansen composed the show's theme music, which received the APRA-AGSC Screen Music Award for Best Television Theme (2006).
{{cite web
|title=APRA-AGSC Screen Music Award Winners 2006 |url=http://www.amcos.com.au/awards/screen/media_releases/061106_Screen_Awards_Winners.pdf
|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414104435/http://www.amcos.com.au/awards/screen/media_releases/061106_Screen_Awards_Winners.pdf
|archive-date=14 April 2008
}}
For Season 1 of the program, he received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Performance in Television Comedy (2006).{{cn|date=December 2023}}
== "The Eulogy Song" ==
The most controversial song that Hansen has performed was "The Eulogy Song", which was originally written for Chris Taylor's play Dead Caesar, with music by Hansen and lyrics by Taylor. On the 17 October 2007 episode of The War, Hansen performed the song which satirised the lives of several deceased celebrities, including Peter Brock, Stan Zemanek, Princess Diana, Donald Bradman, Steve Irwin, John Lennon, Jeff Buckley and Kerry Packer, expressing the view that people with flaws during life are often disproportionately hailed as "top blokes" after death. The song became the target of significant media attention,{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=306835|title=Chaser's war on good taste|publisher=NineMSN}} with several radio and television personalities saying the song was in "bad taste", and both the prime minister of Australia, John Howard, and the leader of the opposition, Kevin Rudd, expressing negative views.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/pm-lashes-out-at-chaser-crew-when-ambushed-on-morning-walk/story-e6frf7l6-1111114677265|title=Howard, Rudd lash out at Chaser song|work=Herald and Weekly Times|access-date=27 September 2010}}
Hansen performed an updated version of "The Eulogy Song" in his 2020 tour. From 10 April 2021, performances of the song included a reference to Prince Philip, who had died the day prior.{{cite tweet|number=1380629656383025154|user=andrewjhansen|title=I'm desperately drafting a verse for...|date=9 April 2021}}
Radio and audio
Hansen composed the music for and starred in The Blow Parade, a scripted radio comedy series he made with Chris Taylor.{{cite web
|title=The Blow Parade – Andrew Hansen interview
|url=http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/articles/the-blow-parade-_-andrew-hansen-interview.aspx
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106201814/http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/articles/the-blow-parade-_-andrew-hansen-interview.aspx
|archive-date=6 January 2010
}} It premiered on triple j on 28 April 2010. The series was released on CD and through the iTunes Store with bonus tracks.
{{cite web
|title=The Blow Parade
|url=http://www.chaser.com.au/projects/the-blow-parade
|access-date=21 June 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609123245/http://chaser.com.au/projects/the-blow-parade
|archive-date=9 June 2010
|url-status=dead}}
This album won the 2010 ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release.{{cite web
|title=ARIA Awards 2010
|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=24
}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Hansen co-presented Radio Chaser, a daily comedy show on Triple M, throughout 2017–19. The show spawned an album of 100 sketches, released in 2020.{{cite web|title=The Chaser release debut comedy album with 100 audio sketches|date=25 May 2020|url=https://www.radiotoday.com.au/the-chaser-album/}}
He currently co-presents the comedy podcast The Chaser Report, produced by NOVA Entertainment.{{cite web|title=Apple Podcasts Preview The Chaser Report|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-chaser-report/id1506693707}}
Hansen has occasionally hosted programs on ABC Radio Melbourne, including the summer and Easter seasons of its Breakfast show in 2019–20.{{cite web|title=ABC Radio Andrew Hansen|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 June 2019|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/people/andrew-hansen/11261394}}
Stage shows
Hansen co-wrote and appeared in the live show Cirque du Chaser, which toured Australia in 2005.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
Hansen composed and performed the music for the Sydney Theatre Company's 2007 musical comedy Dead Caesar, which was written by Chaser colleague Chris Taylor. He also played the roles of Marc Antony and Lucius.{{cite web| url=http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/performance.asp?pID=224 |title=Sydney Theatre Company – Dead Caesar |access-date=2007-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070511081707/http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/performance.asp?pID=224 |archive-date=11 May 2007}}
In 2008, Hansen toured Australia with The Chaser's second stage show, The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour.{{cite web|title=The Chaser – Live in Sydney 4–6 July| url=http://www.chaser.com.au/content/view/3471/72/|publisher=The Chaser|access-date=22 August 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214065244/http://www.chaser.com.au/content/view/3471/72/|archive-date=14 December 2007|url-status=dead}}
In October 2009, Hansen hosted The Goodies: Before, During and After, a live show by British comedy trio The Goodies at Sydney's Riverside Theatre (Parramatta) and at the World's Funniest Island comedy festival.{{cite web
|title=The Goodies with Andrew Hansen, live at Cockatoo Island
|url=http://www.worldsfunniestisland.com/artist-profile.aspx?id=2
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105121601/http://www.worldsfunniestisland.com/artist-profile.aspx?id=2
|archive-date=5 November 2009
}}
In 2011, Hansen joined various combinations of The Chaser team's members for a series of live shows in Sydney entitled The Chaser's Empty Vessel.{{cite web|title=Introducing The Chaser's Empty Vessel |url=http://www.chaser.com.au/2010/empty-vessel-live/ |publisher=The Chaser |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509170507/http://www.chaser.com.au/2010/empty-vessel-live/ |archive-date=9 May 2011 }}
In 2014, Hansen and Chris Taylor toured Australia with a revue show of new songs and sketches entitled One Man Show.{{cite web|title=One Man Show|url=http://laughingstock.com.au/index.php?mod=event&id=29}} In 2015, they toured In Conversation with Lionel Corn, a parody of writers festival sessions.{{cite news|title=In Conversation with Lionel Corn|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/in-conversation-with-lionel-corn-will-please-the-chaser-fans-at-melbourne-comedy-festival-20150305-13vo6j.html|access-date=24 March 2016}}
In 2020, Hansen began touring Solo Show, a set of sketches and songs about people going it alone, performed on guitar, piano and iPad. He presented the show in Adelaide and Brisbane before postponing the remaining dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.{{cite web|title=One Man Show|url=http://www.laughingstock.com.au/index.php?mod=event&id=200}}
In 2022, he toured Everyone Else Is Wrong, another show of sketches and songs.{{cite web|title=Everyone Else Is Wrong|url=https://thewestsider.com.au/andrew-hansen-comedian-musician-and-author/}} He followed that in 2023 with Andrew Hansen is Cheap, a show about the cost of living.{{cite web|title=Andrew Hansen is Cheap|url=https://theatrematters.com.au/features/andrew-hansen-is-cheap/#:~:text=Andrew%20Hansen%20is%20Cheap%20is,songs%20and%20sketches%20and%20standup.}}
In 2025, he is touring Let's All Panic.{{cite web|title=Andrew Hansen is Cheap|url=https://x.com/andrewjhansen/status/1882958028988932273}}
Hansen has appeared in multiple versions of the live quiz show Good Game Live at the EB Games Expo.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jHpf_cMSu4|title = - YouTube|website = YouTube}}
Other productions
Hansen was the guitarist and one of the vocalists for independent Sydney band The Fantastic Leslie. The Fantastic Leslie was composed of Cameron Bruce, Tom Gleeson, James Fletcher and Hansen. In July 1999 the band released their 6-track EP A Tiny Mark which was distributed through MGM Distribution.
{{cite web
|title=Message: The Fantastic Leslie CD Launch: 1 July 1999, Hopetoun Hotel
|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/group/leslie/message/10
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209225255/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/leslie/message/10
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=9 February 2013
}}{{cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?ID=346 | title=The Fantastic Leslie | publisher=mp3.com.au}} He was also a member of independent alternative band Mending.{{cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?ID=7538 | title=Mending | publisher=mp3.com.au}}
Hansen co-wrote the short film Garbage Man with Charles Firth and British comedian Henry Naylor. It was a Tropfest finalist in 2005 and a prizewinner at Germany's Ohne Kohle festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.poolbar.at/public/text.php?aid=703 |title=Sie kamen, wussten und gewannen |language=de |publisher=Poolbar festival |access-date=2007-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024160124/http://poolbar.at/public/text.php?aid=703 |archive-date=24 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}
Hansen has had writer/performer contributions to the Nine Network's Comedy Inc. and the ABC's My Favourite Album. He has performed occasional voice-overs for ABC programs including First Tuesday Book Club{{cite web
|title=First Tuesday Book Club, narrated by Andrew Hansen
|date=2 August 2006
|url=http://idents.tv/blog/2006/08/02/first-tuesday-book-club-narrated-by-andrew-hansen/
}} and Media Watch. He composed the music for Nickelodeon's Sarvo and Napman, and songs for the Sesame Street character Ollie.{{cite web |url= http://www.tv.com/andrew-hansen/person/161818/summary.html|title= Andrew Hansen TV.com|author= CBS Interactive Inc|year= 2010|access-date=27 September 2010}} Hansen appeared and presented at the 2007 MTV Australia Awards and the 2007 and 2011 ARIA Music Awards. In 2007, he made a guest appearance on Nine's The Nation.{{cite web | title=Andrew Hansen's IMDB entry|website=IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1313112}} In 2008, he appeared in a sketch on SBS's Newstopia, as well as an episode of the Australian gaming TV show Good Game on the ABC, challenging the hosts to a 'Roffle Cup'.{{cite web | title=Good Game Roffle Cup with Andrew Hansen|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhgwsxFBSaQ}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} He also made an appearance as a guest host on the program in 2010, filling in for host Steven O'Donnell,{{cite web | title=Good Game 21st June 2010|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/episodes/date_2010_Monday21June2010.htm}} again in 2011 filling in for host Stephanie Bendixsen and 2012 filling in for O'Donnell. He also made an appearance as a special guest in Good Game 10th year birthday special in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VJzZEw8ahE|title = The Good Game 10th Birthday Special! | Ep 32 | 2016|website = YouTube| date=20 September 2016 }} In 2009, he made guest appearances on Network Ten's Rove and Good News Week.{{cite web | title=The Fantastic Leslie – Short People
|website = YouTube| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2MpsGnO0Tw}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} He appeared again on Good News Week in 2010, this time with Chris Taylor, in the guise of characters from their radio show The Blow Parade.{{cite web | title=Good News Week – The Fatcocks
|website = YouTube| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9MU_wIUGy0}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
Hansen was the host of Strictly Speaking, a speechmaking competition series, which aired on ABC1 in 2010.{{cite web
|title=Andrew Hansen to host Strictly Speaking
|date=31 August 2009
|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/andrew-hansen-to-host-strictly-speaking.html/
}}
Hansen was a guest star in the Australian science fiction audio drama Night Terrace, playing the role of Horatio Gray in the second season, following a brief cameo appearance in the first season. Originally available only as a digital download, the series was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra as part of their "7th Dimension" programme.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004fx3 |title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - Night Terrace, Series 2, The Retirement of Horatio Gray|access-date=2019-10-06|date=2019-10-06|publisher=BBC Radio 4 Extra}}
Hansen has worked with Benjamin Maio Mackay twice, once on stage in 2016's Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Live and again in 2017 as a supporting role in the audio drama adaptation of The Phoenix Files.{{Cite web |url=http://www.preachrspodcast.net/Preachrs_Podcast_-_OnLine_and_OnStage/The_Phoenix_Files.html |title=The Phoenix Files |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510152354/http://www.preachrspodcast.net/Preachrs_Podcast_-_OnLine_and_OnStage/The_Phoenix_Files.html |archive-date=10 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}
Bibliography
=As author=
- {{cite book|last1=Hansen|first1=Andrew|first2=Jessica|last2=Roberts|year=2018|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Weird Beard|publisher=Walker Books Australia|isbn=9781760650001}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/bab-sharkey-and-the-animal-mummies-the-weird-beard-andrew-hansen/prod9781760650001.html|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Weird Beard|publisher=Booktopia|access-date=2018-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129021543/https://www.booktopia.com.au/bab-sharkey-and-the-animal-mummies-the-weird-beard-andrew-hansen/prod9781760650001.html|archive-date=2018-01-29}}
- {{cite book|last1=Hansen|first1=Andrew|first2=Jessica|last2=Roberts|year=2018|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Giant Moth Mummy|publisher=Walker Books Australia|isbn=9781760650018}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/bab-sharkey-and-the-animal-mummies-andrew-hansen/book/9781760650018.html|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Giant Moth Mummy|publisher=Booktopia}}
- {{cite book|last1=Hansen|first1=Andrew|first2=Jessica|last2=Roberts|year=2019|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Spongy Void|publisher=Walker Books Australia|isbn=9781760651183}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/bab-sharkey-and-the-animal-mummies-the-spongy-void-andrew-hansen/book/9781760651183.html|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Spongy Void|publisher=Booktopia}}
- {{cite book|last1=Hansen|first1=Andrew|first2=Jessica|last2=Roberts|year=2020|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Prickly Battle|publisher=Walker Books Australia|isbn=9781760651190}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/bab-sharkey-and-the-animal-mummies-andrew-hansen/book/9781760651190.html|title=Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies: The Prickly Battle|publisher=Booktopia}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| The Blow Parade (with Chris Taylor and Craig Shuftan)
|
|
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Australian Epic (Original Cast Recording) (with Chris Taylor)
|
|
|---|
Awards
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2010
| The Blow Parade (with Chris Taylor and Craig Shuftan)
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
=AACTA Awards=
The AACTA Awards are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Before 2011, they were called the AFI Awards.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2006
| Andrew Hansen
| Best Performance in Television Comedy
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{IMDb name|1313112}}
- [http://last.fm/music/Andrew+Hansen Andrew Hansen on Last.fm]
{{AACTAAward ComedyPerformance 2006–2019}}
{{TheChaser}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Comedy|Australia}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Andrew}}
Category:Australian children's writers
Category:Australian television writers
Category:Australian male television actors
Category:Australian television personalities
Category:Australian male stage actors
Category:Australian male songwriters
Category:Australian comedy musicians
Category:Australian male singers
Category:Australian male comedians
Category:Comedians from Sydney
Category:Australian guitarists
Category:Australian keyboardists
Category:Australian radio personalities
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:People educated at The Hills Grammar School
Category:Australian male television writers
Category:Australian male guitarists