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Rhys Nicholson describes the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as hundreds of people having a very public mental breakdown with prizes at the end.
With more than 600 acts on the bill for 2023, adding up to more than 7000 side-splitting performances, the winner of last year's award for most outstanding show is probably not wrong.
Nicholson remains the reigning champion of comedy, they told the festival launch event ... but with the next festival about to start, their powers may be on the wane.
Even so, Nicholson was a tough act to follow for the politicians and festival organisers who had to take the stage after their set - actually a temporary riser at the back of The Forum.
"I've been told it's an honour to host not on a stage, but in front of a stage, in a theatre I can't fill," Nicholson said on Tuesday.
UK comedian Jordan Gray got some big laughs with her song about internet misinformation, a tune that managed to cover Mr Potatohead's gender, lost dog posts, veer into a Queen song, and include an Elvis impression that turned out to be an impression of Cher.
Mel Buttle took on PE teachers, revealing they are actually angry people unable to get into the police force, while up and coming performers Alexandra Hudson and He Huang also spoke about the impact of the festival's Raw Comedy competition.
Last year's champion Hudson said her win had taken her from an audience of 10 people at an open mic night, to a crowd of 1000 at the Town Hall.
The performer who has a disability also said she liked to make fun of her growing audience.
"Making them a little bit uncomfortable in their seats, as payback for making me uncomfy in the streets," she said.
It's the 27th year of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which runs from March 29 to April 23.
