Andrew Hansen

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Andrew Hansen
Andrew Hansen
Birth name	Andrew John Hansen
Born	18 September 1974 (1974-09-18) (age 34)
Medium	Print, Television, Radio & Stage
Nationality	Australian
Years active	1999-present
Genres	Satirical Comedy
Notable works and roles	The Chaser The Chaser Decides (2001, 2004, 2007) CNNNN (2002-2003) Cirque du Chaser (2005) The Chaser's War On Everything (2006-2007) The Chaser's Age Of Terror Variety Hour (2008)
Website	www.chaser.com.au
AFI Awards
Best Performance In Television Comedy (2006)

Andrew John Hansen (born 18 September 1974^{[citation needed]}) is an Australian comedian and musician, 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 appearing in ABC television shows CNNNN (2002-2003), The Chaser Decides (2004, 2007), Chaser News Alert (2005), and The Chaser's War On Everything (2006-2007). 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).

Contents 1 Early life 2 Personal life 3 The Chaser 3.1 CNNNN 3.2 The Chaser's War on Everything 3.2.1 The Eulogy Song 3.3 Stage Shows 4 Other productions 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early life

Hansen attended The Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst, New South Wales and is a graduate of the University of Sydney with honours in Australian literature^[1] and Australian history.^[2]

In 1995 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.^[3] During the documentary it was revealed that Hansen suffered from clinical depression while attending the university.^[4]

[edit] Personal life

Until 2007 Andrew dated Cal who also featured in Simon Target's documentary Uni. He is now dating Jessica Roberts.^[5]

[edit] The Chaser

[edit] 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.^[6]

[edit] 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. He is particularly known for composing and performing songs on the program. He is also known for his character pieces, which include Scenes from the Life of the Crazy Warehouse Guy, The Surprise Spruiker, Clive the Slightly Too-Loud Commuter, and Mr. Ten Questions. In the second part of the first season and the whole of the second, Andrew sported a different hairstyle every week. He has said that he likes to look entertaining with his clothes and his hair.

From the show it is seen that Hansen is a pianist and guitarist.

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).^[7] In the show's credits, Hansen is credited for being the person responsible for "Original Music", although in the show's DVD commentary it is stated that fellow Chaser member Chris Taylor is responsible for writing the lyrics for the majority of songs performed on the show.

In The Chaser's War on Everything DVD Volume 2's commentary, Hansen revealed that he is a fan of computer games and Doctor Who. This may have sparked the inspiration for one of his songs sung on The Chaser's War on Everything Season 1, about Doctor Who. It is also stated on the commentary that about 3/4 of the Doctor Who props in the video clip were supplied by Andrew himself. On the Season 2 Volume 1 commentary, it was revealed jokingly that Hansen is a huge fan of U2, which is why he chose not to imitate lead singer Bono during a sketch.

For Season 1 of the program, he received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Performance in Television Comedy (2006).

[edit] 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,^[8] with several radio and television personalities saying the song was in "bad taste", and both then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and then Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd expressing negative views.^[9]

[edit] Stage Shows

Hansen co-wrote and appeared in the live show Cirque du Chaser, which toured Australia in 2005.

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.^[10] The Eulogy Song was originally written for and performed during this play.

In 2008, Hansen toured Australia with The Chaser's second stage show, The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour.^[11]

[edit] 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.^[12][13] He was also a member of independent alternative band Mending.^[14]

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.^[15] Hansen has also been known to feature on the musical comedy circuit, including a recorded performance of one of his more famous songs, 'I Wish I Was A Scottish Stand-Up Comedian', for the Laugh-A-Poolooza 2006 DVD release.

Hansen has had writer/performer contributions to the Nine Network's Comedy Inc. and the ABC's My Favourite Album. He also does the voice-over for the ABC's First Tuesday Book Club.^[16] He composed the music for Nickelodeon's Sarvo and Napman, and songs for the Sesame Street character Ollie.^{[citation needed]}. Hansen appeared and presented at the 2007 MTV Australia Awards and the 2007 ARIA Music Awards. More recently, he appeared in an episode of the Australian gaming TV show Good Game, challenging the hosts to a 'Roffle Cup'.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Andrew Hansen at the Internet Movie Database
• Andrew Hansen on Last.fm
• Andrew Hansen at TV.com

v • d • e The Chaser Members Charles Firth • Andrew Hansen • Dominic Knight • Chas Licciardello • Julian Morrow • Craig Reucassel • Chris Taylor Literary Productions The Chaser • The Chaser Annual Television Productions The Election Chaser / The Chaser Decides • CNNNN • Chaser News Alert • The Chaser's War on Everything (episodes) Radio Productions Today Today / Bloody Sunday • Chas and Dom • The Race Race Stage Productions Cirque du Chaser • Dead Caesar • The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour Miscellaneous 2007 APEC pranks