A FUNNY KIND OF DAD

Have a look at some tips on how to hold a baby!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-kHBU28CTQ

That video was the first in a series that to date has attracted 6 million views on You Tube. Auckland dad, Jordan Watson used his daughter as his co-star and with subsequent ‘how to’ videos now online, Jordan is poised to be the next internationally successful New Zealand comedian.

“How to wash a baby in a sink” (You Tube)

In recent years, Kiwi humour has become popular outside New Zealand. Jordan’s biggest fan bases are in the USA and Britain, and oddly Singapore! People in those countries find the archetypal Kiwi male in his shorts, old t-shirt and bare feet, intriguing. I believe this archetype character was influenced by the early settler work ethic. The first Europeans had a tough time taming the densely forested landscape. New Zealand’s isolation from Europe meant they had to make do with the materials and equipment they had. It was often a matter of being inventive. This helped create the laid back ‘she’ll be right’ attitude Kiwis are noted for and the shorts, old t-shirt and bare feet symbolize this. (When I saw How to wash a baby in a sink, I have to admit, I laughed out loud. A viewer complained to Mark Zuckerberg  and demanded he close down Watson’s Facebook page because of this hilarious clip)

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

New Zealand has produced a number of highly successful comedians. Barry Crump came up with his “Good Keen Man” a rough-as-guts character who explored the mind of a ‘real kiwi bloke’. Barry spent a lot of his time living in the wilderness and only came to town infrequently. I guess this is why he was so successful portraying the rough behaviour of a Kiwi bushman. I worked on one of Barry’s TV skits. The humour lay in the violence of his actions as he destroyed a small shed in the middle of nowhere. Guns were a popular prop for this gruff loner. Today, Barry Crump is best remembered for the series of TV commercials he did for Toyota. They were hugely successful and beautifully illustrate his brand of Kiwi humour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yj1gff-ndc

Barry Crump

John Clarke followed in the footsteps of  Barry Crump with his “Fred Dagg” character. Fred, usually dressed in a torn t-shirt, baggy shorts, floppy hat and gumboots (wellies), hilariously explored the life of a farmer in an equally underplayed manner. I also worked on one of his TV shows. It featured Fred on a tractor being followed by his Trevs, a group of farmers who followed him like ducklings trailing the mother duck. Fred Dagg had noticeable similarities to Barry Crump’s character. Both were uncomfortable in the city preferring to live a country life in their unique Kiwi way.

This 7 minute video on Fred Dagg visiting the city, illustrates this well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ok4iHt4Wvg&list=RD-ok4iHt4Wvg#t=58

Fred Dagg

Billy T. James was the most beloved of  all local comedians. He was famous for being a Maori who poked fun at Maoris and their attitudes and lifestyle. He allowed all Kiwis to laugh at politically sensitive issues and in so doing, he brought the country together at a time when Maori issues were in the news. Billy had his own phenomenally success TV series which was the entertainment highlight of the week for many New Zealanders. After his death, a feature film was made tracing his life.

Here is Billy giving a one up on the white man!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj34qNf6DHo&list=PLn7U–4wET-QHt1mLlg7ylZDYDlgk_Sed&index=5

Billy T. James

Today, the humour from these men seems unsophisticated but the characters they played were supposed to be that way.

“THE HOW TO DAD”

Following in the footsteps of Barry Crump, John Clarke and Billy T. James, Jordan Watson has taken a similar ‘real Kiwi bloke’ character and put him in the role of a father with a young family. Thanks to the internet, the crazy, irreverent approach to his material is captivating far larger audiences, than any of his predecessors ever had.

BEGINNINGS

It all began for 28 year old Jordan Watson in January 2016 when he made a video for a mate who was soon to be a dad. He thought it would be fun to take the mickey out of baby care so came up with the idea to do an irreverent video using one of his two daughters to demonstrate how a father should handle his baby. He felt there were too many serious instruction videos out there so he wanted to do something tongue-in-cheek.

While his wife was out of the house, Jordan set up a camera and with his 18 month old baby Alba, he demonstrated a variety of ways to hold her. He posted the video on his friend’s Facebook page then went to bed. He was shocked in the morning to discover, 250.000 had viewed it. “It’s just me being an idiot and thinking one guy at work’s going to like it.” Jordan told the press.

The Huffington Post and Daily Mail both picked up the story and within a short time, 2.3 million had seen it on You Tube. “Every parent can kind of relate, and there’s so many people where aunties, uncles, they look after people’s kids – it’s just every day scenarios with kids that has given me the inspiration.”

Thousands of requests for more videos followed and six months after the initial success, Jordan committed to filming a new video every week on a You Tube channel he set up. His “How to—” series includes self descriptive titles such as “How to travel with a baby” and “How to get a baby to clean the house” and are proving to be sensational crowdpleasers.

Jordan is well aware that the real business of bringing up young kids is not all beer and skittles.  “Ninety percent of it as a parent you’re making it up, and my videos make it look like fun, very carefree. But I’m filming when my kids are in the best mood possible. I’m like every other parent, having sleepless nights or trying to grit my teeth when they’re trying to draw on the walls. But the videos, they’re there to remind all parents that you’ve got to sometimes step back and have a bit of a giggle. Too many parents these days want to wrap kids in cotton wool.”  he said in a Guardian interview.  “Chill out, parents. You don’t have to take it so seriously. They’re made of rubber; they’ll be fine,” he added in typical ‘Kiwi bloke’ style.

Jordan receives questions on parenting from viewers. It sort of freaks him out as he admits he’s not qualified to advise them on baby rearing issues. He still frowns when he thinks about the person wanted advice on breast feeding. “I think that’s a mum question,” he replied.

NEXT PROJECT

A $330.000 You Tube/NZ On Air funded series “How to Dad: Legend of the Gumboot” hits the internet this month. The launch date for the series coincides with the annual Gumboot Throwing Competition in Fred Dagg’s hometown of Taihape. Growing up in a small country town, Jordan understands what makes a regular ‘Kiwi bloke’ tick.

His book “How to Dad” has just been released so Jordan Watson is poised to be as popular as Barry Crump, Fred Dagg and Billy T James. In his hands, the unique style of Kiwi humour that has made thousands wince as they laugh, is destined to continue.

Book Cover

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 Ceidrik Heward

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