Nazeem Hussain’s unique, hilarious and quirky SBS TV series, Legally Brown, received a Logie nomination for Most Outstanding Comedy Program, and it’s apparent that Australian TV programs are sorely lacking in the diversity that Legally Brown elucidates. Before venturing solo, Hussain demonstrated his comedy talents as one-half of political comedy duo, Fear of a Brown Planet. What stands out most is Hussain’s energy, geniality and audacity.
Hussain is unafraid of addressing sensitive political and religious issues, which serves as a reminder that if we fail to discuss these in public then how will we ever get past prejudice and ignorance? Hussain is engaging as he discusses race issues, terrorist groups and national security alongside café/shopping experiences and familial/societal pressures, as if they’re all equally appropriate, entertaining conversation topics for an evening out. Hussain is more confident with scripted material, but his spontaneous remarks are quite often hilarious.
Hussain is perhaps the only Australian comic who’s never had a beer in his life, which might mean that his perspective of what constitutes entertainment could be far wider than most. Audience members feel connected to Hussain on stage regardless of how different their lives appear on paper. Hussain is compelling in his courageous humour and endearing humility.
BY CHRISTINE LAN
