Nish Kumar - Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe

Nish Kumar whacks you in the face with his professionalism. Not to say there aren’t some brilliantly silly moments in his show – like when he walks onstage to a version of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe’ that substitutes "Nish" for "Bitch". But the audience knows they’re in the hands of a consummate comedian from the moment his mile-a-minute monologue begins.

Kumar is impressively well-versed in all things Australian. He is not merely paying lip service to our politics when he talks election with us, he understands the history that created our current context. Beyond politics, he knows that the name “Bryan Johnson” – different spelling notwithstanding – will make most Australians think of ACDC rather than the anti-aging American entrepreneur to whom Kumar is actually referring. 

These details reveal the empathy underscoring Kumar’s furious tirades. Covering the inexcusably bad behaviour of figures like Jordan Peterson, Ricky Gervais and Boris Johnson, Kumar maintains an angered frenzy throughout the show, but his determination to make everything relatable demonstrates considerable care for his audience amid thought-provoking and hilarious political commentary.