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Bruce Griffiths

In less than eighteen months, Bruce Griffiths went from first time 'Open Miker' to 1996 Comic Of The Year.

Bruce began stand-up in July 1995 after over a decade of writing for some of Australia's biggest names in comedy. His output has been voraciously consumed by Andrew Denton, Paul McDermott, Doug Mulray, Amanda Keller, Adam Spencer, Elle McFeast and Artist Services' and thecomedychannel's sketch comedy ensembles.

He initially ventured onstage "just to do something with the leftover material". Six months later he won the NSW Final of the Funny Business/Triple J "Make Me Laugh" Award, and in a fortnight was performing at the 1996 Adelaide Fringe Festival on invitation. He was subsequently recorded for Channel 31's "Comedy Unlimited" program, and in December went on to win Comic Of The Year and
appear on the "McFeast New Year's Eve Special".

In '97, he appeared as a feature performer on thecomedychannel's stand-up series "Headliners", and
featured six times on the "Home Grown Humour" series on the Austereo Radio Network across Australia.

In addition to regular gigs, he appeared in The Comedy Hotel's '97 "Next Wave" stand-up showcase, in Sydney University's "Alternative Braindump 3", and for the second year running at the Amnesty International Comedy Festival (forerunner to the Sydney Comedy Festival).

In May '98, from 64 entrants, he won The Parramatta Club's "Big Giggle" stand-up showdown. That same year he supported international acts as diverse as Barry Diamond (guest star on "Seinfeld" and "Friends"), Edinburgh Festival Perrier Award Winner Arj Barker (as part of the inaugural Sydney Comedy Festival), Stevie "The Regurgitator" Starr and Mr Methane.

August 1999, he made his first trip to London for a handful of paid performances and a guest appearance in the massive "Fringe Sunday" Stand-Up marquee in Edinburgh.

At the start of 2000, he shifted base to London to perform on the U.K. circuit, and recorded two sets for the "Live At Jongleurs" series.

In August 2001, he returned to Edinburgh to be recorded for the BBC's prestigious "The Stand Up Show".

In addition to stand-up, from 1996-1999 he was one of the core writers for "Good News Week" (the Australian version of "Have I Got News For You") and its spin-offs "Good News Weekend" and "GNW Night Lite".

One of Australia's most in-demand comedy writers, in 2001 he optioned a screenplay in L.A., after winning the Santa Fe Screenplay Competition 2000, and most recently worked with Perrier Award winning Rich Hall on a pilot for the BBC. His television writing credits include the Andrew Denton programs "Denton", "The Money Or The Gun" and "Blah Blah Blah", Adam Spencer's "F.A.Q.",
"Live & Sweaty", sketch programs "Fast Forward" and "Full Frontal", and the Elle McFeast special "Sex, Guys And Videotape".

His radio writing credits include "The Andrew Denton Breakfast Show", "Club Veg", and more than ten years writing for the "Doug Mulray Breakfast Program" on Triple-M FM, which topped the ratings for 14 consecutive surveys beginning 1988.

He also provided material for fellow Comic Of The Year winners The Umbilical Brothers' 1998 Sydney Opera House season of "Heaven By Storm".

In July 2000, he made his debut as a writer-director with his digital short film, "Plugged", which won both the Jury and Audience Awards at the Wild West Digital Shootout in Albuquerque New Mexico.

His writing has picked up three Australian Writers' Guild Awards (AWGIEs) for "Good News Week", the United Nations Media Peace Prize and three Penguins (Australian TV Award For Excellence) for "The Money Or The Gun", and a Gold Medal in the New York Festival Film & TV Awards for "Sex, Guys And Videotape".

In 1998, his work on the 'best of' "Good News Week" CD won an ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award) for Best Australian Comedy Release. He has also received three additional AWGIE nominations.

He is co-author of the books Good News Week (ABC Books 1997) and Amanda's Handy Hints (Penguin 1995) and has had material released on Paul McDermott Unplugged: The Good News Week Tapes Volume 1, and the Doug Mulray releases What A Rude Album, 2 Rude and Nice Legs, Shame About The Fez. He has had cartoons published in "Penthouse" and "The Bulletin", and a series of greeting cards published by Card & Paper House.