From 2000 to 2004, Anderson co-hosted the triple j breakfast radio show with Adam Spencer.[5] Between 2001 and 2006, Anderson hosted the comedy talk-show The Glass House, broadcast on ABC, alongside Corinne Grant and Dave Hughes. In November 2006, the show was cancelled amid media speculation that the cancellation was made due to pressure from the Howard Government.[6] Howard responded with, "I do not tell the ABC what programmes it should run. I respect the independence of the ABC."[7] In 2007, Anderson was nominated in the "Most Popular Presenter" category at the Logie Awards for his role on the show.[8]
From April 2007 to November 2008, Anderson joined with Lehmo to host Wil & Lehmo, an afternoon drive-time radio program on Triple M. He also replaced Mick Molloy as co-host of the station's Hot Breakfast early morning show alongside Luke Darcy and Eddie McGuire in 2018, leaving the show at the end of 2019.[10][11]
In May 2008, Anderson became the executive producer and host of The Gruen Transfer, a panel talk show about advertising televised on ABC.[12] The show debuted with a record-breaking audience of 1.287 million viewers, the highest-rating debut entertainment program in the history of the ABC.[13]
While Anderson's television and radio career has made him a recognised figure in Australia, standup comedy remains his foremost discipline.[15] Anderson started his career in newspaper journalism before venturing into standup comedy.[16] In his early career, Anderson made numerous appearances on Good News Week, on both the original and revamped versions. On 19 June 1996, Anderson appeared as the guest comedian on the RMITV Show Under Melbourne Tonight,[17] and appeared with RMITV again on the Under Melbourne Tonight spin-off What's Goin' On There? on 3 June 1998.[citation needed]
Live shows
Anderson has performed at numerous festivals, including Just For Laughs in Montreal. For over a decade Anderson has started every live show with the opening riff from "Back In Black" as a tribute to his late friend, comedian Dave Grant.[18] Since 1997, he has used a pun regarding his first name for the title of his live shows:
Anderson has created a number of podcasts, including TOFOP, a comedy podcast with friend and actor Charlie Clausen; FOFOP, where he chats with "Guest Charlies" in lieu of Clausen; Wilosophy, where he interviews guests about their life philosophies; and 2 Guys 1 Cup, an Australian rules football podcast with Clausen. He has also expressed interest in starting a Survivor recap podcast entitled Outwil, Outplay, Outlast.[citation needed]
TOFOP (Thirty Odd Foot of Pod) debuted in 2010 as a weekly podcast in which Anderson and Clausen discussed a variety of subjects, including film, popular culture, sport, personal anecdotes, and detailed discussions on bizarre hypothetical situations. Following significant media coverage in June 2012, TOFOP rose to become the most popular comedy podcast in Australia.[21][22] In September 2012, the podcast was placed on hiatus as a result of Clausen gaining a starring role as Zac MacGuire in popular Australian soap opera Home and Away.[23] The podcast resumed in June 2014.[24] In February 2013, Anderson launched the spin-off podcast FOFOP.[citation needed]
In a January 2015 episode of podcast TOFOP, Anderson recalled his first Logie Awards ceremony, held in 2008, when he garnered controversy for his live tweets from the event. Anderson explained that he has never been a fan of the event, as he believes that a large number of other causes for celebration exist in Australia that never receive the recognition they deserve.[26]
In 2006, Anderson published his first book: Survival of the Dumbest, a comedic collection of rants and observations drawn largely from his 'Sunday Roast' columns in the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Herald-Sun.[29] This was followed by a similar book, Friendly Fire, in 2009. In 2022, Anderson published I Am NOT Fine, Thanks, a political memoir and comedic reflection upon the preceding years, largely consisting of the same material as his 2022 show, Wilogical.[30]
Between 2011 and 2017, Anderson split his time between Australia and the U.S.[15][31] He has a form of osteoarthritis, which he mentions in some of his performances.[32]
Anderson is a passionate supporter and longtime fan club member of the Western Bulldogs, who compete in the Australian Football League. Anderson was named as a club ambassador for the 2014 season.[33][34]
In September 2023, Anderson appeared on The Project to give his support for the "Yes" vote in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum; Anderson was particularly critical of the "No" campaign's underhanded strategy of appealing to ignorance.[35]
Awards
2017
Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Critically Wil "People’s Choice" (shared with Judith Lucy and Denise Scott)
2016
Winner: Most Outstanding Entertainment program, Gruen "58th TV Week Logie Awards"
2015
Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Free Wil "People’s Choice"
2014
Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wiluminati "People’s Choice"
2012
Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Wilarious "People’s Choice"
2011
Winner: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), Man vs Wil "People’s Choice"
Winner: GQ Man of the Year, "Media Performer of the Year"
^ abAnderson, Wil (September 2012). "Wil Anderson" (Interview). Interviewed by Angus Fontaine. GQ.com.au. pp. 2–6. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
^ abMarshall, Konrad (6 April 2013). "Lunch with Wil Anderson". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
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