Julian Morrow
Julian Morrow | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, television producer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | The Chaser, CNNNN, The Chaser's War on Everything, The Checkout |
Julian Francis Xavier Morrow (born 1975) is a Sydney-based Australian comedian and television producer, widely recognized for his involvement with the satirical ensemble The Chaser. He has featured in several programs broadcast on ABC Television, including CNNNN (2002–03), The Chaser's War on Everything (2006–07, 2009), and took on the role of executive producer for The Checkout from 2013 to 2018.
Personal life
Morrow completed his schooling at St Aloysius' College and earned a law degree from the University of Sydney. Prior to embarking on his comedy career, he practiced as an industrial relations lawyer at Blake Dawson Waldron, which is now known as Ashurst Australia. He is married to Lisa Pryor, a columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and former opinion editor, and together they have two children. Morrow describes himself as a lapsed Catholic.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Morrow enjoys playing amateur cricket, representing the team "The Mighty Ducks" alongside fellow comedians Chris Taylor and Charles Firth.
The Chaser
Morrow first rose to prominence through his role in the Chaser production CNNNN, where he appeared as the Washington correspondent on a plasma screen behind the main anchors. Since the pilot episode, he has been a consistent presence on The Chaser's War on Everything. Among his memorable contributions are the "Pursuit Trivia" segment, in which he poses spontaneous Trivial Pursuit questions during press conferences, and his portrayal as the "Citizens' Infringement Officer".
In this latter character, Morrow acts as a mock parking inspector issuing fines to various individuals considered bothersome, including actual parking officers, people with irritating mobile phone ringtones, parents who give their children unusual names, owners of personalized "wanker" license plates, tattoo aficionados, and those sporting tacky T-shirts or sagging trousers.
Another recurring feature titled "Open Mic" has Morrow using public address systems in shopping malls or clubs to broadcast comedic 'community service' announcements such as 'Please go home' or 'Can we please have a minute's silence?'.
In November 2006, Morrow served as a guest presenter on 702 ABC Sydney during both Breakfast and Evenings programs and returned for the 2008 Australia Day Public Holiday Breakfast Show. He was also the speaker for the 2009 Andrew Olle Media Lecture, where he addressed issues surrounding offensive content in media.
In 2013, Morrow partnered with fellow Chaser member Craig Reucassel to launch the consumer affairs program The Checkout on ABC1. The show’s inaugural season aired beginning March 2013, followed by a second season starting in February 2014.
APEC 2007
One of Morrow’s most notable stunts occurred at the APEC Australia 2007 summit held in Sydney, involving a fabricated motorcade. Despite stringent security measures, their team managed to pass through two checkpoints driving two SUVs and a black limousine adorned with the Canadian flag. The group included four "runners," among them Morrow filming the event, accompanied by two motorcycles.
At one stage, Morrow offered identification to police officers but was allowed to proceed without inspection. The motorcade advanced to within approximately ten meters of then-US President George W. Bush’s hotel before authorities realized the deception when Chas Licciardello, disguised as Osama bin Laden, emerged from the limousine.
Following this incident on 6 September 2007 outside the InterContinental Hotel, Licciardello and Morrow were detained and questioned by New South Wales Police. They faced charges under the APEC Meeting (Police Powers) Act 2007, although these charges were later dismissed in April 2008.
Sunday Extra
While Morrow is best recognized for his comedic work, he has recently served as the host of Sunday Extra, a predominantly serious current affairs program on ABC's Radio National. A notable segment of the show, titled "The Year That Made Me," invites guests to discuss significant years that profoundly influenced their personal journeys.