Idol’s backstage prankster

Angie Fox

JOSH Zepps’ impersonation of John Howard is so spot-on that until the writer/comedian/presenter starts laughing you’d swear you were talking to Australia’s PM.

Zepps, 28, whose father Henri Szeps is a renowned Australian-Jewish actor, is best known for his portrayals of Howard and other politicians including Alexander Downer and Kim Beazley, which he performs in weekly sketches on Sydney radio station 2UE.

“I have just always had a knack for voices,” he says, adding that Downer is a particular favourite.

“We’ve always got him in these bizarre situations parachuting from a helicopter, wearing fishnet stockings and being dropped behind enemy lines.”

But for his latest role, as host of Australian Idol Backstage, Zepps is using his own voice, and a bit of bravado (a few props and some outlandish costumes).

Based in New York for the past two years – where he writes his radio sketches and performs stand-up comedy – Zepps was flown back to Australia by Idol production company Grundy, specifically to host the internet-based program. Zepps films six short episodes a week which screen on the Australian Idol website (australianidol.bigpond.com.au). Live crosses are also made to him backstage during the performance and verdict shows.

“Given the level of creative control that Grundy was willing to give us and that we were allowed to be a bit tongue-in-cheek ... have a bit of fun, play pranks and fool around, I thought it would be a bit of fun,” he says of his decision to take the role.

In an early sketch, Zepps dressed in a blue leotard and introduced himself to the Idol contestants as the host of German Idol. In another, he presented Mark Holden – renowned for his florid language – with an English dictionary. He has also been witnessing first-hand the highs and lows of the competition.

He says the atmosphere on the live set is “electric”.

“There is nothing like live TV. Anyone who has been there and worked in it knows it’s like a drug.”

But the other attraction for Zepps is the fact he’s working in convergent media.

“In 10 or 15 years’ time there isn’t going to be a clear distinction anymore and probably never again between broadcast television, internet and possibly cell phones,” he says.

Zepps grew up in Sydney and attended the collective public school Fort Street High. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in communications at the University of Technology, Sydney, also undertaking cross-institutional study in philosophy at Sydney University.

While still a student, Zepps undertook work experience on the ABC TV show, BackBerner, and while there, landed a permanent position as script assistant. Working with head writer, comedian Rod Quantock, felt like being a “kid in a candy store”.

It was then that Zepps discovered a love of improvisational comedy.

“I have never been one for particularly silly humour. I have always been interested in ... anything that influences peoples lives at a level that’s more significant than how bad airline food tastes and whether or not Michael Jackson’s nose looks funny.”

While he doesn’t believe that being Henri Szeps’ son has opened any doors that would otherwise have remained closed, Zepps (who phoneticised the spelling of his surname when he moved to the US) says growing up with an actor father opened his eyes to the possibility of having a career in a “fickle industry”.