John Michael Safran(Hebrew:יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ספרן,Yehoshua Safran;born 13 August 1972)[1]is an Australian radio personality, satirist, documentary maker and author, known for combining humour with religious, political and ethnic issues. First gaining fame appearing inRace Around the Worldin 1997, Safran went on to produce a series of documentaries, television shows and host radio programs.
John Safran | |
|---|---|
 Safran at the 2009Melbourne International Film Festival | |
| Born | John Michael Safran 13 August 1972 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Yehoshua Safran (Hebrew:יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ספרן) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | |
| Notable work | Murder in Mississippi |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Margaret (sister) |
| Website | www |
Safran is known for his television stunts, which include placing afatwaon Australian television hostRove McManus,sneaking nine young men into an exclusiveMelbournenightclub by disguising them as members of Americannu metalbandSlipknot,running throughJerusalemwearing nothing but the beanie and scarf ofSt Kilda Football Club,driving a remote-controlled seagull with a cigarette onto theMelbourne Cricket Ground,and his confrontation withA Current AffairhostRay Martin.
He currently works as ajournalistandauthor.He released his latest book,Squat,in October 2024.
Early life
editSafran was born inMelbourneto Jewish parents.[2]His maternal grandparents werePolish JewishBundists.[3]Safran's mother, Gitl, was born inUzbekistanas they were fleeing their home country for Australia.[4]She died in 2003.[5]His paternal ancestors wereGerman Jewsand left shortly before the rise ofNazi Germany.[6]He has one older sister, Margaret.
He grew up inBalwyn Northand attended North Balwyn Primary School,Balwyn High SchoolandYeshivah Collegefrom Year 8 onwards.[3][5]He describes himself at Yeshivah, an all-boys Orthodox Jewish school, as being "the least religious kid in the most religious school in Australia".[2]
After school he studied journalism atRMIT University.He eventually dropped out without completing his degree and began work in advertising for Clemenger Harvie. During this time he also worked as a copywriter forMazda,Village RoadshowandSea World,where he wrote the company's jingle.[7]
During his final year in high school, Safran formed the hip-hop groupRaspberry Cordialwith his friend Chris Lumsden. They played to some success, receiving high rotation airplay on the city's community radio, playing many gigs in Melbourne and coming second in theRMITBattle of the Bandscompetition.[citation needed]
After winning a government youth music initiative, they followed up withTaste Test,of which 500 copies were pressed. Of those only 93 sold, so the remaining 407 had to be crushed. He said that the world just "wasn't ready for white rappers then" and Raspberry Cordial "broke down the wall that Eminem's been able to walk through", referencing the well-known Caucasian rapperEminemand his success in an industry predominantly African-American.[8]
Career
edit1997–1998:Race Around the World
editSafran's first experience of national fame came viaRace Around the World,a television competition for youngdocumentariansrun by theABC.In his audition tape, Safran was required to submit ten seconds of black, but instead he submitted ten seconds ofBlack Sabbath.[9]
Safran started the race off timid and tame, being locked inside anOsaka subway stationin his first entry. However, he quickly broke what he called the "fear barrier" to film his now famous segments. He ranstreakingnaked through the streets ofJerusalemwearing only the scarf and beanie of his favourite football club,St Kilda,to prove that God is Jewish (St Kilda's only Grand Final win fell on the same day asYom Kippur).[8]He was baptised and placed aVoodoocurse on his ex-girlfriend in theIvory Coast.[8]He sneaked intoDisneylandvia a work area and attached information plaques he made about founderWalt Disneyto a display (highlighting little-known Disney "facts" such as Walt Disney's alleged early support forAdolf Hitler) and got a Catholic priest to reviewdeath metalmusic.[citation needed]
Safran's segments scored well with both the judges and the public audience, Safran topped the viewer poll. He was, however, disqualified for a segment taped in aconfessionalbooth (the program forbadehidden camerafootage); the disqualification of the segment and subsequent loss of points meant that he finished last in the first season ofRace Around the World.[citation needed]
1998–2002: AfterThe Race
editAfter this brush with fame, theABCcommissioned two 30-minute TV pilots from Safran.[citation needed]
One pilot calledJohn Safran: Media Tycoonfocused on the media industry, airing in 1998. It became famous for a segment involvingRay Martin,then host of tabloid current affairs TV showA Current Affair,where Safran harassed him in the style characteristic ofA Current Affairby sorting through his bin, which was later satirised by comedianShaun Micallef.Martin had set up members of the Paxton family. Safran and one of the victims, Shane Paxton, turned up to Martin's home. Martin and his wife Dianne physically threatened Safran.[8]Martin's wife ripped apart Safran'spapier mâchéhat and Ray grabbed Safran by the collar, prompting Shane Paxton to intervene. Martin was in contact with the ABC and specifically warned Safran in the segment that he had spoken to Roger Grant, who was then Head of Corporate Affairs at the ABC.[10]Martin's connection with this executive at the ABC is suspected to be a reason the series never made it to air. The Ray Martin segment was later played onMedia Watch,John Safran: The Lost Pilotand on YouTube.[10]In 2014, Martin still appeared bitter about the incident, calling Safran a "serial pest".[10]
The second pilot was titledJohn Safran: Master Chef.This pilot focused on the food industry. Notably, it featured a cooking segment where Safran prepared a beef dish. The twist comes when he arrives at an abattoir and shows detailed footage of cows being slaughtered to complete the dish.[11]Though all unsuccessful, the pilots became hits via the Internet among university students.[12]Safran also recorded a parody ofBaz Luhrmann's song "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)"entitled"Not the Sunscreen Song",which includes lines such as" Never live inAdelaide,it's a hole "and" Remember, you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex ". It peaked at No. 20 in 1998 and was nominated for anARIA.InTriple M's2005 Greatest Songs Ever Written and Performed Since the Beginning of Timepoll, "Not the Sunscreen Song" came in at #706 – one spot above "Superstition"byStevie Wonder.[13]
Safran also presented segments for theSeven Network's now defunctThe Late Report,some were also screened in the United Kingdom withChannel 4'sDisinformationprogram. Safran attained police attention for a stunt to try and coercecricketerShane Warneinto breaking a "no smoking" clause in an advertising contract with a nicotine gum manufacturer. Safran drove a remote controlled seagull with a cigarette onto the MCG pitch during a match. He was arrested for "pitch invasion",but the charges were dropped.[8]
2002–2003:Music Jamboree
editIn 2002, Safran launched his documentary seriesJohn Safran's Music Jamboree.On one occasion Safran and his crew stormed the courtyard of his former school and amid shocked religious students and teachers, he and his crew began to dance to the song "Footloose".He was also able to gain entry into an exclusive Melbourne night club by dressing up nine men as the bandSlipknot.[14]Screened onSBSon Saturday nights, it opened Safran's work to youth 12 to 20 years old, who had not seen the originalRace Around the Worldmaterial. The show won theAFI awardin 2003 for "Best Comedy Series".[15]
2004–2005:John Safran vs God
editIn August 2004 he debuted his new showJohn Safran vs God,also on the SBS television network. The first seven episodes were typical Safran informative satire. The series' finale featured Safran beingexorcisedof demons which had supposedlypossessedhim during his dabblings with world religions. The exorcism was performed by well-known Christian fundamentalistBob Larson.In an interview with an Australian radio personality, Safran said that he "felt something was going on", and that "there was something about the expression on my face". In an interview onAndrew Denton'sEnough Ropeprogram, he claimed that he had no memory of the events during the exorcism, and stated that the footage shown on the show was merely the most interesting from hours of footage.John Safran vs Godwon a 2005AFI Awardfor "Best Comedy Series".[16]
Before the exorcism, Safran went toMozambiqueto have a curse, previously placed on theAustralian national football teamby a now-deceased witch doctor, lifted. He and former Australian football team captainJohnny Warrenwere covered in chicken's blood in the process. Subsequently, on 16 November 2005,Australia qualifiedfor theWorld Cupfor the first time since 1974.[17]
2005:Speaking in Tongues
editIn 2005 and 2006, Safran co-hosted a television talk show entitledSpeaking in TongueswithFather Bob Maguire,a Catholic priest who was featured inJohn Safran vs God.The 12-part series broadcast onSBS Televisionand began on 7 November 2005.[18]
2007–2010:Race Relations
editSafran spent portions of 2007 in Los Angeles shooting a pilot entitledJohn Safran Saves Americafor American MTV in which he tried to convinceemosto fight in Iraq, visited therapists who claim they can cure people of racism, and attempted to become gay to increase his standing in Hollywood.[19]Safran stated in an interview that he had not heard back from the production companyReveille Productionswhether the program has been purchased for production or not but as time went by, "the answer isn't getting any yesser".[20]
In 2009John Safran's Race Relations,an eight-part comedy documentary television series, was picked up by theABC.[21]As part of this series, on 10 April 2009, John Safran took part in adevotional crucifixion,anannual eventoccurring onGood Fridayin the Philippines. Safran was crucified in Barangay Kapitangan,Paombong,Bulacan, just outside Manila along with three other men and one woman.[22]He had nails driven through his hands and feet and hung on the cross for five minutes before being taken down and given medical treatment in a nearby tent set up for the purpose.[23]It was nominated for a 2010Logie Awardin the category of Light Entertainment.[citation needed]
Radio presenter andSunday Night Safran
editAs of 2002[update],Safran had been a regular host of Melbournecommunity radiostation3RRR(Triple R) on its morning show "Breakfasters".[24]Additionally, he co-hosted the weekly radio showSunday Night Safranon national youth radio stationTriple JwithFather Bob Maguire.After a lengthy hiatus late 2008 due to a busy filming schedule,Sunday Night Safranreturned to the airwaves on 12 July 2009.[25]The program ended at the end of 2015.[26]
The program was iconic because the co-hosts talked to each other for much longer than instructed to (one such incident involved Fr Bob and Safran looking up the wordmonstrancein a dictionary following a dispute) and referring to the audience as "Dear Listeners".[27]By Safran's own admission, Maguire and he "only seem to talk about Scrabble and White Supremacists".[28]
During the program's run, Safran and Maguire were able to get interviews from people such as religious scholarReza Aslan,Julian Assange'smother Christine,The ExorciststarLinda Blair,philosopher andSchool of LifefounderAlain de Botton,writer, retired prison doctor and psychiatristTheodore Dalrymple,West Memphis ThreeDamien Echols,antitheistChristopher Hitchens,conspiracy theoristDavid Icke,former white supremacist skinheadFrank Meeink,pro-euthanasia doctorPhilip Nitschke,The Act of KillingdirectorJoshua Oppenheimer,journalist and writerJon Ronson,true crime writer andTed Bundyco-workerAnn Rule,the LizardmanErik Sprague,African-American pro-Israel political activist and ZionistChloé Valdary,Jewish activist against child sexual abuseManny Waks,psychicLisa Williamsand John Safran's dad, Alex.[29]
Non-fiction writing and journalism
editAfter discovering that a subject of his seriesRace Relations,"Mississippi's most notorious white supremacist"[30]Richard Barretthad been murdered, Safran returned to Mississippi to cover the trial. In 2013Penguin Bookspublished Safran's memoir of his experiences on this trip,Murder in Mississippi(published asGod'll Cut You Downin the US). In 2014 he received aNed Kelly Awardfor Best True Crime for the book.[31]Safran writes for a number of newspapers, including theSydney Morning Herald[32]andVice News.[33]
Safran has also written a book aboutextremismin Australia, titledDepends What You Mean By Extremist.It was published in May 2017.[34]
His investigation into Big Tobacco,Puff Piecewas published in August 2021. It was shortlisted for the 2022Prime Minister's Literary Awardfor Nonfiction.[35]
His bookSquat,released in October 2024, describes his experience squatting in a Los Angeles mansion owned byKanye West.[36]
Personal life
editSafran's favourite board game isScrabble.However, he prefers to play one-on-one compared with four or more players, as he considers that a one-on-one game is a "game of skill" instead of a "game of luck".[37]He also owns all the comprehensiveScrabble dictionaries.[37]Furthermore, Safran has aScrabbleRug, aScrabbleboard costume,Michael Groves Special Edition Scrabble,HebrewScrabble,CD-RomScrabble,KeyringScrabbleand aScrabblewatch.[33]
John Safran was painted byYvette Coppersmithand entered in the 2009Archibald Prize.The painting was a finalist.[38]A portrait by Avraham Vofsi titledJohn Safran as David and Goliathwas a finalist in the2022 Archibald Prize.[39]
Safran has stated that he believes in a force or unifying spirit, and has some "supernatural beliefs".[40]He went on to explain that he doesn't think "these things have to be absolutely true to sort of be invigorating". Furthermore, he thinks mysticism is "a bit like trying to see how long you can hold your breath underwater or like driving without a seatbelt and it’s just like it’s fun. Like so basically religion is a bit like – trying to ban religion is like trying to ban snowboarding or something. It’s just like the rituals are just – can be really fun".[40]He thinks that organised religion "gets a pretty good break in Australia", as they don't have to pay as much tax and are allowed to preach against homosexuals.[40]
Safran publicly stated that religious education should be allowed in schools, and disagrees that it is manipulation.[40]
It’s like saying if you’re going to listen to heavy metal albums you’re going to go on shooting sprees. It’s not like having a chaplain in your school like it’s the only influence that’s going to be on the kid. [...] You’re just going to jump into strange people, so you bump into the chaplain and he’s teaching you all that strange stuff and then, I don’t know, you grow up and then you’ve got these cool stories about the mad chaplain at your school.[40]
Safran's first date was with a girl called Meg whom he was doing work experience with at theAustralian Jewish Newsin Year 10. They sawIndiana Jones and the Last Crusadetogether.[4]At university he began a relationship with a Bolivian girl, but it ended because Safran was "obsessed with [his] creative work", and at 19 Safran did not want the relationship to turn into something more serious.[4]
Safran dated playwrightLally Katz.
Work
editBibliography
edit| Date first published | Title | Publisher information | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 September 2013 | Murder in Mississippi (Published asGod'll Cut You Downin the US) |
Hamish Hamilton,paperback,ISBN1-92642-846-3 | Awarded the 2014Ned Kelly Awardfor True Crime[31] |
| 1 May 2017 | Depends What You Mean By Extremist | Hamish Hamilton, paperback,ISBN978-1-92-642877-2 | [34] |
| 31 August 2021 | Puff Piece | Hamish Hamilton, paperback,ISBN978-1-76-089015-5 | [41] |
| 22 October 2024 | Squat | Penguin, paperback,ISBN 9781760890179 |
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Functioned as | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | Host | Actor | Notes | ||
| 1997 | Race Around the World | No | No | No | Yes | Racer |
| 1998 | John Safran: Master Chef | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| 1998 | John Safran: Media Tycoon | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| 1999 | The Late Report | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| 2000 | The Big Schmooze | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2002 | Music Jamboree | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Won 2003AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series |
| 2004 | John Safran vs God | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Won 2005AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series |
| 2004 | Medusa: First Date(Short) | No | No | No | Yes | Parrot |
| 2004 | Dentally Disturbed(Short) | No | No | No | Yes | Radio DJ |
| 2005 | Webster Say(Short) | No | No | No | Yes | Slacks man |
| 2005-2006 | Speaking in Tongues | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2008 | Professor Pebbles | No | No | No | Yes | Voice |
| 2009 | John Safran's Race Relations | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2011 | Jedis & Juggalos: Your Census Guide | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2011 | The Bazura Project | No | No | No | Yes | Lee's father |
| 2012 | Cedric & Hope(Short) | No | No | No | Yes | Lemming |
| 2013 | In Bob We Trust | No | No | No | Yes | Himself[42] |
| 2016 | The Goddam Election! | No | No | Yes | No | [43] |
| 2022 | King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Black Hot Soup (DJ Shadow's "My Own Reality" Re-Write Music Video) | No | No | No | Yes | Dancer |
Discography
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [44][45] | |||||
| Melbourne Tram | 1991 | — | Melbourne Tram[46] | ||
| "There's No Kangaroos in My Backyard" | — | ||||
| "Let's Play Matchbox Cars" | — | ||||
| "University Elevator Music" | 1993 | — | Taste Test[46] | ||
| "Not the Sunscreen Song" | 1997 | 20 | |||
| "Jew Town"[47] | 2002 | — | non-album single | ||
| "Some Bobby That I Used to Know" (feat.Bob Maguire)[48] |
2012 | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | |||||
References
edit- ^"Pat Mesiti, John Watson and Deborah Landis".Sunday Night Safran.14 May 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Triple J.
- ^abNegus, George (11 October 2004)."John Safran".George Negus Tonight.Australian Broadcasting Commission.
- ^abAttard, Monica (5 June 2005)."John Safran".Sunday Profile.Australian Broadcasting Commission.
- ^abcDoreian, Robyn (29 September 2013)."What I know about women".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- ^ab"What I know about women".The Sydney Morning Herald.28 September 2013.
- ^"Katrina Lucas, Guy Rundle and Alex Safran".Sunday Night Safran.7 December 2014. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Triple J.
- ^"Dr Clare Wright, David Wilcock, Anupam Sharma, Sharon Johal and Jason Callope".Sunday Night Safran.10 June 2010. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Triple J.
- ^abcdeDenton, Andrew (30 June 2003)."John Safran".Enough Rope.Australian Broadcasting Commission.
- ^"Scarlet de Mason, Adam Shand and Varcha Sidwell".Sunday Night Safran.22 January 2012. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Triple J. Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2016.
- ^abcKnox, David (26 April 2014)."John Safran still a sore point for Ray Martin".TV Tonight.Australia.
- ^Behance."Discontinued -- Prosite".Archived fromthe originalon 30 March 2008.Retrieved18 March2008.
- ^"John Safran TV Pilots".Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2004.
- ^YouTube.
- ^Moskovitch, Greg (11 November 2014)."John Safran's 11 Greatest Music Moments".Tone Deaf.Australia.
- ^"AFI Award winners' list".22 November 2003.
- ^"AFI award winners".27 November 2005.
- ^Sygall, David (20 November 2005)."Socceroos owe it all to one man – and it isn't Hiddink".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- ^"Speaking in Tongues".Special Broadcasting Service. Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2006.
- ^"John Safran bio".nma.gov.au.National Museum of Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2008.Retrieved9 January2008.
- ^"John Safran".Amateur Scientist(Interview). 7 November 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Summer Heights High's Chris Lilley yet to sign new deal with ABC".The Courier-Mail.Queensland, Australia. 10 November 2008.
- ^"Comic nailed to cross for 'forensic' insight".9 News.11 April 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 13 April 2009.
- ^"Triple J's Safran crucified in Philippines".Australia: ABC News. 12 April 2009.
- ^"Triple R Breakfasters 2013 line up announcement".Triple R.10 October 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2013.Retrieved24 December2019.
- ^"Sunday Night Safran Archive".Internet Archive.
- ^Galvin, Nick (30 November 2015)."John Safran, Father Bob quit Triple J".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- ^Razer, Helen (1 December 2015)."Sunday Night Safranwas the best kind of journalism ".Crikey.Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- ^"Oliver Burkeman, Waleed Aly and Craig Reucassel".Sunday Night Safran.17 March 2013. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Triple J.
- ^"Sunday Night Safran: Podcast".triplej.net.au.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^"John Safran on Murder in Mississippi".readings.au.Readings. 30 September 2013.
- ^abMorris, Linda (7 September 2014)."From Gonzo to gumshoe: John Safran's Murder in Mississippi wins best true crime award".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- ^Safran, John (26 March 2014)."A town called malice".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- ^abSafran, John (1 December 2005)."Word Nerd".Vice News.United States.
- ^ab"Depends What You Mean by Extremist: Going Rogue with Australian Deplorables".Penguin Books Australia.
- ^"Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2022 shortlists announced".Books+Publishing.7 November 2022.Retrieved8 November2022.
- ^Cain, Sian (21 October 2024)."My week at Kanye's: John Safran on his time squatting in the rapper's mansion".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved17 November2024.
- ^ab"Simon Taylor, Christine Assange, Chris Stedman and Khaled Khalafalla".Sunday Night Safran.15 April 2012. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Triple J.
- ^"Archibald Prize 2009: Yvette Coppersmith".artgallery.nsw.gov.au.Art Gallery of New South Wales. 2009.
- ^"Archibald Prize Archibald 2022 work: John Safran as David and Goliath by Avraham Vofsi".Art Gallery of New South Wales.Retrieved6 May2022.
- ^abcde"A Spiritual Special".Q and A.18 July 2011. Australian Broadcasting Commission. ABC1.
- ^"Puff Piece: How Philip Morris set vaping alight (and burned down the English language)".Penguin Books Australia.
- ^"John Safran".IMDb.
- ^"Your guide to election comedy coverage on TV".Guide.21 June 2016.Retrieved24 December2019.
- ^"John Safran – Not the Sunscreen Song".australian-charts.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^"John Safran".Rage.8 May 2010. Australian Broadcasting Commission. ABC Television.
- ^ab"Raspberry Cordial".jplay.au.J Play. 26 November 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2016.Retrieved11 May2016.
- ^Behance."Discontinued -- Prosite".Archived fromthe originalon 9 May 2016.Retrieved11 May2016.
- ^"Some Bobby That I Used To Know".triplej.net.au.Sunday Night Safran (Triple J). Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
External links
edit- John Safran's Official website
- John SafranatIMDb
- WatchJohn Safran: Media Tycoonpilot made for the ABCArchived15 December 2009 at theWayback Machine
- Watch TV pilots made for ABC
- Sunday Night SafranSafran's Triple J radio show homepage