Monday Grill: Jan Maree - Fast and Furious: A Jan of all trades

By ANA SAMWAYS

She's the MC for all the gigs who don't want John Hawkesby and a Billy T Award winner, but since making her break into radio, newsreading for The Breeze in Waikato, she's left the glamorous life of an Auckland comedian and set up in Hamilton.


WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU LAMPOON MOST IN YOUR STAND-UP?

My gags come from things I wonder about ... like whether Paul Holmes and his wife Debbie have climbing gear at home and how boy racers' cars are just like nana cars, only with mags and phoo-phoo valves ...

ARE YOU AN EXHIBITIONIST?

I reckon.

WHO IS THE FUNNIEST PERSON ALIVE?

Billy Connolly.

WHAT'S THE THING YOU WANT MOST OUT OF LIFE?

To represent my country and travel the world in the name of peace ... [Is that too Lorraine Downes?]

YOU MCED FOR TWO SEASONS AT THE SPEEDWAY. ARE YOU NOW A PETROLHEAD?

I was a petrolhead waaaaay before I started doing speedway. Prior to working there, I wasn't really a speedway fan: I was more into classic, V8 and truck racing. Springs Speedway is the classiest place to watch dirt racing. I am now a biiiig fan: I get abnormal hot-dog-on-a-stick cravings in the off-season, you know?

YOU'LL BE WELL INTO THE V8 SUPERCARS RALLY GETTING THE OKAY FOR AUCKLAND CITY?

Auckland had its chance with the boats, now it wants the V8s as well. Does everything have to be in Auckland? It should be in Wellington.

TELL ME TWO LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF:

I can get quite freaked out by large groups of people I don't know. I have never seen Cocktail, Dirty Dancing, Four Weddings and a Funeral or Pretty Woman.

WHAT'S THE STRANGEST JOB YOU'VE HAD?

Miss Drive Liquid in the Petone Christmas Parade in 1987 (wearing a giant Drive Liquid Bottle walking along acting goofy in front of the float).

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT HAMILTON?

It is like the Hutt (where I grew up), only with farms. The shopkeepers are friendly.

WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST ABOUT HAMILTON?

That people outside Hamilton take the piss out of Hamilton.



BIO:

Age: 30.

Status: Single.

Music: At the moment a rock/metal band called Blackjack.

Film: Wayne's World.

Education: Diploma in primary teaching from Wellington College of Education.