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Jobrani is as relaxed and friendly on the phone as he is on stage.  He is about to do his second tour of Australia, which he loved the first time around.  “Sydney is like San Diego plus Los Angeles… and Melbourne is more San Fran – more European,” he muses.  Since touring with comedians Ahmed Ahmed and Aaron Kader as the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, Jobrani has been a hit amongst a broad audience around the globe to both Muslims and non-Muslims - and is a cult superstar with Iranian audiences worldwide.  Since his last trip Jobrani has been added to the cast of two US television shows - ABC's Better off Ted and Rita Rocks, both in their second seasons.
 
When asked about the recent political controversies in Iran, Jobrani admits that people were begging him to make a statement.  When he finally did, his Blackberry was flooded with responses from across the world.  "I had this momentary delusion that I had become the leader of the reform movement!"  The front page of Jobrani's website has a heartfelt message to those in his country who he feels are fighting for their freedom. Speaking of his memories of Iran as a child, Jobrani writes "...30 years later I am being bombarded with images and clips from the protests in Iran that remind me of my youth. As someone who is not in the country and watching from overseas I must say that I am emboldened by what the people of Iran are doing these days..."
 
Jobrani is happy to travel because he feels that politics is an easier topic to discuss with people outside the US."All you have to do is compare BBC to CNN," he says.  "It's way more in depth.  I remember watching a program about the situation in Congo - that barely got a mention in the States."
 
Maz also talks about the entertainment industry finally opening up for artists like him, despite stereotypical 'terrorist' roles still being a popular trope in TV and film.  He admits that these parts "...are always gonna be there,"  but is pleased to have a management team that understands him.  He insists on working with people "who have your back and can see the bigger picture."  That doesn't mean Jobrani only wants to play good guys - he's happy to play a villain as long as it's not stereotypical.  "I'd like to rob a bank sometime.  Just not in a turban. Please, can I rob a bank without a turban?"
 
Jobrani says that Axis of Evil - the three-man comedy tour that launched his career, ran its course.  He still keeps in touch with his previous partners Ahmed Ahmed and Aaron Kader, but is happy that he has his own shows where he can do longer performances.  "It's nice to be able to flex my comedic muscles a little."  Jobrani's a new father now, and his time in Australia will mark the end of 20 straight days of international performing.  He will be performing a brand new show that incorporates some classic material - "To talk about my baby...I still have to talk about my wife first!"
 
Maz Jobrani's Australia-wide tour Brown and Friendly kicks off on the 22nd of October in Melbourne.

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