Udom “Nose” Taepanich, 55, is known for doing stand-up comedy in Thailand. He is a comedian, artist, and writer, and uses humor to make fun of society and things he finds interesting about Thailand. He makes a good living from it.
Udom both makes people laugh and makes them angry. His recent show on Netflix, called “Deaw Special Super Soft Power,” has started another round of discussion, just like his earlier shows.
However, his latest jokes about the older generation and the “sufficiency economy” theory in his Netflix show have caused trouble for him, and he is facing a lèse majesté lawsuit.
Some of his critics in the media are National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, Pol Lt Gen Rewat Klingkesorn, and former politician Pareena Kraikup. Pareena has filed a lèse majesté lawsuit against Udom.
“I can’t stand it. I don’t want any artist to follow suit. This is not right, and I am not the only one who thinks so. Let’s fight in court,” Pareena told the media after pressing charges.
While many people feel hurt by what they see as “bullying” by Udom in his latest show on the streaming platform, others find his commentary just as funny as before and think the critics are being too sensitive.
Chalermchai didn't find Udom’s joke about the older generation choosing not to work nowadays funny. Udom also made a joke about National Artists in general and talked about their failure to make a living using the term “Sai Heang” (a Thai metaphor for poverty).
“Don’t you dare drag us (national artists) into this,” a very angry Chalermchai said.
From dropout to controversial stand-up comedian
Born in 1968 in Chon Buri, Udom’s talent for art emerged early. He started studying at Poh Chang College of Arts but didn’t like it there.
He later said he had to leave because he didn't have enough money. Even with this setback, Nose found ways to express his creativity as a cartoonist and later in the art department of a magazine. During this time, he also started working in showbiz as an extra in a stage play.
In 1993, Udom got a role on the popular comedy-variety show “Yutthakan Khayap Nguak,” showing off his funny talent and becoming very famous.
But, his real passion was stand-up comedy, which was a relatively new idea in Thailand at the time. In 1995, Udom did his first solo show, “Deaw Microphone,” to a full audience. This was a big moment in Thai comedy history.
Udom’s “Deaw” series, which now has 13 shows, became his main way of expressing himself. He wrote and performed the shows himself, dealing with social issues using sharp humor. This way of talking often made his critics angry.
In 2022, Udom gained both friends and admirers with his “Deaw 13,” which made fun of then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Without using the PM’s name, Nose compared him to an unqualified pilot having a hard time controlling Thailand.
This caused a lot of discussion on social media, showing the big political split in the country.
Some people against him noticed that Udom was picking certain targets and avoiding other touchy subjects like the return of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra or the controversial Dhammakaya sect, which Udom is considered to be a part of.
The intersection of art and business from the 1990s until now
Udom is not only a comedian; he is a versatile artist who takes comfort in visual arts.
Even though he doesn't make a living from it, he values the freedom of artistic expression and sees it as something therapeutic that he enjoys, rather than a source of income.
Nose is also an entrepreneur, overseeing five companies in the entertainment and food industries.
Interestingly, one of his companies is called “Por Ping,” which means “sufficiency” in Thai—a concept he humorously referenced.
He serves as the director of all these companies. His “Made in Happyland Co” had a turnover of over 230 million baht last year with a net profit of 43 million baht.
Udom might be the comedian who best represents Thailand’s freedom, as he has no issue poking fun at Prayut and is also a social commentator who earns a substantial income from it.
While many people may dislike his show, he receives love and support from his extensive fan base. His Deaw page on Facebook has over 3.8 million followers who enjoy his show, and it has become the most-watched TV show in Thailand on Netflix.
If his objectives are wealth and fame, Udom has definitely reached them.
Thai PBS World Feature Desk
