Tom Cashman (comedian)

Tom Cashman
Cashman in 2024
Born
Thomas James Cashman

(1989-09-14) 14 September 1989
Sydney, Australia
Comedy career
Mediumcomedy, television, podcasting, TikTok

Thomas James Cashman[1] (born 14 September 1989)[2] is an Australian stand-up comedian and writer.[3] He gained popularity in 2022 with a series of videos posted on TikTok about his request for a landlord reference. Since 2023 he has been the co-host and co-writer of the Australian version of television series Taskmaster.[4][5]

Early life

Cashman's father is a maths teacher[6] and his mother, Kerri Lynn Parnell, a general practitioner. She died in June 2017.[7] Cashman also has a younger sister, Helen, who is also a doctor.[8] His first job was refereeing basketball.[9][10] During his university studies, Cashman did an exchange in London.[11]

Career

Cashman studied law at the University of Sydney earning a Bachelor of Laws degree and worked as a qualified lawyer until 2021 before moving full-time into comedy. [12][13]

Cashman has appeared as a regular host on The Project,[14] and has guested on The Hundred with Andy Lee, Question Everything, Celebrity Letters & Numbers, and Tonightly with Tom Ballard.[3] Cashman was also on the writing team for Planet America, Tonightly with Tom Ballard,[3] and ABC's Win the Week.[3] In April 2020, Cashman began hosting The Good Stuff podcast, alongside fellow comic Sam Taunton.[15] The podcast was later renamed The Really Good Stuff.

In 2022, Cashman began presenting a regular segment on Triple J.[3] Also in 2022, Cashman began the show "All Comedians Are Beautiful" with his The Good Stuff co-host Sam Taunton.[16] This weekly performance in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale began as a trial run for the comics' individual shows, and then developed into the duo compéring for a variety of other comedians.[16]

Cashman's comedy shows include Good (2018),[17] XYZ (2019)[18], Graphs (renamed Pests) (2022).[19], and NPC (Nearly Proficient Comedian) (2026).[20] [21] Parts of NPC were shown to the Taskmaster Australia audience.[22]

In February 2023, Taskmaster Australia began airing on Network 10, with Cashman in the role of the Taskmaster's assistant.[4] A running joke on the show is that Taskmaster Tom Gleeson addresses Cashman as "Lesser Tom."[23]

Landlord reference saga

During Sydney's second lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cashman began making videos on the social media app TikTok, with his "landlord reference saga" gaining particular traction.[5] In these videos, Cashman asked a prospective landlord for a reference written by a previous tenant, and shared their response.[24] In addition to garnering millions of views,[25] the videos inspired ACT politician Michael Pettersson to introduce a motion to the ACT Legislative Assembly which would allow renters to ask for references from prospective landlords.[26] The motion was rejected.[27]

This media spectacle became the basis for his show Graphs, which was later recorded and released in 2024 as Pests.[28]

Flat white saga

In 2025, Cashman got into hot water by controversially asserting that Sydney invented the "flat white" in a TikTok. He was later interviewed on prime time New Zealand television by "Mother of the Nation" Hilary Barry on Seven Sharp, where he came face to face with the alleged New Zealand flat white inventor. Cashman declared a draw in the interview after conceding that the name "flat white" was from Australia but the recipe known today is from New Zealand.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Turner-Cohen, Alex (1 February 2021). "Neighbour's 'absolutely deranged' note after cleaners' rubbish disposal decision". 7NEWS. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Cashman, Tom [@_tomcashman] (14 September 2015). ".@LiberalAus could we postpone the "spill"? It's my birthday today, you see. I'm turning 26 :)" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tom Cashman". Jubilee Street Management. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 Cain, Sian (1 February 2023). "Taskmaster comes to Australia: 'I am better than Greg Davies – make that the headline!'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  5. 1 2 Comedian Tom Cashman Tells Us How His Mission To Reform Renting Is Going, 11 April 2022, retrieved 12 March 2023 – via YouTube
  6. ↑ Cunningham, Katie (8 December 2024). "Three things with Tom Cashman: 'That loss taught me hard work doesn't always pay off'". Guardian Australia.
  7. ↑ Calabresi, Dr Linda (28 June 2017). "Vale Dr Kerri Parnell. Tireless advocate, loyal friend". Medical Republic. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Kerri CASHMAN Obituary (2017) - Sydney, New South Wales - The Sydney Morning Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Cain, Sian (19 March 2025). "Tom Cashman: 'Danny Bhoy thinks I'm still mad about Space Invaders. I really hope he reads this'". Guardian Australia.
  10. ↑ Cain, Sian (1 February 2023). "Taskmaster comes to Australia: 'I am better than Greg Davies – make that the headline!'".
  11. ↑ Wil Anderson (30 May 2024). "WILOSOPHY: Tom Cashman - If You Think About Happiness All The Time, You'll Ruin It". Everyone Relax (Podcast). Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Cain, Sian (19 March 2025). "Tom Cashman: 'Danny Bhoy thinks I'm still mad about Space Invaders. I really hope he reads this'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Spotify – Web Player". Spotify. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "The Project – 16 Dec 2022". 10 play. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "The Good Stuff | a podcast by Tom Cashman and Sam Taunton". thegoodstufftomsam.podbean.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  16. 1 2 "all comedians are beautiful". Eventbrite. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  17. ↑ Langenberg, Adam (2 March 2018). "Adelaide Fringe 2018: Good". The Advertiser. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Tom Cashman – XYZ". Edinburgh Festival. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  19. ↑ Bennett, Steve. "Tom Cashman: Graphs : Reviews 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  20. ↑ Weber, Kris (6 April 2026). "MICF: Tom Cashman – NPC (Nearly Proficient Comedian)".
  21. ↑ Duggan, Sarah (7 April 2026). "Tom Cashman on overconfidence, Facebook Marketplace and NPC".
  22. ↑ Riley, Allen. "Interview: Tom Gleeson & Tom Cashman".
  23. ↑ Byram, Vickii (1 July 2024). "Tom Gleeson is master of Lesser Tom and five top comedians on Taskmaster". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  24. ↑ Farmilo, Kathleen (1 February 2022). "A TikToker Asked A Landlord For References From Former Tenants & They Deleted His Application". PEDESTRIAN.TV. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  25. ↑ "Tom Cashman – Interview about Landlord References on New... | By Tom Cashman | Interview about Landlord References on New Zealand TV 😂". Retrieved 8 February 2023 – via Facebook.
  26. ↑ Butler, Sinead (24 March 2022). "Aussie comedian who asked for landlord reference inspires new rental rights motion". Indy100. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  27. ↑ Saurine, Angela (13 June 2026). "Taskmaster comedian Tom Cashman brings his new show to Brunswick Picture House". Byron Coast Times.
  28. ↑ Bennett, Steve (19 April 2022). "Tom Cashman: Graphs : Reviews 2022". Chortle. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  29. ↑ Sowman-Lund, Stewart (5 May 2026). "From TikTok to Taskmaster: How Covid gave Tom Cashman his big break". The Post.
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