WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Graham Neil honours brother with comedy

Don Neil loved stand-up comedy. He never missed a show by his brother – CTV Edmonton entertainment correspondent and sometime stand-up comic Graham Neil – and after he died of cancer three years ago, Graham and some comedy friends decided there was no better way to honour Don’s memory than with an annual comedy show. […]

COMEDY: Sterling Scott to hit the next level with DVD taping

The allure of the professional stand-up comedy trade is powerful when you’ve become hooked on making people laugh. It can happen as early as childhood. Some call it a sickness, others an addiction, and there is no known cure, no comedic “methadone.” There is often nothing for it but to … become a professional stand-up […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Arena comics risk Nickelback syndrome

There’s something strange that happens in the course of a stand-up comedian’s rise to success. While moving up from nightclubs to theatres is celebrated, prompting pats on the backs and kudos all around, hitting the next level – arenas – seems to result in a wee bit of a backlash. Consider that racist puppet guy, […]

COMIC INTERVIEW: Brent Butt gets mocked for optimism

The great thing about being a stand-up comic who gets a TV series is that you have a pretty sweet gig to fall back on once the series – inevitably – ends. A lot of TV actors aren’t so lucky. Ask Seinfeld’s co-stars. Brent Butt was of course the creator and star of the CTV […]

Area teacher-comic zeros in on what’s wrong with schools

“In our generation, we eliminated the stupid kids.” Relax, it’s just a joke from an old guy – professional stand-up comedian and schoolteacher Ken Valgardson. See, if there’s anybody who can find humour in the No Zeros brouhaha, it’s this man. Not only that, but Mr. Valgardson is a teacher who retires in couple of […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Improvaganza to bridge comedy arts

An embarrassment of riches awaits the hungry comedy fan this week – fortunately, the brave performers at Improvaganza are immune from embarrassment. Also, they generally never say no to any suggestion, another trait that will hold them in good stead at Rapid Fire Theatre’s annual “international improv comedy festival,” opening Wednesday at the Varscona Theatre. […]

CYCLEROTIC TALES: Nice wheels, and the bike ain’t bad either

The following is from a news release by the Winnipeg Police that was issued on June 1 – the first day of Bike Month: A 21-year-old female was walking in the area of the St. James Cemetery when she noticed a man on a bike pass her a number of times. The female continued walking […]

Area improviser Mark Meer up for Canadian Comedy Award

Mark Meer appears to be the only Edmonton nominee at this year’s Canadian Comedy Awards – and that says more about Mark Meer than it does about any possible bias against Edmonton. We’re just one funny town in a funny country – and this particular local actor just happens to stand out because he works […]

COMIC INTERVIEW: Kathleen Madigan keeps it out of the box

Unlike comedians for whom the craft of stand-up comedy is merely a launch pad to sitcom or late night TV heaven, Kathleen Madigan prefers to stay out of the small box, to keep it pure, to work hard to make comedy something best experienced by a live audience. Ironically, this makes her a better comic […]

INTERVIEW: The 8 Labors of Henry Rollins

As a stand-up comic with a gift for going over the top, Henry Rollins makes Denis Leary look like Steven Wright – but he’s not really a stand-up comic. As a motivational speaker, Rollins is more motivational than Tony Robbins and Gene Simmons rolled into one – but he’s not really a motivational speaker. As […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Joe Rogan will beat you up with his MIND

Joe Rogan is hard to figure. On one hand, the New Jersey comic can come off like one of these dependable, burly, blue collar palookas shouting f-word laden hyperbole about gays, strippers, drugs, sex, all the good stuff. He’s sharp, has good punch-lines, great interaction with the crowd. Goes over like gangbusters in a live […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Die Nasty to end season with a real who-did-it

The burning question in the Italian town of Edmontonioni this weekend is: Who murdered the famous Parisian fashion designer Poni – whose real name turns out to be Antoine Horseman – at a potluck dinner held in his honour? (Insert cheesy organ, climbing up diminished chords to indicate mounting suspense, as needed.) Was it … […]