Veterans of absurd humor
People under 40 probably don’t know the troupe at all, or they will have heard about it from current comedians, who have cited it as a source of inspiration. Those who eyed the CBC in the first half of the 1990s probably know her, even if they haven’t always understood her absurd Monty Python humor. However, according to the testimonies of many laughing stars in a documentary devoted to them, the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall was a pioneer in several respects in its sketch show of the same name produced by Lorne Michaels and broadcast on Canadian public television and on HBO, in our southern neighbours, between 1989 and 1995. The quintet of actors and comedians stood out at the time for their audacity in tackling the issues of sexual identity, to embody female characters without lapsing into cross-dressing and to make typically absurd humor british with Canadian sauce, without being afraid of sometimes falling into vulgarity…
The end of this cult show did not sign the death of the group, since it subsequently committed a cinematic turnip (brain candy), rediscovered the pleasure of the stage at the Just for Laughs festival and during an American tour and created, in 2010, for the Prime Video platform,Death Comes to Town, a series of “murder mysteries” featuring many of their characters from yesteryear. This time they are back in their old formula, with eight sketch shows about which we cannot tell you much because of the critical embargo. We can still suspect that the followers of yesteryear will not be out of place. And those who would like to make discoveries can catch up on all the previous seasons, which, to our delight, are offered in English and French subtitled versions. In addition, the documentary Tea Kids in the Hall. Comedy Punks (available May 20, still on Prime Video), an exhaustive portrait of the group, will allow the public to understand a little better their importance, and probably to appreciate their particular humor.
The Kids in the Hall
Prime Video, from May 13
Often stupid, not really bad…
Coincidentally, two other Canadian comedy makers who have found success beyond the borders of the ROC also launch a sometimes caustic series in which they play characters that at first seem unsympathetic.
Actor and screenwriter Jared Keeso, creator of the rural comedy a bit runny Letterkenny with Montrealer Jacob Tierney, gives new impetus to this universe by offering a derivative series devoted to the character of Shoresy, a very robust but talented hockey player, glory of the local team with a very flowery language and easy insult. Keeso resumes this character whose face we never see in Letterkenny and moved him to Sudbury, within a second-class team that he must help to finally win… The mixture of linguistic and cultural communities, the antagonisms between rural and “urban” people and hockey jokes, sometimes worthy of Slapshotelements already present in Letterkennyare the salt of this new series, which will also be offered in a French Quebec version, similar to that of the cult turnip, from June 13.
Zarqa Navaz, the creator of the series rather nice, but still very innovative Little Mosque on the Prairie, this time offers a slightly more corrosive comic web series that cheerfully pokes fun at the ordinary racism that inhabits people of all origins and walks of life. The title character, a Muslim woman in her fifties, independent, a bit “crazy” — according to those around her (even if it’s no longer said…) — and quite racist, doesn’t accept that her ex-husband has left her. for a young “white” yoga teacher. On the eve of the latter’s remarriage, she invents a white and prosperous spouse, whom she will have the chance to find in the real world, if she manages to endure it… The sharp and frankly funny replies of this character not common on our screens constitute the most daring element of this irreverent comedy, which fairly quickly reveals its warmer contours.
Shoresy (English OV with French subtitles)
Crave, from May 13
Zarqa
CBC Gem, starting May 13