Friends of Gilda
Encyclopedia
Friends of Gilda was a 1993 ninety-minute television special
made by CBC Television
to benefit the Genesis Research Foundation, the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto
’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its original air date was 21 November 1993.
The fundraiser was a tribute to Gilda Radner
who died of ovarian cancer
in 1989 and featured a long list of performers with whom she was friendly. Among these were the "surviving cast members" who had shared the stage with Gilda Radner in the celebrated Toronto
production of Godspell
which was her professional stage debut. Others appearing in the special knew her from Second City Toronto
. Several—including Eugene Levy
and Andrea Martin
—fell into both those categories.
The special was directed by Martin Short
who had dated Radner when they were both in Godspell. Short also appeared in the show itself and shared writing credit with Perry Rosemond. Paul Shaffer
, who conducted and played piano for the same Toronto production of Godspell, appeared as music director.
The special included songs from Godspell, backstage footage of the production, several clips from Saturday Night Live
, and four comedy sketches:
Other performers appearing in the show include Valda Aviks, Jim Betts, Karl Blindheim, Valri Bromfield
, Avril Chown, Beth Anne Cole, Nancy Dolman
, Brian Doyle-Murray
, Robin Duke
, Patty Elsasser, Victor Garber
, Marvin Hamlisch
, Eugene Levy
, Andrea Martin
, Mary Ann McDonald, Derek McGrath
, Catherine O'Hara
, Carole Pope
, Rosemary Radcliffe
, Gerry Salsberg, Don Scardino
, Stephen Schwartz
, Charlene Shipp, Kevan Staples, Rudy Webb and Robin White
.
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
made by CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
to benefit the Genesis Research Foundation, the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its original air date was 21 November 1993.
The fundraiser was a tribute to Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner
Gilda Susan Radner was an American comedian and actress, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1978.-Early life:...
who died of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
in 1989 and featured a long list of performers with whom she was friendly. Among these were the "surviving cast members" who had shared the stage with Gilda Radner in the celebrated Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
production of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
which was her professional stage debut. Others appearing in the special knew her from Second City Toronto
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
. Several—including Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
and Andrea Martin
Andrea Martin
Andrea Louise Martin is an American and Canadian actress and comedienne. She has appeared in films such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, on stage in productions such as My Favorite Year, Fiddler on the Roof and Candide, and in the television series, SCTV.-Personal life:Martin, the oldest of three...
—fell into both those categories.
The special was directed by Martin Short
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
who had dated Radner when they were both in Godspell. Short also appeared in the show itself and shared writing credit with Perry Rosemond. Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
, who conducted and played piano for the same Toronto production of Godspell, appeared as music director.
The special included songs from Godspell, backstage footage of the production, several clips from Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, and four comedy sketches:
- The first sketch, "Rehearsal", featured John CandyJohn CandyJohn Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
as an actor unable to remember his lines. Joe FlahertyJoe FlahertyJoe Flaherty is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy SCTV, from 1976 to 1984, and as Harold Weir on Freaks and Geeks...
and Eugene Levy also appeared as actors playing actors in that sketch. - The second sketch, "Human Sexual Response", featured Andrea Martin as Dr. Cheryl Kinsey (an allusionAllusionAn allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
to the Kinsey ReportsKinsey ReportsThe Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female , by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and others and published by Saunders...
and Alfred KinseyAlfred KinseyAlfred Charles Kinsey was an American biologist and professor of entomology and zoology, who in 1947 founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, as well as producing the Kinsey Reports and the Kinsey...
, their principal author) discussing how to fake an orgasmFake orgasmFaking orgasm refers to the act of pretending to have an orgasm without actually experiencing one. It usually means simulating or acting out behaviors, such as body movements, vocal sounds, and sequences of apparent intensification followed by apparent release, typically associated with orgasm...
. - The third sketch, "The Defense", featured Dave ThomasDave Thomas (actor)David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
and was about a man defending himself for a heinous crime. - The final sketch, "Van Kamp's Beans", is about the funeral of a man who died trying to obtain more beans. The sketch features Jayne EastwoodJayne EastwoodJayne Eastwood , also credited as Jane Easton or Jane Eastwood, is a Canadian actress most famous for appearing in the 2002 film Chicago. She was one of the original cast members of the Toronto branch of The Second City, and was a semi-regular on SCTV...
as "Widow Smedly", Dave Thomas as "Tony Ipanema", and Luciano Lutz as a priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.
Other performers appearing in the show include Valda Aviks, Jim Betts, Karl Blindheim, Valri Bromfield
Valri Bromfield
Valri Bromfield is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and television producer who started her career as one half of a comedy team with Dan Aykroyd. Together, they joined the first Toronto company of The Second City where she was one of the original players.-Television appearances:Bromfield was a...
, Avril Chown, Beth Anne Cole, Nancy Dolman
Nancy Dolman
Nancy Jane Dolman was a Canadian comic actress and singer. She was most notable for her recurring role as Annie Selig Tate on the ABC sitcom Soap...
, Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray is an American comedian, screenwriter, actor and voice artist. He is the older brother of actor/comedian Bill Murray and has acted together with him in several films, including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, The Razor's Edge and Groundhog Day...
, Robin Duke
Robin Duke
Robin Duke is a Canadian actress and comedian. Duke is most famous for her work on the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live. In the 2000s, Women Fully Clothed, a sketch comedy troupe which she co-founded, toured Canada...
, Patty Elsasser, Victor Garber
Victor Garber
Victor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...
, Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only thirteen people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is also one of only two people to EGOT and also win a Pulitzer Prize...
, Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
, Andrea Martin
Andrea Martin
Andrea Louise Martin is an American and Canadian actress and comedienne. She has appeared in films such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, on stage in productions such as My Favorite Year, Fiddler on the Roof and Candide, and in the television series, SCTV.-Personal life:Martin, the oldest of three...
, Mary Ann McDonald, Derek McGrath
Derek McGrath
Derek McGrath is a Canadian actor.He is known for his roles in Cheers as "Andy-Andy" Schroeder , Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate in My Secret Identity, Crewman Chell in Star Trek: Voyager, and as Dr. Derek Hebert in Doc...
, Catherine O'Hara
Catherine O'Hara
Catherine Anne O'Hara is a Canadian-American actress and comedienne. She is well known for her comedy work on SCTV, and her roles in the films After Hours, Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and also in the mockumentary films written and directed by Christopher Guest...
, Carole Pope
Carole Pope
Carole Pope is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose provocative blend of hard-edged New Wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian famous entertainers in the world...
, Rosemary Radcliffe
Rosemary Radcliffe
Rosemary Radcliffe is a Canadian comic actress, writer, composer and painter. She graduated from Ryerson College in Toronto, then began her television career on Sunday Morning at CBLT Toronto....
, Gerry Salsberg, Don Scardino
Don Scardino
Don Scardino is an American television director and producer and a former actor.-Acting:Born in New York City, Scardino began his career as an actor. His first Broadway credit was as an understudy in The Playroom in 1965. Additional Broadway acting credits include Johnny No-Trump, Godspell, and...
, Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
, Charlene Shipp, Kevan Staples, Rudy Webb and Robin White
Robin White
Robin White may refer to:* Robin White , BBC journalist and playwright* Robin White , professional tennis player* Robin White , barrister at Old Square Chambers, Bedford Row, London who practises in employment and discrimination law....
.