Humber College Comedy: Writing and Performance
Encyclopedia
The Humber School of Comedy (Comedy: Writing and Performance program) was founded in 1999, at Humber College
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
.
One of the Comedy students' mandatory course requirements is to perform at Yuk Yuk's
comedy club's Toonie Tuesday nights.
, SCTV's Robin Duke
, Cindy Block, Shawn Campbell, Canada's foremost comedy historian Andrew Clark, David Flaherty, Writer Lorne Frohman
, Comedian Larry Horowitz, choreographer Jen Johnson, multiple Dora Award-nominee Melody A. Johnson, Mike Kennard, Frank McAnulty, Laura McGhee, David Talbot
, Robert Trick.
Former faculty members include SCTV's Joe Flaherty
, Dora Award-winner Linda Kash
, Andy Massingham, Paul O'Sullivan
, CTV executive producer of drama Martin Lager, Allan Guttman, Cindy Block, Frank McAnulty, Shawn Campbell, Nick Johne
, Robert Trick Johnston, Mike Kennard, Mark Schoenberg.
, Bruce Jay Friedman
, Eugene Levy
, Rick Moranis
, Perry Rosemond
, George Shapiro
, Marlene Smith
, and Dave Thomas
.
However, the show was met with criticism. Maureen Wall, the faculty union president, told school newspaper Humber EtCetera that "I really think it could potentially be affecting the quality of education and what we're supposed to be all about here as a college." With such opposition, the show eventually ceased production.
The show would have set a precedent, by giving individuals in the series control over the footage used in the show's final edit. Generally the genre of reality is known for airing the most controversial or embarrassing footage available.
Before this, 60 Minutes
, the BBC
, and more than two dozen independent film producers had contacted Kertes beforehand, but Merv Griffin Productions was the first to make a "serious bid".
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
One of the Comedy students' mandatory course requirements is to perform at Yuk Yuk's
Yuk Yuk's
Yuk Yuk's is a national comedy club chain in Canada, owned by former stand-up comedian Mark Breslin and established in 1977 by Breslin and Joel Axler...
comedy club's Toonie Tuesday nights.
Faculty
Yuk Yuk's founder Mark BreslinMark Breslin
Mark Breslin is a Canadian entrepreneur, stand-up comedian and actor best known for being the founder of Yuk Yuk's, the largest chain of comedy clubs in Canada.He made several guest appearances in the Robocop: The Series television series....
, SCTV's 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...
, Cindy Block, Shawn Campbell, Canada's foremost comedy historian Andrew Clark, David Flaherty, Writer Lorne Frohman
Lorne Frohman
Lorne Frohman is a television comedy writer/producer. He created Pryor's Place starring Richard Pryor. He also created, wrote and produced the syndicated series D. C...
, Comedian Larry Horowitz, choreographer Jen Johnson, multiple Dora Award-nominee Melody A. Johnson, Mike Kennard, Frank McAnulty, Laura McGhee, David Talbot
David Talbot
David Talbot is a progressive journalist, bestselling author and media entrepreneur. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of one of the first web magazines, Salon.com...
, Robert Trick.
Former faculty members include SCTV's Joe Flaherty
Joe Flaherty
Joe 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...
, Dora Award-winner Linda Kash
Linda Kash
Linda Kash is a Canadian actress.An alumna of Second City, she played Trudy Weissman in the 1998 Jean Smart sit-com, Style & Substance...
, Andy Massingham, Paul O'Sullivan
Paul O'Sullivan
Paul Thomas O'Sullivan, AO is Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Director-General of Security. Prior to his appointment to head ASIO in July 2005, O'Sullivan was former Prime Minister John Howard's senior foreign affairs advisor.O'Sullivan attended Marcellin College, Randwick,...
, CTV executive producer of drama Martin Lager, Allan Guttman, Cindy Block, Frank McAnulty, Shawn Campbell, Nick Johne
Nick Johne
Nick Johne is a Canadian actor who is best known for playing Murray Woolworth's assistant Dwayne Dortmund on the second season of The Red Green Show.-Career:...
, Robert Trick Johnston, Mike Kennard, Mark Schoenberg.
Guest speakers
- 1998: Seinfeld's executive producer George ShapiroGeorge ShapiroGeorge Shapiro is an American talent manager and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning television producer. He represented the late Andy Kaufman and is among the most successful managers in show business. He currently represents Jerry Seinfeld....
and former co-producer and lead writer Carol LeiferCarol LeiferCarol Leifer is an American comedian, writer, producer and actor whose career as a stand-up comedian started in the 1970s when she was in college. David Letterman discovered her performing in a comedy club in the 1980s and she has since been a guest on Late Night With David Letterman over... - 1999: Anne Beatts, Joe Flaherty, Beth LapidesBeth Lapides-Art:Lapides began her career as a visual and performance artist in New York. She continues to exhibit in group shows.-Un-Cabaret:By 1990 Lapides and her partner and husband Greg Miller had moved to Los Angeles. In 1993 they created Un-Cabaret, a live show that became an important venue for the...
- 2004-05: Andrea MartinAndrea MartinAndrea 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...
, Colin MochrieColin MochrieColin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish Canadian actor and improvisational comedian, most famous for his appearances on the British and US versions of television improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.-Early life:...
, Joan RiversJoan RiversJoan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, The Smothers BrothersSmothers BrothersThe Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
, Jerry StillerJerry StillerGerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller is an American comedian and actor.He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara...
and Anne MearaAnne MearaAnne Meara is an American actress and comedian. She and Jerry Stiller were a prominent 1960s comedy team, appearing as Stiller and Meara, and are the parents of actor/comedian Ben and actress Amy Stiller.- Personal life :... - 2005-06: (incomplete) Billy CrystalBilly CrystalWilliam Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
, Eugene LevyEugene LevyEugene 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... - 2006-07: Colin MochrieColin MochrieColin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish Canadian actor and improvisational comedian, most famous for his appearances on the British and US versions of television improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.-Early life:...
, Mark BreslinMark BreslinMark Breslin is a Canadian entrepreneur, stand-up comedian and actor best known for being the founder of Yuk Yuk's, the largest chain of comedy clubs in Canada.He made several guest appearances in the Robocop: The Series television series....
, Russell PetersRussell PetersRussell Dominic Peters is an Indo-Canadian comedian, actor and disc jockey. He began performing in Toronto in 1989 and has been nominated for four Gemini Awards.-Early life :...
Advisory Committee
Chaired by Mark Breslin, the committee consists of Joe FlahertyJoe Flaherty
Joe 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...
, Bruce Jay Friedman
Bruce Jay Friedman
Bruce Jay Friedman is an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor.Raised in the Bronx by Irving and Mollie Friedman, Bruce Jay Friedman graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School. He then attended the University of Missouri as a journalism major, then served as a First Lieutenant in...
, 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...
, Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis
Frederick Allan "Rick" Moranis is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and a magician. Moranis came to prominence in the late 1970s on the sketch comedy show Second City Television, and later appeared in several Hollywood films including Strange Brew; Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Little Shop of...
, Perry Rosemond
Perry Rosemond
Perry Rosemond, CM is a Canadian television writer, producer and director.-Life and career:Rosemond was born in Winnipeg where during his youth he performed on stage and on radio and was among those who established the Manitoba Theatre Centre...
, George Shapiro
George Shapiro
George Shapiro is an American talent manager and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning television producer. He represented the late Andy Kaufman and is among the most successful managers in show business. He currently represents Jerry Seinfeld....
, Marlene Smith
Marlene Smith
Marlene Smith was a Canadian figure skater who competed in both pairs and ladies singles. In pairs, she won the gold medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships with partner Donald Gilchrist in 1949 and 1950...
, and Dave Thomas
Dave 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...
.
Previously proposed reality show
Merv Griffin Productions and Creative Artists Management started pre-production on a reality show based on the course. Course founder Joe Kertes was quoted as saying that "We're very excited. This is a huge opportunity for students. If they end up on an American national show, 10 or 12 could catapult to international stardom overnight, like American Idol finalists."However, the show was met with criticism. Maureen Wall, the faculty union president, told school newspaper Humber EtCetera that "I really think it could potentially be affecting the quality of education and what we're supposed to be all about here as a college." With such opposition, the show eventually ceased production.
The show would have set a precedent, by giving individuals in the series control over the footage used in the show's final edit. Generally the genre of reality is known for airing the most controversial or embarrassing footage available.
Before this, 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and more than two dozen independent film producers had contacted Kertes beforehand, but Merv Griffin Productions was the first to make a "serious bid".
External links and references
- Humber Etcetera - the Humber College newsletter
- SUN Career Connection: Comedy students get the last laugh