Madly Off in All Directions
Encyclopedia
Madly Off in All Directions was a Canadian
radio comedy show that aired for several years on CBC Radio One
, featuring comedian Lorne Elliott
. It formerly aired Sunday afternoons at 1PM (1:30PM in Newfoundland and Labrador
), as well as on Saturday evenings on 6:30PM with repeats on Friday mornings at 11 AM. It was replaced in September 2006 by a comedy show The Debaters
.
The show travelled around Canada, recording in front of a live audience at various local venues. The show provided a mix of stand-up, improvisational, sketch and musical comedy. Elliott usually began the show with a monologue, and introduced the upcoming acts, often comedians who were local to the area, who were given the chance of national exposure through the program.
Elliott's work first caught the attention of CBC with the airing of one of his concert performances on Definitely Not the Opera
. He also did additional comedy segments for other CBC radio shows, including Basic Black
, Sunday Showcase
and Morningside
. He was given the retiring Royal Canadian Air Farce
s traditional radio show timeslot in 1996, and the show became a regular weekly showcase of Canadian comedy.
The name of the show was derived from a line used by famous Canadian humourist Stephen Leacock
in his story "Gertrude the Governess". ("Lord Ronald said nothing; he flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions.") This phrase was both literally and figuratively applicable, as the show travelled across Canada, and the host and his guests covered the full range of the comedy spectrum.
There were two years that the format was changed, and Elliott travelled exclusively to smaller venues, accompanied only by Derek Edwards
. These tours were intended to be more intimate affairs, and also served as a bit of a break for Elliott, as the pared-down format required much less planning and arranging.
After a summer series consisting of repeats in 2006, the show was quietly replaced by The Debaters
in its former timeslots. Beginning in April 2007, further repeats of the show were broadcast Monday afternoons on CBC Radio One.
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...
radio comedy show that aired for several years on CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
, featuring comedian Lorne Elliott
Lorne Elliott
Lorne Elliott is a Canadian comedian, musician, and award-winning playwright.Elliott first began performing in 1974, as a folk musician, under his full name of Chris Lorne Elliott; he later truncated his name so as to avoid being confused with Chris Elliott. He soon teamed up with Kevin Blackmore...
. It formerly aired Sunday afternoons at 1PM (1:30PM in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
), as well as on Saturday evenings on 6:30PM with repeats on Friday mornings at 11 AM. It was replaced in September 2006 by a comedy show The Debaters
The Debaters
The Debaters is a Canadian radio comedy show hosted by Steve Patterson. It airs on CBC Radio One Saturdays at 1:00PM and Wednesdays at 11:30AM ....
.
The show travelled around Canada, recording in front of a live audience at various local venues. The show provided a mix of stand-up, improvisational, sketch and musical comedy. Elliott usually began the show with a monologue, and introduced the upcoming acts, often comedians who were local to the area, who were given the chance of national exposure through the program.
Elliott's work first caught the attention of CBC with the airing of one of his concert performances on Definitely Not the Opera
Definitely Not the Opera
Definitely Not the Opera is a magazine-style radio program focusing on aspects of pop culture. The program is broadcast on CBC Radio One on Saturday afternoons, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. . An abridged version of each weekly program is available for download as a weekly podcast...
. He also did additional comedy segments for other CBC radio shows, including Basic Black
Basic Black (CBC program)
Basic Black was a long-running radio on CBC Radio hosted by Arthur Black. It was an eclectic show that mixed quirky tunes along with often humorous interviews with Canadians from all walks of life....
, Sunday Showcase
Sunday Showcase
Sunday Showcase is a Canadian radio show, which airs Sunday nights on CBC Radio One. The program, hosted by Damiano Pietropaolo, is an anthology of radio drama....
and Morningside
Morningside (radio program)
Morningside was a nationally broadcast Canadian radio program, which aired on CBC Radio from September 20, 1976 to May 30, 1997. It was broadcast from 9AM to 12 Noon, Monday to Friday...
. He was given the retiring Royal Canadian Air Farce
Royal Canadian Air Farce
Air Farce Live, also credited as Air Farce, previously Royal Canadian Air Farce, and Air Farce—Final Flight! for the final season, was a Canadian comedy series starring the comedy troupe The Royal Canadian Air Farce that previously starred in an eponymous radio show on CBC radio from 1973 to 1997...
s traditional radio show timeslot in 1996, and the show became a regular weekly showcase of Canadian comedy.
The name of the show was derived from a line used by famous Canadian humourist Stephen Leacock
Stephen Leacock
Stephen Butler Leacock, FRSC was an English-born Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist...
in his story "Gertrude the Governess". ("Lord Ronald said nothing; he flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions.") This phrase was both literally and figuratively applicable, as the show travelled across Canada, and the host and his guests covered the full range of the comedy spectrum.
There were two years that the format was changed, and Elliott travelled exclusively to smaller venues, accompanied only by Derek Edwards
Derek Edwards
Derek Edwards is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actor from Timmins, Ontario. He went to Timmins High and Vocational School.In 1995, he was the winner of the Vail National Comedy Invitational in Vail, Colorado. He is the only Canadian to date to have won this award. He won the 2004 Canadian...
. These tours were intended to be more intimate affairs, and also served as a bit of a break for Elliott, as the pared-down format required much less planning and arranging.
After a summer series consisting of repeats in 2006, the show was quietly replaced by The Debaters
The Debaters
The Debaters is a Canadian radio comedy show hosted by Steve Patterson. It airs on CBC Radio One Saturdays at 1:00PM and Wednesdays at 11:30AM ....
in its former timeslots. Beginning in April 2007, further repeats of the show were broadcast Monday afternoons on CBC Radio One.
Discography
- Lorne Elliott: Selections From All Directions (Vol.1)
- Lorne Elliott: Selections From All Directions (Vol.2)