This week on an encore presentation of “Pop Life,” Timothy Simons stops by to talk about shooting the first episode of “VEEP” even though he was sure he would be fired at lunch, playing politics for laughs and portraying everyone’s favourite punching bag. Then the panel, Scott Reid, Rick Mercer and Kenny Robinson, weigh in on how the rules changed for comedians in the way they poke fun at politicians and if politicians who laugh at themselves have thick skins or big egos or both.
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
On this encore presentation of “Pop Life,” Timothy Simons chimes in on the shooting the first episode of “VEEP” even though he was sure he would be fired at lunch, playing politics for laughs and portraying everyone’s favourite punching bag.
“What ended up happening was, when we were filming the pilot and I was incredibly nervous and on my first day when I was worried that I was going to get fired at lunch there was that thing that I had to do, which was compartmentalize the fact that I was on a giant HBO show, directed by Armando Iannucci, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus into this idea that I’ve never been on a giant HBO show before, but I have spoken to 6 people in a room before and if I focus on that it seemed more attainable.”
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
On this encore presentation of “Pop Life” the panel, Scott Reid, Rick Mercer and Kenny Robinson, weigh in on how the rules changed for comedians in the way they poke fun at politicians and if politicians who laugh at themselves have thick skins or big egos or both.
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
The “Pop Life” panel, Scott Reid, Rick Mercer and Kenny Robinson, weigh in on how the rules changed for comedians in the way they poke fun at politicians and if politicians who laugh at themselves have thick skins or big egos or both.
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
“The mishmash of Kafka’s bureaucratic frustration, Beckett’s oddness, and Del Rio’s sense of humour puts an entertaining spin on the Canadian theatre controversy.” -Mooney on Theatre
“Del Rio’s dialogue is lively, and Salgueiro has fun being the aggressor, twisting Gass’s statements into politically correct pretzels of incoherence.” -NOW Magazine
Monday February 24, 2014 (Toronto): By popular demand, HLIBKA ENTERTAINMENT INC. in association with BIG PICTURE CINEMA are bringing back the critically acclaimed comedy THE TRIAL OF KEN GASS from Friday March 21st to Thursday April 3rd.
The remount has a STAR-STUDDED cast including: Stratford veteran David Fox, actor/playwright Matthew Edison, Canadian comedy legend Kenny Robinson, movie reviewer Richard Crouse, Second City mainstage alum Anand Rajaram, Kids in the Hall alum Paul Bellini, performer and personality Ryan G. Hinds, Caitlin Driscoll, indie film darling Robert Nolan, Just for Laughs comedian Sandra Battaglini, and many more.
The Trial of Ken Gass is a play based on the famous dismissal of Canadian theatre legend Ken Gass. In a Kafkaesque series of interrogations, Ken Gass is continually put on trial for crimes he is not aware of. The absurdist comedy is a metaphor for the power institutions wield over artists and individuals.
The play is being put up by producer / conceptual artist Jonathan Hlibka and will again be directed by acclaimed playwright Bobby Del Rio. Every show, the spectacular Jess Salgueiro returns to play SARAH BRIGHT opposite DIFFERENT ACTORS PLAYING KEN GASS!! It is highly encouraged to see multiple performances as each performer will bring their own unique interpretation to the role of Ken Gass. Lighting and set design will be a collision of minimalistic expressionism and pop art design styled by Jonathan Hlibka.
Opening March 21st: Matthew Edison – 8:00pm
March 22: David Fox – 8:00pm
March 23: Amish Patel 2:30pm matinee, Kenny Robinson – 8:00pm
March 24: Richard Crouse – 8:00pm
March 25: Caitlin Driscoll – 8:00pm
March 26: Anand Rajaram – 8:00pm
March 27: Ryan G. Hinds – 8:00pm
March 29: Paul Bellini – 8:00pm
March 30: 2:30pm matinee TBA, Robert Nolan – 8:00pm
March 31: Sandra Battaglini – 8:00pm
April 1: Derrick Chua – 8:00pm
April 2: TBA
April 3: TBA
In 2013, at the Sterling Studio Theatre’s first one-act playwriting competition, The Trial of Ken Gass ended up as a top-3 finalist. The original production was at Sterling Studio Theatre in July 2013. Highlight performances from the first run include: Peter Keleghan (The Newsroom), Diane Flacks, Huse Madhavji (Saving Hope), Pat Thornton and Julian DeZotti.
The play will open Friday, March 21st @ 8pm. It will close on Thursday, April 3rd @ 8pm. All shows will be @ 8pm. The show will run every night from March 21 – April 3 (except Friday March 28th). On Sundays, there will also be matinees @ 2:30pm. All tix are $15, with PWYC Sundays for both shows. Passes for all performances for the run of the show are available for $35. Big Picture Cinema is located at 1035 Gerrard St East. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or online at www.bigpicturecinema.com
This week on an encore presentation of “Pop Life,” Timothy Simons stops by to talk about shooting the first episode of “VEEP” even though he was sure he would be fired at lunch, playing politics for laughs and portraying everyone’s favourite punching bag. Then the panel, Scott Reid, Rick Mercer and Kenny Robinson, weigh in on how the rules changed for comedians in the way they poke fun at politicians and if politicians who laugh at themselves have thick skins or big egos or both.
