This week on the Richard Crouse Show we have a look at a new series on Prime Video that reunites one of Canada’s favorite comedy troupes. From 1989 to 1995 the Kids in the Hall, comedians Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, bounced around the dial, with their eponymously named television show, bringing with them subversive comedy and loads of laughs.
These days there is a Kids in the Hall renaissance of a sort happening. A biography by Paul Myers titled “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy” is available wherever fine books are sold, a two-part documentary called “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks” will feature archival footage from the quintet’s earliest years, behind-the-scenes clips from their sketch series and in-depth interviews… most excitingly, there the Kids are back together in front of a camera for a new eight-episode season on Amazon Prime, executive produced by Lorne Michaels. The revival is set to broadcast on May 13, 2022.
Joining me to talk about the Kids in the Hall, past and present is co-founder Dave Foley and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet drummer Don Pyle, whose song “Having an Average Weekend”, was used as the theme to original Kids TV show.
Listen to the whole thing HERE! (Link coming soon)
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Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Ethan Hawke, director Brad Bird, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Eric Roberts, Brian Henson, Jonathan Goldsmith a.k.a. “The most interesting man in the world,” and best selling author Linwood Barclay.
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you won the lottery? Mitch Baldwin’s (Mark Little) didn’t have to. He won the Mega Max Lotto as a high school senior. “Room for Rent” is his story, a cautionary tale about the high cost of having and losing money.
$3.5 million is a lot of money. The kind of money that seems like it will last forever. But, as Mitch learned, when you spend like a drunken sailor it only lasts about twelve years. Forced to move back in with his parents Warren and Betty (Mark McKinney and Stephnie Weir) he is humiliated; a guy who had it all and blew it. Even worse, his father wants to retire and insists Mitch starts to pay his fair share. Unwilling to get a job Mitch decides to move to the garage and rent out his bedroom.
The first person to show up is Carl Lemay (Brett Gelman). He’s a smooth talker with a pocket full of cash, willing to pay the several months in advance. Aggressively friendly, he soon ingratiates himself into Warren and Betty’s lives and gives Mitch life advice. Things get weird around the house when some of Carl’s stories turn out to be lies. “I will grind you down into a tiny little knob of a person,” carls tells Mitch as hostilities rise.
“Room for Rent” is a light-hearted dark comedy about the consequences of frittering away a fortune. Carl is a character but he’s also a metaphor of Mitch’s comeuppance. Gelman plays Carl for all he is worth. He’s mysterious, obnoxious and the catalyst for a story that gets weirder and weirder as it threatens to turn into a horror movie. Writer-director Matthew Atkinson finds a happy mix between the humour and the domestic horror, creating a film that is as fun as it is unique.
Read Michael D. Reid’s Times – Colonist wrap of The Victoria Film Festival HERE!
“Festivals like this make people aware there are things other than superhero and comic book movies,” said Richard Crouse, CTV’s Canada AM film critic, back for his fifth time.
“Hollywood is only in the business of giving people what they want, so every time you buy a ticket to Guardians of the Galaxy after seeing it 25 times you’re tacitly saying ‘This is all I want to go and see.’ What you need to do is support smaller, more interesting films, particularly if you’re ever going to complain that Hollywood’s all out of ideas.”
Before Crouse interviewed James and Mark McKinney onstage last weekend, he did the extensive research he’s known for.
“By the time I get onstage I’ll know more about Whoopi Goldberg than Whoopi Goldberg does,” said Crouse, who’s reading books and watching her movies before interviewing the actress and comedian at the Banff Centre next weekend.
Richard hosted two “In Conversation” long form on-stage interviews during the Victoria Film Festival and judged a BravoFACT Pitch Competition which awarded $35,000 to Vancouver based filmmaker Mary Galloway. Read about it HERE!
Thanks to Ron James @TheRonJamesShow Feb 8 for the tweet: “Had best interview ever with @RichardCrouse yesterday AM @VicFilmFestival, praising the hidden boons of our road less travelled.#VICTORIA”
Thanks to Ratfish Comedy @RatfishComedy Feb 8 for the tweet “@RichardCrouse and @Mark_DMcKinney in fascinating chat at @VicFilmFestival” and Mark McKinney @Mark_DMcKinney Feb 9 for tweeting, “@RichardCrouse U were an awesome interviewer. I owe you a Tiki head.”