Canadian Comedy Awards
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The Canadian Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in live, TV and film comedy over the previous year. The awards began in 2000, and are usually broadcast on The Comedy Network.
The Awards were held in Toronto until 2002, but since 2003 they have been held in London, Ontario. Since moving to London, an annual Comedy Week has been held with the Awards gala taking place at the end of it.
Past hosts include the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Scott Thompson (of The Kids in the Hall), Dave Thomas, Brent Butt and Bruce Hunter (as Rocko the Dog, the character he plays on Puppets Who Kill).
The Awards are produced by Tim Progosh, and are generously supported by Bluma Appell.
Contents |
[edit] Ceremonies
- 2000 - Toronto's Masonic Temple, hosted by Dave Thomas
- 2001 - in Toronto, hosted by Patrick McKenna and Sheila McCarthy
- 2002 - in Toronto, hosted by Brent Butt
- 2003 - London's Grand Theatre, hosted by Royal Canadian Air Farce
- 2004 - at the London Convention Centre, hosted by Scott Thompson
- 2005 - in London, hosted by Rocko the Dog (voiced by Bruce Hunter)
- 2006 - Oct. 26 at the London Music Hall, hosted by Will Sasso; with Royal Canadian Air Farce, Dave Broadfoot and Mike MacDonald
[edit] Multiple Winners
[edit] Most Successful Shows
The TV shows which have had the most success at the Canadian Comedy Awards are:
- This Hour Has 22 Minutes - 11 wins (2000-2003, 2005)
- Made in Canada - 9 wins (2000-2003)
- Corner Gas - 7 wins (2004-2006)
- Slings and Arrows - 3 wins (2005-2006)
- Comedy Now! - 2 wins (2005)
- The Gavin Crawford Show - 2 wins (2003-2004)
- Puppets Who Kill - 2 wins (2003, 2006)
[edit] Most Successful Groups
The groups/troupes with the most Canadian Comedy Award wins are:
- Second City Mainstage - Five wins (Best Improv Troupe, 2001; Best Sketch Troupe, 2001 & 2006; Best Comedic Play (Family Circus Maximus in 2002 and Psychedelicatessen in 2003).
- The Minnesota Wrecking Crew - Three wins (Best Sketch Troupe, 2003-2004; Best Taped Live Performance, 2006).
- Slap Happy - Three wins for Best Improv Troupe (2002-2003 & 2005).
[edit] Most Successful Individuals
[edit] People with the most wins (seven)
Four people have won seven Canadian Comedy Awards. They are:
- Mark Farrell - 7 awards, for Best Writing - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2001-2002; Made in Canada, 2003; Corner Gas, 2004), Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (Made in Canada, 2001; This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2003), and Best Direction - TV Series (Corner Gas - 2004).
- Cathy Jones - 7 awards for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, including Best Female TV Performance (2001 & 2003), Best Writing - TV Series (2000-2002) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (2000 & 2003).
- Rick Mercer - 7 awards, for Best Male TV Performance (Made in Canada, 2000 & 2002), Best Writing - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2000-2002; Made in Canada, 2003), and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2000).
- Mary Walsh - 7 awards, including six for This Hour Has 22 Minutes (Best Female TV Performance (2000), Best Writing - TV Series (2000-2002), Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (2000 & 2003)) and Best Female Film Performance for Rare Birds in 2002.
[edit] People with three wins or more
Many others have also won several awards. The following people have won at least three awards:
[edit] Six wins
- Henry Sarwer-Foner - Six awards, including Best Direction - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2001; Made in Canada, 2002-2003; Corner Gas, 2004) and Best Direction - TV Special or Episode (for This Hour Has 22 Minutes in 2000 and Made in Canada in 2002).
[edit] Five wins
- Eugene Levy - Five awards, including two for Best Writing - Film (Best in Show in 2001 and A Mighty Wind in 2004) and three for Best Male Film Performance (Best in Show, American Pie 2 in 2002 and A Mighty Wind).
- Ron Sparks - Five awards, including Best Stand-up Newcomer (2004), Best One Person Show (From the Desk of Ron Sparks, 2005), and with The Minnesota Wrecking Crew two for Best Sketch Troupe (2003-2004) and Best Taped Live Performance (2006).
- Greg Thomey - Five awards, all for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, including Best Writing - TV Series (2000-2002) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (2000 & 2003).
[edit] Four wins
- Brent Butt - Four awards, including Best Male Stand-up (2001), Best Male TV Performance (Corner Gas, 2004-2005) and Best Writing - TV Series (Corner Gas, 2004).
- Kerry Griffin - Four awards, for Best Improv Troupe (Slap Happy, 2002-2003, 2005) and Best Male Improviser (2006).
- Bob Martin - Four awards, for Best Male Improviser (2002), Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (Made in Canada, 2002) and Best Writing - TV Series (Slings and Arrows, 2005-2006).
- Paul Mather - Four awards, for best writing (series) This Hour Has 22 Minutes 2001-2002, best writing (special or episode) This Hour Has 22 Minutes 2003, best writing, Corner Gas 2004
- Mike Myers - Four awards, including two each for Best Male Film Performance and Best Writing - Film (for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 2001, and Goldmember in 2003)
[edit] Three wins
- Luciano Casimiri - Three awards, for Best Writing - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes in 2001-2002) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (for The Toronto Show in 2004).
- John Catucci - Three awards, for Best Sketch Troupe (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, 2003-2004) and Best Taped Live Performance (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew in "Sketch with Kevin McDonald", 2006).
- Josh Glover - Three awards, for Best Sketch Troupe (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, 2003-2004) and Best Taped Live Performance (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew in "Sketch with Kevin McDonald", 2006).
- Sandy Jobin-Bevans - Three awards for Best Improv Troupe (Slap Happy, 2002-2003, 2005).
- Michael Kennedy - Three awards for Best Direction - TV Series (Made in Canada, 2000 & 2002-2003).
- Mark McKinney - Three awards, for Best Writing - TV Series (Slings and Arrows, 2005-2006) and Best Male TV Performance (Slings and Arrows, 2006).
- Lisa Merchant - Three awards for Best Female Improviser (2001, 2003 & 2005).
- Colin Mochrie - Three awards, for Best Male Improviser (2000), Best Male TV Performance (for Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2001) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (for This Hour Has 22 Minutes in 2003).
- Doug Morency - Three awards, including Best Male Improviser (2003 & 2005) and Best Comedic Play (The Williamson Playboys, 2004).
- Mike Nug Nahrgang - Three awards, for Best Sketch Troupe (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, 2003-2004) and Best Taped Live Performance (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew in "Sketch with Kevin McDonald", 2006).
- Nikki Payne - Three awards, including Best Stand-up Newcomer (2001) and two for Best Female Stand-up (2003 & 2005).
- Dave Pearce - Three awards for Best Improv Troupe (Slap Happy, 2002-2003, 2005).
- Stephen Reynolds - Three awards, including two for Best Direction - TV Series (Made in Canada, 2002-2003) and Best Direction - TV Special or Episode (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2005).
- Tim Steeves - Three awards for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, including Best Writing - TV Series (2000-2001) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (2000).
- David Storey - Three awards for Best Direction - TV Series (Corner Gas, 2004-2006).
- Janet van de Graaf - Three awards, including Best Female Improviser (2002 & 2004) and Best Female TV Performance (History Bites, 2002).
- Kristeen von Hagen - Three awards, including Best Female Stand-up (2002), Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (The Toronto Show, 2004), and Best Comedic Play ("Dickwhipped", 2005).
- Tabetha Wells - Three awards for Best Improv Troupe (Slap Happy, 2002-2003, 2005).
- George Westerholm - Three awards, two for Best Writing - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2000-2001) and one for Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (The Toronto Show, 2004).
- Kevin White - Three awards, including Best Writing - TV Series (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2001-2002) and Best Writing - TV Special or Episode (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, 2003)
[edit] Annual Results
[edit] 2000
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Mary Walsh for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Rick Mercer for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Direction: Michael Kennedy for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Writing: Tim Steeves, Rick Mercer, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh and Greg Thomey for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Direction (Special or Episode): Henry Sarwer-Foner for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, "New Year's Eve Special"
- Pretty Funny Writing (Special or Episode): Tim Steeves, Rick Mercer, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh and Greg Thomey for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Sarah Polley for Go!
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Mike Myers for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
- Pretty Funny Direction: Don McKellar for Last Night
- Pretty Funny Writing: Mike Myers for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: The Drowsy Chaperone
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: Skippy's Rangers
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Colin Mochrie
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Kathryn Greenwood
- Pretty Funny Stand-up: Ron James
- Pretty Funny Direction of a Comedic Play: Steve Morel for The Drowsy Chaperone
[edit] 2001
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Cathy Jones for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Colin Mochrie for Whose Line is it Anyway?
- Pretty Funny Writing (Series): Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey, Mary Walsh, Mark Farrell, Chris Finn, Edward Kay, Tim Steeves, George Westerholm, Luciano Casimiri, Michael Best, Randy Metson, Heidi Foss, Jordan Kawchuk, Paul Mather, Christian Murray, Kevin White and Peter McBain for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Writing (Special or Episode): Mark Farrell for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Direction (Series): Henry Sarwer-Foner for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Direction (Special or Episode): Bob Sorger for The 2000 Canadian Comedy Awards
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Catherine O'Hara for Best in Show
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Eugene Levy for Best in Show
- Pretty Funny Writing: Eugene Levy for Best in Show
- Pretty Funny Direction: Allan Moyle for New Waterford Girl
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: Radio-30, by Chris Earle
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: Noam Chomsky is an Asshole, by Noam Rosen
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: Second City Mainstage
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Bruce Hunter
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Lisa Merchant
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Second City Mainstage
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Elvira Kurt
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Brent Butt
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Nikki Payne
THE BLUMA APPELL "THAT'S FUNNY" AWARD:
- The Humber College Award: Ryan Belleville
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
[edit] 2002
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Janet van de Graaf for History Bites
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Rick Mercer for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Writing (Series): Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey, Mary Walsh, Luciano Casimiri, Mark Farrell, Paul Mather, Peter McBain, Christian Murray, George Westerholme and Kevin White for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Writing (Special or Episode): Bob Martin for Made in Canada, "Alan's Ex"
- Pretty Funny Direction (Series): Michael Kennedy, T.W. Peacocke, Stephen Reynolds, Henry Sarwer-Foner and Jerry Ciccoritti, for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Direction (Special or Episode): Henry Sarwer-Foner for Made in Canada, "Damacles What a Doll"
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Direction: Bruce Sweeney for Last Wedding
- Pretty Funny Writing: Karen Walton for Ginger Snaps
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Mary Walsh for Rare Birds
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Eugene Levy for American Pie 2
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: Family Circus Maximus, by The Second City
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: Erotic Laser Swordfight, by Sean Cullen
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: The Gentlemen Callers
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Bob Martin
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Janet van de Graaf
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Slap Happy
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Shaun Majumder
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Kristeen von Hagen
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Debra DiGiovanni
[edit] 2003
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Cathy Jones for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Gavin Crawford for The Gavin Crawford Show
- Pretty Funny Direction: Michael Kennedy, Stephen Reynolds and Henry Sarwer-Foner for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Writing: Rick Mercer and Mark Farrell for Made in Canada
- Pretty Funny Direction (Special or Episode): Shawn Alex Thompson for Puppets Who Kill, "Cuddles Goes to Jail"
- Pretty Funny Writing (Special or Episode): Greg Thomey, Colin Mochrie, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, Mark Critch, Mark Farrell, Paul Mather, Peter McBain and Kevin White for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, "New Year's Eve Special"
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Nia Vardalos for My Big Fat Greek Wedding
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Mike Myers for Goldmember
- Pretty Funny Direction: Paul Gross for Men with Brooms
- Pretty Funny Writing: Mike Myers for Goldmember
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: Heino Happy Hour, by Marc Hickox
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: Psychedelicatessen by The Second City
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Slap Happy
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Doug Morency
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Lisa Merchant
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Winston Spear
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Nikki Payne
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Gilson Lubin
[edit] 2004
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Series): David Storey, Robert de Lint, Rob King, Henry Sarwer-Foner and Mark Farrell for Corner Gas
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Special or Episode): Carl Harvey and Shelagh O'Brien for Sean Cullen Home for Christmas
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Series): Mark Farrell, Brent Butt, Andrew Carr and Paul Mather for Corner Gas
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Special or Episode): Luciano Casimiri, Harry Doupe, Kristeen von Hagen and George Westerholm for The Toronto Show, Episode 7
- Pretty Funny TV Male: Brent Butt for Corner Gas
- Pretty Funny TV Female: Mary Pat Farrell for The Gavin Crawford Show
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Direction: Deborah Day for Expecting
- Pretty Funny Writing: Eugene Levy for A Mighty Wind
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Eugene Levy for A Mighty Wind
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Deb McGrath for Expecting
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: The Williamson Playboys by The Williamson Playboys
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: The Road Between My Ears, by Ron James
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Monkey Toast
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Janet van de Graaf
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Paul Bates
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Ron Sparks
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Laurie Elliot
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Derek Edwards
[edit] 2005
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Series): David Storey for Corner Gas
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Special or Episode): Stephen Reynolds for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Cycle 12 Episode 16
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Series): Bob Martin, Susan Coyne and Mark McKinney for Slings and Arrows
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Special or Episode): Levi MacDougall for Comedy Now!
- Pretty Funny TV Male: Brent Butt for Corner Gas
- Pretty Funny TV Female: Samantha Bee for The Daily Show
- Pretty Funny Taped Performance Live: Levi Macdougall for Comedy Now!
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Direction: Denise Blinn for The Porcelain Pussy
- Pretty Funny Writing: Kristen Thomson for I, Claudia
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Mike Wilmot for It's All Gone Pete Tong
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Kristen Thomson for I, Claudia
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: Dickwhipped, by Kristeen von Hagen
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: From the Desk of Ron Sparks, by Ron Sparks
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: The Imponderables
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Slap Happy
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Lisa Merchant
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Doug Morency
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Mark Forward
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Nikki Payne
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Mike Wilmot
[edit] 2006
CATEGORY: TELEVISION
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Series): Robert de Lint & David Storey ("Corner Gas")
- Pretty Funny TV Direction (Special or Episode): The Frantics - Dan Redican, Rick Green, Peter Wildman and Paul Chato ("The Frantics Reunion Special")
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Series): Susan Coyne, Bob Martin and Mark McKinney ("Slings & Arrows")
- Pretty Funny TV Writing (Special or Episode): John Pattison (Puppets Who Kill: "The Joyride")
- Pretty Funny TV Male: Mark McKinney ("Slings & Arrows")
- Pretty Funny TV Female: Janet Wright ("Corner Gas")
- Pretty Funny Taped Live Performance: The Minnesota Wrecking Crew ("Sketch with Kevin McDonald")
CATEGORY: FILM
- Pretty Funny Direction: Donnie Mullins ("Chasing Aces")
- Pretty Funny Writing: Adam Till ("Leo")
- Pretty Funny Male Performance: Sean Cullen ("Phil the Alien")
- Pretty Funny Female Performance: Jennifer Robertson ("Twitches")
CATEGORY: LIVE COMEDY
- Pretty Funny Comedic Play: "SARSical the Musical"
- Pretty Funny One Person Show: "Trapped in Taffeta"
- Pretty Funny Sketch Troupe: The Second City: "Reloaded"
- Pretty Funny Improv Troupe: Die-Nasty: "Improvised Soap Opera"
- Pretty Funny Female Improviser: Lauren Ash
- Pretty Funny Male Improviser: Kerry Griffin
- Pretty Funny Stand-up Newcomer: Jon Dore
- Pretty Funny Female Stand-up: Laurie Elliot
- Pretty Funny Male Stand-up: Pete Zedlacher
- Dave Broadfoot Award for Comic Genius: Mike MacDonald
- Special Award for Contributions to Comedy: Roger Abbott & Don Ferguson
[edit] Criticism
The Canadian Comedy Awards have often been criticized, particularly by those within the country's comedy community. Some complaints about the awards include:
- a general lack of organization (the general belief is that the awards show is too long, and that the awards were a complete disaster until they left Toronto for London).
- many from outside Toronto feel the awards are too "Toronto-centric"; a common in-joke is that the awards are often referred to as "The Toronto Comedy Awards".
- there is confusion about the nomination process for stand-up comedians; seemingly there is an "unwritten rule" that once a comic wins an award they are not nominated again, but in 2005 Nikki Payne became the first comedian to be nominated (and to win) for a second time - this upset some other female comedians who had previously won and did not know they could submit again.
- the nomination selection for the "stand-up newcomer" category is also criticized, because the winners are often not "newcomers". Many nominees for the award have several years of experience.
- some comedians have actually been nominated twice for the "newcomer" award (though none of them have ever won).
- the awards are national but only represent English-speaking comedians.
