Arts & Culture
Canada doesn’t get enough credit for being funny
Do you think the world knows that Canada is funny? I remember when I lived in France as a teenager I was shocked to find out that they were enamoured with Quebecois comedic actors. Mostly it had to do with the accent. But our Canadian comedians and comedic actors have been killing it for years outside our borders.
There are stand-ups like Katherine Ryan who left Sarnia, Ontario and is now one of the biggest comedians in the UK. Of course Lorne Michaels started SNL in 1975 which would go on to have Canadian cast members like Dan Aykroyd, Mark McKinney, Martin Short, Phil Hartman, Mike Meyers, and Norm Macdonald. And of course in 1976 SCTV started with John Candy, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Catherine O’Hara, Dave Thomas, and Martin Short. Not to mention the Just For Laughs festival that has been going since 1983.
I’m not sure if Canadians are funnier than people from other countries. And I will admit I don’t always “get” Canadian humour (hello the Red Green Show). But while I don’t think laughter can be quantified in our GDP I do like the idea that Canadians have been infiltrating dens of humour for decades.
~Katherine
Books
Are you joining in with Evergreen Book Club? Have you started July’s pick Hana Khan Carries On yet? Check out all the picks for July, August, and September if you haven’t already!
Movies
I see way more movies than I could ever include in the newsletter. If you want to follow me on Letterboxd to keep up in real time you’re welcome to. Here’s what I’ve seen recently (not included in the CanCon calculations):
Madame Web - I really like Dakota Johnson in this, that baby shower was so relatable. Honestly it was nowhere near as bad as people said it was.
A Little White Lie - I really loved this movie. I was expecting a rom com and instead got this dark comedy.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - Do you love books, hate people, don’t mind a story that jumps decades at a time, and need a good cry?
Lonely Planet - I’ll be honest, at this point I was just on my movies about writers kick. But a Hemsworth instead of a deadline? Sold.
Heads of State - The best kind of big dumb action movie. Jack Quaid is excellent and I can’t wait for him to have a longer career than his dad.
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel - The very last slide of this documentary reveals where Dov Charney is now and I gasped out loud.
Self Reliance - Sometimes you need weird small budget comedies. This one is truly strange and different which is refreshing.
The Old Guard 2 - Why? If there isn’t a third movie there’s no reason for the second to exist.
The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks
I’m going to be so honest… I watched this because I knew Lauren Ash was in it and I will support any project she’s in. I wasn’t expecting such an interesting documentary.
I always knew the Kids in the Hall were considered Canadian geniuses of comedy, but I didn’t realize that they were popular outside of Canada as well. What I found most interesting is when two of their writers “made it” by being hired at SNL… and hated the experience. Then the whole group got picked up to make a show in New York… and were miserable. Ultimately they were happier coming back to Canada.
Sketch comedy isn’t for me. I don’t like improv. I never enjoyed Monty Python. And SNL has always been hit or miss for me with the exception of Weekend Update. It’s just not my type of humour. Growing up I didn’t really watch the Kids in the Hall, I just sort of knew it as wacky guys in dresses. But seeing the documentary now that I’m much older gave me a broader appreciation of what they were up against at the time. How much of what they were doing was a political statement. I think if you want to understand Canadian culture a bit more this would be a great place to start.
TV
Apple TV+ has mastered the art of comedies that break your heart. Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and now Stick. Are you watching it?
It took me years to finally watch Ted Lasso because I really hate soccer. I wasn’t convinced I could watch a whole series about it. But as soon as I saw the promo for Stick I was in. My Dad has always played and watched golf, and I even dabbled a bit as a kid, so it’s a world that I knew I would enjoy.
And then Judy Greer appeared and I trusted that I was in good hands. The show features a non-binary character, a single Latina mother, and a son trying to deal with being mixed race with a father who abandoned him. Oh, and Mark Maron is a widow and Owen Wilson is a mess for a very good reason that I won’t spoil for you.
Suffice it to say that all the characters in this show are barely holding it together. And yet somehow it has really great moments of comedy.
Music
Pop is not my go-to genre of music. In searching for some new Canadian musicians to include I almost didn’t click on this album, but the artwork caught my attention. Did you know there was a super talented pop singer from Nanaimo, BC? Her name is Lauren Spencer Smith and The Art of Being a Mess is her second studio album (she has 2 live albums as well).
She was on American Idol in 2020 (that’s still on?) and the same year was nominated for a Juno but lost to Bryan Adams (where has he been?)
The first two singles from the album are Pray and If Karma Doesn’t Get You (I Will), the latter I think could be a really big hit. It’s not surprising that she’s being compared to Olivia Rodrigo, I’d be interested to know what the teens think of her.
This week’s CanCon Quota: 66%
Maybe it’s an age thing but I loved the Red Green Show. It was one of my favourites.