Toronto After Dark Competes in CBC's ComedyCoup
CBC’s ComedyCoup accelerator project is underway and, not surprisingly, a number of teams have their roots in Humber’s Comedy Writing & Performance program.
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In the lead-up to voting, we’ll be running Q&A’s with those teams – vote for your favourite to make it into the top 50!! Voting for this round closes on Sunday, October 26.
Toronto After Dark
The concept:
Toronto After Dark is a sketch comedy series that has one consistent character that appears in every episode and ties all the comedic premises together. Oh, and it only takes place at night. In Toronto.
The team:
Kyle Woolven, 26, an auto parts saleman originally from Belleville
Ron Sider, 22, a student in Humber’s Broadcast Televsion program from Toronto
Steve Gignac, 28, a valet originally from Tillsonburg
Ashley Moffatt, 26, a private investigator from Hamilton
Kyle McParland, 22, a student in Humber’s Television Writing and Producing program originally from Mississauga
Bruno Seiler, 24, a McDonalds employee for almost 10 years, originally from Acton
The team:
Kyle Woolven, 26, an auto parts saleman originally from Belleville
Ron Sider, 22, a student in Humber’s Broadcast Televsion program from Toronto
Steve Gignac, 28, a valet originally from Tillsonburg
Ashley Moffatt, 26, a private investigator from Hamilton
Kyle McParland, 22, a student in Humber’s Television Writing and Producing program originally from Mississauga
Bruno Seiler, 24, a McDonalds employee for almost 10 years, originally from Acton
The Q&A:
HOW DID YOU MEET EACH OTHER?
We are all grads of Humber’s Comedy Writing and Performance program, from the class of 2012.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO WORK TOGETHER?
We formed our current sketch troupe Cash Grab out of the charred remains of a much larger troupe called Laugh Draft. We created Cash Grab with the most cutest, most funniest and poor grammarest of our classmates. We’re all best friends.
HOW DID EACH OF YOU GET INTO COMEDY?
Comedy is the only thing we don’t know how to quit. We were always comedians, it just took the Humber program to make us realize that.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.
Toronto After Dark is a sketch comedy series that has one consistent character that appears in every episode and ties all the comedic premises together. We love sketch comedy, but the format often doesn’t translate well to television, so by having Ron in every episode, people will have a reason to tune in. You can invest yourself in Ron, a character who just wants to get some sleep, while also getting punched in the face by sketches at every turn. It’s an exciting new format that we think will be something really special. Oh yeah, and it also only takes place at night.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA?
“Hey guys, this ComedyCoup deadline is in one week.”
“I have this idea where I interview people at night.”
“What about at night but it’s everything except interviews?”
“That’s basically not my idea but okay let’s do that.”
“Okay.”
“Sick.”
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO DO WITH THE PROJECT?
By combining elements of a sitcom with sketch, we want to provide viewers with a new form of comedy.
But also we want to live forever.
WHAT’S IT LIKE PARTICIPATING IN COMEDYCOUP?
It’s so cool to see all the comedy in Toronto – and other provinces! Since traditionally you don’t get to see your competition when you’re pitching, it’s exciting to know exactly what we’re up against. It’s also a great showcase of the wealth of comedic talent this country has to offer.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR OUT OF THIS PROJECT?
Win the Coup and develop it into ten seasons and two movies.
HOW DID YOUR TIME AT HUMBER PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW?
It taught us how to analyze and find value in comedy, and take it seriously.
Thanks Ron, Steve, Ashley, Kyle M, Kyle W, and Bruno, and GOOD LUCK!
For more info, videos, and to vote for Toronto After Dark, check out their page on CBC's ComedyCoup website: http://comedycoup.cbc.ca/toronto-after-dark. You can also find them on Twitter@TOAfterDark. Cash Grab Comedy is also online at cashgrabcomedy.com and on Twitter at@CashGrabComedy.
