Comedy Now! is a Canadian comedy television series which debuted in 1997 and ended in 2014 featuring the newest in Canadian comedic talent. The show has won numerous Gemini Awards as well as many international awards. It is broadcast in Canada on The Comedy Network and CTV while in the United States, the program airs on Comedy Central.
The show has started the careers of notable Canadian comedians, including Brent Butt, Gavin Crawford, Shaun Majumder, Russell Peters, Pete Zedlacher and Harland Williams and has showcased comedians such as Trent McClellan, Darcy Michael, Graham Chittenden and Eric Tunney.
Most episodes of the series featured a single comedian performing a stand-up set, although a few highlighted sketch comedy troupes and a number of "gala" episodes featuring several comedians were also aired as specials. These included Women of the Night, a "women in comedy" special which aired in 2001 with Brigitte Gall, Aurora Browne, Jen Goodhue, Sabrina Jalees, Diana Love and Renee Percy. This episode garnered a Gemini Award nomination for Best Comedy Program at the 17th Gemini Awards in 2002."Trio picks up scores of Gemini nominations". Barrie Examiner, September 25, 2002.
Performers Solo performers
Sketch troupes and specials The Bobroom Bowser & Blue The Doo-Wops: John Catucci, David Mesiano Not Getting It: Adrian Churchill, Terry McGurrin, Anne Marie Scheffler Not to Be Repeated: Ed Sahely, Kathy Greenwood, Jonathan Wilson Skippy's Rangers: Jonathan Crombie, Lisa Lambert, Bob Martin, Paul O'Sullivan Women of the Night: Brigitte Gall, Aurora Browne, Jen Goodhue, Sabrina Jalees, Diana Love, Renee Percy Women of the Night, Pt. 2: Aurora Browne, Renee Percy
Awards Several comedians who appeared on the series received Gemini Award nominations or wins for Best Performance in a Comedy Series, Individual or Ensemble (1997-1999) or Individual Performance in a Comedy Series (2000-2010):
John Rogers — 12th Gemini Awards (Spring 1998)"Gemini Nominations". Calgary Herald, January 14, 1998. Brent Butt — 13th Gemini Awards (Fall 1998)John McKay, "CBC tops Gemini nominations but Bach doc gets single-show nod". Canadian Press, August 11, 1998. Shaun Majumder — 14th Gemini Awards (1999)"Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999. Gavin Crawford — 15th Gemini Awards (2000)"Gemini Nominations". Toronto Star, October 29, 2000. Harland Williams — 15th Gemini Awards (2000) Jason Rouse — 16th Gemini Awards (2001)Doug Foley, "Hamilton comic earns himself a Gemini". Hamilton Spectator, October 30, 2001. Glen Foster — 16th Gemini Awards (2001)"CTV's Nuremberg leads Gemini nominations". The Telegram, September 18, 2001. Jessica Holmes — 16th Gemini Awards (2001) Nikki Payne — 18th Gemini Awards (2003)Susan M. Jones, "Nikki Payne". The Canadian Encyclopedia, May 11, 2010. Russell Peters — 19th Gemini Awards (2004)"Human Cargo earns 17 Gemini noms". Timmins Daily Press, October 28, 2004. Levi MacDougall — 20th Gemini Awards (2005)Alex Strachan, "Eleventh Hour garners 15 Gemini nominations". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 19, 2005. Terry McGurrin — 24th Gemini Awards (2009)"Gemini nominees". Toronto Star, August 26, 2009.
Greg Malone's special, Pocket Queen, won an award at the 1999 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.Wyndham Wise, "Greg Malone". The Canadian Encyclopedia, November 21, 2012.
References
External links
Comedy Now! at CTV Television Network