Hall Monitoring

The last episode of their TV show aired six years ago, but genius Canadian comedy troupe, the Kids in the Hall - Dave Foley, Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, and Mark McKinney - are still worshiped for warping sketch comedy beyond all recognition. "We never sat down and said, 'Let's be different than Saturday Night Live or SCTV," McDonald says. "We just found our own voice." By shunning such tropes as celebrity impersinations, topical humour, and outright satire (and dressing in drag whenever possible), the Kids redefined the concept of the skit. As they reunite for a North American tour and Comedy Central airs a KITH marathon this month - we humbly pay tribute.

Kevin McDonald
Age and Birthplace: 38; Montreal
Gay? Has a "not gay" girlfriend
Proof of Eccentricity: Wore tights in high school
KITH High Point: The semiautobiographical skit "Daddy Drank," in which he played a little boy who bought his stumbiling alchoholic dad tap shoes. "My dad would say, 'I could murder you in your sleep. My horror stories are funny, I guess"
POST-KITH: Costarring in Tim Allen's Galaxy Quest and Tim Meddows' upcoming SNL movie, "The Ladies' Man"
How about that Dave Foley? No comment

Mark McKinney
Age and Birthplace: 40; Ottawa
Gay? Just chipper
Proof of Eccentricity: Had exotic youth as son of a Canadian Diplomat
KITH High Point: The Headcrusher, a lonely, creepy, guy who ran around yelling "I'm crrrrrushing your head!" Spawned a Trekkie-ish greeting among Kids fans, which Foley says "is not the thing Mark's proudest of."
POST-KITH: Costaring in movies directed by McCulloch
Dave Foley's a hoot, huh? "I think Kevin is the funniest"

Bruce McCulloch
Age and Birthplace: 39; Edmonton, Alberta
Gay? Data not available
Proof of Eccentricity: Happily attended something called "TheaterSports" as a kid
KITH High Point: Playing the wheelchair-bound, blanket swathed Cancer Boy, because "Kids with cancer - they don't want to make a fuss to anyone." Acknowledges the inherent morbidity
POST-KITH: Directed Dog Park and the SNL movieSuperstar
Isn't Dave Foley the Best? "Kevin is our favourite"

Dave Foley
Age and Birthplace: 37; Toronto
Gay? No, he was the straight man
Proof of Eccentricity: Serriously loves Barenaked Ladies
KITH High Point:Anytime spent in drag. "Whenever someone had to be pretty, I got to be the girl by unanimous decision. I have the most womanly hips." Admits striking resemblance to Isabella Rossellini
POST-KITH: Played "Dave" on NewsRadio for six seasons; just signed a six-figure deal with NBC
Any thoughts on Dave Foley's carrer upswing? No

Scott Thompson
Age and Birthplace: 40; North Bay, Ontario
Gay? And how
Proof of Eccentricity: Fired as a security guard for sleeping on the job - nude
KITH High Point: Buddy cole, a philosopher/alcoholic/softball coach. "This guy dumped me, so I started imitatiing him. He later died of AIDS. A lot of people I base things on are dead."
POST-KITH: Touring with KITH; he claims he is unable to find other work
On America's Embrace of Foley "I'm completely bewildered."

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