Death Comes to CBC

January 12, 2010 11:47 AM

The Kids in The Hall are returning to CBC tonight with an 8-part murder mystery miniseries, "Death Comes To Town." Trailer. Death hops off a bus in the small town of Shuckton, Ontario, wearing a codpiece and a vest once worn by The Friendly Giant. Murder, mayhem, and hilarity are sure to ensue. Excellent interview with Scott Thompson on the history of the group, Buddy Cole (Previously on Mefi), and dealing with his own mortality while undergoing chemotherapy during the writing and production of the series. Sorry, non-Canadians, although negotiations are said to be underway, there are no known plans to broadcast the series outside the country.
posted by yellowbinder (66 comments total)

Well then, prepare to be annexed.
posted by Dr-Baa at 11:48 AM on January 12, 2010 [7 favorites]

There was a codpiece under that tunic?
posted by GuyZero at 11:52 AM on January 12, 2010

Even the friendliest of us have our secrets.
posted by yellowbinder at 11:54 AM on January 12, 2010

Initiate War Plan Red.
posted by The White Hat at 11:55 AM on January 12, 2010

Oh if only there was some way other than terrestrial broadcasts to get television programs! Someday...
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 12:04 PM on January 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

40 Helens agree: This might be good.
posted by DU at 12:04 PM on January 12, 2010 [10 favorites]

But...where's Dave?
posted by billysumday at 12:05 PM on January 12, 2010

Well, IMDB says he's in it, but I didn't see him in the trailer.
posted by billysumday at 12:05 PM on January 12, 2010

I wish i lived in canada. I love KOTH.
posted by djduckie at 12:08 PM on January 12, 2010

The were on The Hour last night.
I, also, am looking very much forward to this.
posted by chococat at 12:11 PM on January 12, 2010

The interview on The Hour was fun. I felt like I was watching some of my high school buddies hanging out together again.
posted by CaseyB at 12:14 PM on January 12, 2010

Dave's in the trailer but doesn't really have any moments or lines in it. Which is curious.

There are posters up all over Toronto of the different characters. Dave is the only one who's not instantly recognizable. I can't find a picture to link to, but if you go to the first link and find Marilyn, you'll see that he has completed his transformation to Canadian housewife.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:14 PM on January 12, 2010

Thanks to these guys I can say "AITCH EE DOUBLE HOCKEY STICK" whenever I feel the need to swear around my kids. And I do.
posted by freecellwizard at 12:16 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Man, that's a great interview with Scott Thompson. Come to think of it, I've never read an interview with any of the Kids in the Hall which was anything less than great. </unabashedfanboy>

I'll be in Canada this weekend, any chance catching of a repeat? Otherwise, yeah, fix the baynoets and charge.
posted by Kattullus at 12:17 PM on January 12, 2010

Filmed in my former hometown of North Bay, Ont., where the debate about whether it's more fun to harass art fags or intimidate drama geeks just got acquired a whole new dimension of resonance!

Shuckton? Couldn't have happened to a podunkier burgh.
posted by gompa at 12:18 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

On The Hour.

Segment starts at 24:55, interview at 26:50.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:20 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

WE BEAT PENICILLIN!
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:27 PM on January 12, 2010

pleasebefunnypleasebefunnypleasebefunny
posted by bicyclefish at 12:32 PM on January 12, 2010 [4 favorites]

From the vest link:

"The red vest that I'm wearing actually belonged to the Friendly Giant," says McKinney, who plays the title character. "We found it in stock. That stuff was all sold off as the CBC got shrunk, and it went to this stock house in Toronto.

Oh man. It would severely bum me out if it turns out that Casey and Finnegan and the Tickle Trunk are growing moldy in the back of some stock house.
posted by mhum at 12:36 PM on January 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

I got a chub-on.
posted by psylosyren at 12:43 PM on January 12, 2010

That interview with Scott Thompson was amazing. I can't imagine having the fortitude to bring a bed into writing meetings during chemotherapy and napping & getting sick while still being that determined to write.
posted by xingcat at 12:44 PM on January 12, 2010

I once spent an entire weekend in December watching Kids in the Hall. Most of my family live in the US, but I have one uncle who lives in Canada. One Christmas, my stepmother pulled out all the stops and made this enormous feast, inviting everyone over. Seated at the table, my stepmother looked proudly over the spread, and sighed with contentment. "Not too bad, I'd say." she smiled. "Oh yeah," I concured. "Fine ham abounds." My stepmother gave a confused smile, but my uncle nearly choked on his beer.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:46 PM on January 12, 2010 [4 favorites]

Goddamnit, why do Canadians always get the good stuff? Health care, Tim Hortons, now this... oh, wait, we got Shatner. Suck it, Canuckistan!
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:49 PM on January 12, 2010

Once again I'm so glad to live in a US area that gets CBC broadcasts.
posted by bearwife at 12:49 PM on January 12, 2010

oh, wait, we got Shatner. Suck it, Canuckistan!

Actually, we have fooled you there too, for we get all the benefits of Shatner without having to pay for his upkeep. Thanks for contributing, America!
posted by mightygodking at 12:55 PM on January 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

I can't find a picture to link to, but if you go to the first link and find Marilyn, you'll see that he has completed his transformation to Canadian housewife.

He sure does have a tendency to be unrecognizable nowadays: example, another.

It's also really awesome that if you search Google for dave foley, you get a picture of Isabella Rossalini. See: http://imgur.com/pJ9RS.gif
posted by smackfu at 12:56 PM on January 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

So I guess I'm the only one old enough to remember watching The Friendly Giant in black and white on a giant consol television?

I'm rather surprised to hear that this show is Canadian, as I remember watching it in Calilfornia in the mid-sixties.

I also like the Kids in the Hall, but THE FRIENDLY GIANT!!!!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:56 PM on January 12, 2010

Oh if only there was some way other than terrestrial broadcasts to get television programs!

Indeed! Ve haf our vays!
posted by hippybear at 12:59 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm rather surprised to hear that this show is Canadian, as I remember watching it in Calilfornia in the mid-sixties.

I also like the Kids in the Hall, but THE FRIENDLY GIANT!!!!

That's right, Ruthless Bunny. Look up. Look waaayyyy up.
posted by gompa at 1:00 PM on January 12, 2010

So I guess I'm the only one old enough to remember watching The Friendly Giant in black and white on a giant consol television?

I'm feeling old because I can remember the Kids in the Hall being a bunch of young, cute guys.

And I've planned my evening around watching this. This is very rare for me — I only catch a couple of TV shows a month.
posted by orange swan at 1:10 PM on January 12, 2010

^ Same here. I can't wait.
posted by purephase at 1:18 PM on January 12, 2010

I don't know what's worse, missing the Lady Gaga concert this weekend or not being able to watch this tonight.
posted by desjardins at 1:45 PM on January 12, 2010

How was that interview with Scott "excellent," especially with respect to "the history of the group"? Any "history" of KITH that doesn't mention the role that Calgary's Loose Moose Theatre and its two alumni who went on to become KITH's most talented writers-- Mark McKinney and Bruce McCulloch-- is not good.

While I'm on my high horse: When I was in TO over Xmas I saw KITH:DCTT posters EVERYWHERE, including plastered all over the subways. I come home to Calgary and don't see a single one. What the fuck? Does CBC think we don't love the sketch comedy legends we helped create?
posted by ethnomethodologist at 1:45 PM on January 12, 2010

Canada, stop hogging the funny!
posted by Mister_A at 1:48 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm feeling old because I can remember the Kids in the Hall being a bunch of young, cute guys.

Yes. My three reactions to the trailer were 1st: Yay! I'm so watching this tonight! 2nd: Gah! I feel old. 3rd: Better get some damn work done first.
posted by carmen at 1:49 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm rather surprised to hear that this show is Canadian, as I remember watching it in Calilfornia in the mid-sixties.

I also like the Kids in the Hall, but THE FRIENDLY GIANT!!!!

That's right, Ruthless Bunny. Look up. Look waaayyyy up.

To America's Hat?

Srsly, I can has Canadian immigration?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:58 PM on January 12, 2010

Dave talks about it a little bit here. Can't wait to see it come to the States.
posted by look busy at 2:00 PM on January 12, 2010

Hope it's better than Brain Candy. I found that awful hard to like despite loving the TV series.
posted by Calzephyr at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2010

Great news! And new characters to boot. After seeing their revival tours I'm glad; some of the old stuff was getting stale; I wouldn't want to see them stuck in a rut.

yellowbinder: "there are no known plans to broadcast the series outside the country"
Translation: SEEEED
posted by Hardcore Poser at 2:12 PM on January 12, 2010

So I guess I'm the only one old enough to remember watching The Friendly Giant in black and white on a giant consol television?

Nope, I grew up with The Power Trio of Canadian kids' television: Chez Hélène leads into Friendly Giant leads into Mr Dressup.

I remember my surprise some time in the sixties when my father bought our first colour TV and I discovered that Jerome the Giraffe was orange with blue spots.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 2:16 PM on January 12, 2010

I got the entire series on DVD for Xmas, and it is just incredible how awesome this show is. I'm the luckiest girl on earth!
posted by tristeza at 2:34 PM on January 12, 2010

Hope it's better than Brain Candy. I found that awful hard to like despite loving the TV series.

Blasphemy!

Goodness, Brain Candy is one of the few movies I've seen as many times as Monty Python & The Holy Grail and Star Wars. Totally subtle, incredibly outrageous, delightful manic movie.

It was only a couple of flipper babies!!!!!
posted by hippybear at 2:44 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

So I guess I'm the only one old enough to remember watching The Friendly Giant in black and white on a giant console television?

My parents broke the bank to make sure I had colour TV because of Sesame St., but I admit to being old enough to have watched this.

Annnnd now I have the theme song running through my head...
posted by Zinger at 2:56 PM on January 12, 2010

Thank goodness comcast Seattle finally got their act together and started transmitting the HD stream for CBC =)
posted by nomisxid at 3:02 PM on January 12, 2010

Strang how the internet has made all this stuff so mainstream.

Like SCTV before it most people never watched TKITH. It was a a lonely experience.

Back when SCTV was on (1976-1984) I go to high school Monday morning and try to tell my friends about this crazy TV show and people would say how stupid it sounded.

I finally had to seek out my freaky brethren in the dank ghettoized Liberal Arts enclave at my college before I met anybody who even heard of these shows.

Some of fondest college memories was sitting around in 1984 smoking weed at watching Kids In The Hall with room full of fellow weirdos.
posted by tkchrist at 3:32 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Really? Everyone watched SCTV and Kids in the Hall. It was on broadcast TV during prime-time viewing hours. Those shows were produced with tax money. Now, Codco, that's obscure.
posted by GuyZero at 3:36 PM on January 12, 2010

Ah, The Friendly Giant, played by the late Bob Homme. A bit of banter with the puppets, and the occasional music jam, but mostly just sitting down and reading books. A Righteous dude.

I can recall an unedited text of The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak.

(oh, The Kids rock, too.)
posted by ovvl at 3:51 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm rather surprised to hear that this show is Canadian, as I remember watching it in Calilfornia in the mid-sixties.

I also like the Kids in the Hall, but THE FRIENDLY GIANT!!!!

I watched it too, on KCET in Los Angeles!

"Once inside, The Friendly Giant would put out miniature furniture for his viewers beside his feet (with only his feet and hands visible), saying, "One little chair for one of you, and a bigger chair for two more to curl up in, and for someone who likes to rock, a rocking chair in the middle."

That's the only part I remember, though. :-(
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:37 PM on January 12, 2010

And now I am watching KITH clips on youtube. Oh happy day.
posted by sandraregina at 5:40 PM on January 12, 2010

ethnomethodologist said: While I'm on my high horse: When I was in TO over Xmas I saw KITH:DCTT posters EVERYWHERE, including plastered all over the subways. I come home to Calgary and don't see a single one. What the fuck? Does CBC think we don't love the sketch comedy legends we helped create?

You can't really fault the CBC. I mean, come on, it's Calgary.

I keed, I keed. Kind of.
posted by purephase at 5:41 PM on January 12, 2010

I am crushing all of your heads in anger that I can't see this here in the US!
posted by Biblio at 6:12 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm not sure what to think. Mostly character introduction so I'll have to give it another episode.

There was some definitely some promise though.
posted by purephase at 6:35 PM on January 12, 2010

While I'm on my high horse: When I was in TO over Xmas I saw KITH:DCTT posters EVERYWHERE, including plastered all over the subways. I come home to Calgary and don't see a single one. What the fuck? Does CBC think we don't love the sketch comedy legends we helped create?

If you're already that irate not to have posters in your city, I can't imagine what you'll say when you hear I got a free promotional button at Yonge and Bloor subway station on my way home tonight.

Some of fondest college memories was sitting around in 1984 smoking weed at watching Kids In The Hall with room full of fellow weirdos.

The KITH troupe did initially form in 1984, but their show didn't air until 1988, so I'm not exactly sure what you would have been watching in 1984. What exactly were you smoking? and how much of it did you smoke?

It's kind of fun that the show should premiere tonight. This is my sister's birthday, and she's a big KITH fan.
posted by orange swan at 7:20 PM on January 12, 2010

Will The Trouble With Tracy be on right after?
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 8:49 PM on January 12, 2010

Or King of Kensington?
posted by stevil at 9:26 PM on January 12, 2010

I'm holding out for The Edison Twins.
posted by GuyZero at 9:40 PM on January 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm holding out for Dear Aunt Agnes.
posted by bicyclefish at 12:46 AM on January 13, 2010

Watching the first episode now, thanks to the magic of technology. Gets a thumbs-up from me so far, even without the nostalgia factor. Hooray for Can-con!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:30 AM on January 13, 2010

My sister used to watch the Edison Twins. It was actually kind of fun. But another show she liked was Danger Bay. What an annoying show. And they ended every bloody episode with the characters all laughing uproariously over something stupid.
posted by orange swan at 8:33 AM on January 13, 2010

Oh, I can't wait to see this! And I will, but I am wondering about Tony, wondering where he could be, who he is with, what is he thinking, is he thinking of me, and whether he'll ever return someday.
posted by zizzle at 9:03 AM on January 13, 2010

It stinks in here! Stinks of women. Women wondering about Tony, wondering where he could be, who he is with, what he is thinking, is he thinking of you, and whether he'll ever return someday.

bicyclefish, for a long time Dear Aunt Agnes served as proof to me that the internet does not know everything, as there was no trace of it anywhere. A quick search shows that has changed, but leaves me wondering what the internet doesn't know now.

As for DCTT, I enjoyed it. For some reason I was expecting hour long episodes, but I was wrong. Oh well. It had some good moments, but as others have said it was mostly character and world building. Most of all it was just great to see them all together again.
posted by yellowbinder at 10:18 AM on January 13, 2010

Looks like Torontoist is publishing an interview a week with the different Kids. I'll keep posting them here until they're done or the thread is closed. Here's Kevin McDonald.
posted by yellowbinder at 8:01 AM on January 18, 2010

Bruce McCulloch. Interviews are actually going up every two weeks, so this will be the last before this post closes up. If you're reading this in the future, you can find all the interviews via this tag.
posted by yellowbinder at 1:09 PM on February 1, 2010

A little bit disappointed with it so far. I think about 1/8th of it is funny. So far Dave Foley is winning with Mark McKinney in 2nd place. Kevin is lame.
Looks like I'll be abandoning it tomorrow for Lost anyway.
posted by chococat at 1:44 PM on February 1, 2010

Christ, chococat, next you're gonna tell me Santa isn't real.

I want this to be good sooooooo bad
posted by Kattullus at 1:56 PM on February 1, 2010

Kevin is lame.

He kinda always was, though. *ducks*

I'm not blown away, but it is pretty darn amusing, I think, and definitely a much better return-to-the-air showing, than, say, that lackluster Red Dwarf reunion miniseries a while back.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:02 PM on February 1, 2010