Kids in the Hall

The Kids in the Hall was a Canadian sketch comedy group, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin MacDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. It was also the name of the group's television show that ran from 1989-1994 on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The name comes from a story about the Tonight Show with Steve Allen. Apparently, on his way to deliver a monologue, Allen would pass by up-and-coming comedians who tried to sell him jokes to use that night. These writers were reffered to as "the kids in the hall."

Though it was produced by Lorne Michaels, who also produced Saturday Night Live, the show's sketches were more reminiscent of the British sketch show, Monty Python's Flying Circus for they were often of a quirky or surreal nature. One sketch featured a flying pig who amused people in ATM lines, another featured a man who pretended to crush people's heads from a distance with his fingers.

Also involved in the show were various guest stars (including Neve Campbell and Nicole DeBoer) and a great deal of cross-dressing.

After the show ended its run, the troupe came together to produce a movie, Brain Candy featuring many characters from the show. The movie received mixed reviews and did not do particularly well at the box office, ending the chances for another Kids in the Hall movie.

In 2000, the troupe came together for a North American tour, reprising many sketches from the show. The tour was chronicled in a movie, "Kids in Hall: Same guys, Different Dresses," whiched followed the previous year.

Sketches and characters include:

Buddy Cole
Chicken Lady
Police Department
It's a Fact!
The Pit of Ultimate Darkness (Simon and Hecubus)
Headcrusher
Gavin
Darrill
White Trash Couple
AT&Love
Danny Husk
30 Helens
Francesca and Bruno
The Sizzler Sisters (not two clearly insane people)
Mr. Heavyfoot
Steps
Cabbage Head
Flying Pig
He's Hip, He's Cool, He's 45
Fran and Gordon
Rod Torfleson's Armada featuring Herman Menderchuck
Tammy
The King of Empty Promises
Darcy Pennell
Mississippi Gary
Weston Esterhazy