The Kids in the Hall

1,000 words is not nearly enough to express my complete, total, and utter love and devotion for TKITH.

I started watching this show on HBO in 1988, when I was 8 years old. I would tune in an hour before my bedtime, and literally laugh my ass off. I really don't think my parents had a clue what I was watching, and thank God. This show was a huge part of my childhood, and shaped my entire view of comedy, and what is truly funny. I was never a Monty Python person. Prime time TV sucked, and made me sick to my stomach most of the time. Later on, The State and Mr. Show came close, but never achieved the absolute comedic excellence of these 5 guys.

Besides giving me hours of enjoyment, I really feel this show shaped me to be a better person in so many ways. Growing up in the burbs I had very little exposure to the true stuff of life: alternative lifestyles, class warfare, and the complete ridiculousness of pop culture. If not for this show, I may have become yet another brick in the wall of socially accepted behavior. The Kids taught me it was OK to be weird - that I didn't need to like what everyone else liked. When I first met a gay person, I didn't blink. When I got my first office job, all I could see were the businessman sketches. This show gave me a very unique perspective with which to frame reality, and I'll be forever grateful.

I guess this is a pretty serious review about a comedy show, but what the hell. I frigging love these guys.

Oh yes I did. Yeah, yeah I know some people will complain that Kids in the Hall are "too weird" or that their sketches are "confusing" or just plain "strange." Well, those people are entitled to their opinions, but don't let that stop you from at least giving the Kids a try. If you are like me, the Kids will become your daily dose of needed humor.

I was too young to understand the humor of KITH during their original run on CBC/HBO/CBS/whereverthef***. Like many other people I first got into the Kids by watching Comedy Central. I was hooked from the very first episode. The bizarre sketches, monologues, and songs perfectly suited my often dark sense of humor. Those five guys made me laugh harder than any other show or movie ever has. And I'd like to point out that unlike most shows(coughSNLcough), all the Kids pulled their own weight. There was no stand-out member, and just as importantly their was no member who didn't carry his own weight. Dave, Bruce, Kevin, Mark, and Scott are each enormously talented. Each brought something to the mix. Mark can play any character, do any voice. Dave had all the brilliant one-liners and a wonderful sense of comedic timing. Kevin had this great energy and enthusiasm during each sketch. As he himself said [paraphrased] "I don't say funny lines, I say lines funny." Scott showed an uncanny ability to touch on topics of sexuality, making you both think and laugh. And then there's Bruce. I must confess that Bruce is my favorite Kid. His oddball and often dark sense of humor struck a cord with me. Bruce brought the music to the Kids. And I'll never forget his monologues.

They've all gone their separate ways now to work on various projects. But they left a lasting impression on sketch comedy. The Season DVDs(and hopefully, seasons 2-5 in the future) and reruns on CC ensure that they will never be forgotten.

So go forth and watch.

I'll keep it short. Here in oz it's on 6:30am but i still watch it. At first I didn't really like it because it was different but it grew on me and now I love it! They don't make fun of Politicians & celebs which makes it even more better. Great show, very original!

Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson formed the funny group in the 80s Toronto. Everybody wanted to get into Second City and then graduate to SNL. These guys decided to start a sketch show on their own.

Their combined skills generated some of the most original characters in comedy. My favorite characters include host Simon and his sidekick Hecubus, chicken lady, red hair girl, crushing your head, and when all 5 cross dress as office temps. Also Scott Thompson's "Fag!". The guys are a great group, but they didn't break down any major walls. They re-engineered, they reworked, they pushed the envelope, they just didn't invent the envelope.

Kids in the Hall has always been one of my favorites. I remember once watching a KITH Marathon on TV that ran for something like 12 hours. It was hilarious, and I've often wondered how people could create comedy that was so completely over the edge.

Favorite skits: David Foley as a banker on a blind date with the Chicken Lady (who sounded, for the most part, amazingly normal,) and Kevin McDonald's turns as a cop suffering from terminal demoralization (particularly the one where Foley's character is getting robbed at home and doesn't seem to mind it all that much!)