This Hour has 22 Minutes: Youtube Highlights

Only a few of the better sketches from This Hour has 22 Minutes are up on youtube so this is a limited introduction to those who are unfamiliar with the show. Its ended up being one of the few shows I religiously tune into, and though you can access their site on my blogroll, it does not work everywhere. It has a fine history of strong performers but this last season might be the best ever with relative newcomers Gavin Crawford, Shaun Majumber and Geri Hall. The first features Geri, perhaps the funniest woman on Canadian television (it refers to a previous skit but I think it works in isolation):

Geri again, this time with longtime member Mark Critch and Gavin. Gavin’s breakthrough solo standup sketch was like someone breaking the sound barrier the first time. There does not seem to be an available version out there and describing it is less than helpful but let’s just say its a mechanic explaining about a strange encounter with his client while all the while applying bright red lipstick. If you’ve seen it, you remember it.

Facebook. This is part of the reason I have stayed away from it. Besides I heard from the lab that Ass of Steel is putting the final touches on Assbook. Its kind of like Facebook except that though you still have people wanting to be your friend they are much less likely to pick you out of a lineup. The wrinkle being ironed out is ass doubles -how to verify that the rear is real and not someone else’s just being put out there.

This one is fun and actually useful in critiquing survey methods. Read the comments at the original page. You can see that a few people did not get that this was comedy.

A couple of years ago Colin Mochrie was on for a season (or two?) but never was used to full extent. He was doing a few other shows at the same time which might have limited his involvement. I will always remember his Captain Bloodloss on What’s My Line. Here he is, apologizing to the States on the behalf of all Canadians.

And finally, the Gay Blindness Sketch. Shaun shows off his lesser seen side in this one. He’s now also in something called Unhitched which I have not seen, and was most recently in 24. His Raj Binder is brilliant, and he has a great range, most of which is not on youtube. Yet.

And not to shortchange the inimitable Cathy Jones, whose been there for ages and I hope for ages more. Here’s a little montage of her work. It really kicks in at 1:05 with a great homage to the screwball comedy.