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| Air Farce will ring in the New Year once again Dec. 31 |
You’ve seen them on TV. Now meet them in person: the casts of Air Farce and Made in Canada will be saluted Saturday at the inaugural Canadian International Television Festival.
The CITF will be presenting full sessions all day Saturday and Sunday, with everything taking place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox cinemas on King Street West in Toronto. I’ve been asked to moderate several panels, including two Saturday featuring some of my favourite Canadian shows and stars:
At 2 p.m., meet Air Farce troupers Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Craig Lauzon, Alan Park, Penelope Corrin and Arnold Pinnock for an hour of stories and clips. The Royal Canadian Air Farce is celebrating 40 years as Canada’s premiere comedy troupe and there will be shout outs to late greats founding members Roger Abbott and John Morgan. Hear about plans for the latest New Year’s Eve special coming up at the end of December, where a certain Toronto mayor is sure to be well within range of the gang’s lethal “F-Bomb.” (The Chicken Cannon, alas, has been retired.)
Among the clips will be the Farce Film “Stephen Harper Style” featuring Lauzon as everybody’s favourite hockey book author. The bit was a viral video sensation last year on YouTube.
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| The cast of Made in Canada, which was made in Halifax |
At 6 p.m., I’ll be moderating a salute to the 15th anniversary of Made in Canada. This dark poke at the Canadian entertainment business seems even cheekier in retrospect. People tend to tip-toe around the business these days, with networks, studios and talent not always known for having thick skins. Made in Canada burned down the walls of the Canadian TV biz in a way not seen before or since.
Star/creator Rick Mercer and co-stars Peter Keleghan, Leah Pinsent, Dan Lett and Jackie Torrens will all be on hand to take a bow, as will executive producer Gerald Lunz, director Henry Sarwer-Foner, and series writers Edward Riche and Mark Farrell.
A memorable episode of the series will be screened.
There are still tickets–free tickets!–available to both events. You can grab them at the box office or order on-line right here now.
