The Kids In the Hall

The Kids Are Alright
Comedy Comes Full Circle for Canada's Iconic Kids In the Hall
by Andrew Clayman
Published (with edits) in The Cleveland Scene (Village Voice), May 2008



Sketch comedy cult heroes The Kids In the Hall have reunited after a six-year hiatus. And this time, they’re bringing a whole new arsenal of social satire and absurdity with them.

“The excitement and creativity is what brings us back together,” says Kevin McDonald, who helped form the troupe in Toronto back in 1984. “Doing the new material this time around, it’s been like a throwback to our days at the Rivoli.”

The Rivoli is a small night club in Toronto where the Kids in the Hall—McDonald, Dave Foley, Bruce McCullough, Scott Thompson, and Mark McKinney—first made their mark in the 1980s. A short while later, the politically incorrect quintet signed a TV deal with the CBC and HBO, producing five acclaimed seasons of The Kids In the Hall from 1989 to 1994.

“Still, I think the only reason we can tour to these wild, screaming crowds is because of the re-runs,” McDonald says, referencing the show’s second life on Comedy Central.

These days, McDonald sees a strong KITH influence in popular shows like Human Giant and The Whitest Kids You Know. But it’s not as if he sits around contemplating his legacy all day.

“Actually, I do,” McDonald quips. “I’m a total egomaniac. But it is interesting that some guys in their 20’s now might actually be more influenced by us than by (Monty) Python. It’s a strange thing.”

The Kids’ current tour, “Live as We’ll Ever Be,” features the return of classic characters like the “Chicken Lady” and “Headcrusher,” and seems to keep the door open for future reunions. So, how does McDonald envision KITH finally calling it quits?

“Well, it’ll be a funeral for one of us,” he says, “and the other four will get together later for drinks, have a few laughs, and say, ‘that’s probably it.’”