A lot of people have been really slagging HotBox, and perhaps rightfully so in some aspects, but I think this show signifies a great step for Canadian comedy. Canadian comedies will always be burdened with the same problems: low production value, low viewer-ship, and tame/lame comedy aimed at ageing baby-boomers. Here is a grassroots Canadian comic named Pat Thornton with this twisted, and distinctly FRESH sense of humour who takes the things that normally hinder our homegrown shows, and he makes them work for him. He uses the cheapness of the production itself as part of the satire, which in my mind is frigging brilliant. When epic groups like Kids In The Hall, Second City and Monty Python are spoken of, they are synonymous with terms like "ground-breaking", "daring", and "trail-blazing". I'm not going to go as far as to put HotBox into that kind of timeless company, but I do believe it will be remembered as "a step in the right direction". Are there some weak skits in the mix? Yes. There are, but the absolute gold far outweighs the stuff that was too random to catch on. I believe comedy network is giving this show a genuine chance to grow, and that is the kind of support small-time Canadian productions need. A lot of people have a hard time enjoying something different and new, so say what you will about the creators and cast of HotBox, but they ARE daring, they ARE ground-breaking, and I think when people look at the state of Canadian comedy, particularly television sketch comedy, they will consider HotBox somewhat of a trail-blazer.
PAT THORNTON FOR PM
PAT THORNTON FOR PM