http://www2.macleans.ca Canada's only national weekly current affairs magazine. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:11:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/05/06/shows-over-folks/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/05/06/shows-over-folks/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 11:45:00 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=379288 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/05/06/shows-over-folks/feed/ 0 After 200 episodes, The Office is done, but its influence is all over comedy—and even reality TV http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/17/how-to-make-it-in-comedy-cut-the-jokes/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/17/how-to-make-it-in-comedy-cut-the-jokes/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=370535 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/17/how-to-make-it-in-comedy-cut-the-jokes/feed/ 0 Marc Maron is a pioneer of an inward-looking style embraced by the likes of Louis C.K. http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/11/cable-networks-should-help-themselves-to-broadcast-leftovers/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/11/cable-networks-should-help-themselves-to-broadcast-leftovers/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:48:12 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=370671 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/04/11/cable-networks-should-help-themselves-to-broadcast-leftovers/feed/ 0 Last week the news broke that USA is considering picking up Happy Endings if... http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/13/phew-tough-crowd/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/13/phew-tough-crowd/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=347404 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/13/phew-tough-crowd/feed/ 0 “Right now, people are hitting it big or not at all” http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/23/the-uncertain-future-of-hit-comedy/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/23/the-uncertain-future-of-hit-comedy/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:39:17 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=340834 http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/23/the-uncertain-future-of-hit-comedy/feed/ 0 It's never been easier to make a quality comedy. So what gives? http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/21/tom-green-on-stand-up-social-media-and-trailer-park-boys/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/21/tom-green-on-stand-up-social-media-and-trailer-park-boys/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:41:06 +0000 Emma Teitel http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=329538 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/21/tom-green-on-stand-up-social-media-and-trailer-park-boys/feed/ 0 The Canadian comic's Q&A with Emma Teitel http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/11/21/the-great-tuesday-comedy-pile-up/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/11/21/the-great-tuesday-comedy-pile-up/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:13:55 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=317394 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/11/21/the-great-tuesday-comedy-pile-up/feed/ 0 The ugly ratings for broadcast TV this season – you can tell they’re ugly... http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/23/hes-not-a-loser-hes-insane/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/23/hes-not-a-loser-hes-insane/#comments Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:00:01 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=295321 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/23/hes-not-a-loser-hes-insane/feed/ 0 Dark and absurdist sitcoms of today owe debt to this ’90s show http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/08/22/the-celebrity-roast-goes-mainstream/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/08/22/the-celebrity-roast-goes-mainstream/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:58:01 +0000 macleans.ca http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=284149 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/08/22/the-celebrity-roast-goes-mainstream/feed/ 0 Censors are sharpening their scissors, but a good roast is the Super Bowl for comedians http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/31/on-life-in-the-fast-lane-his-hepatitis-c-diagnosis-and-the-miracle-he-is-praying-for/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/31/on-life-in-the-fast-lane-his-hepatitis-c-diagnosis-and-the-miracle-he-is-praying-for/#comments Thu, 31 May 2012 15:41:01 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=260504 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/31/on-life-in-the-fast-lane-his-hepatitis-c-diagnosis-and-the-miracle-he-is-praying-for/feed/ 0 Canadian comedy legend on life in the fast lane, his hepatitis C diagnosis, and the miracle he is praying for http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/04/jokes-arent-funny/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/04/jokes-arent-funny/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 15:33:22 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=257095 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/04/jokes-arent-funny/feed/ 0 Here’s one idea I’ve been pondering when it comes to half-hour sitcoms: we (and... http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/11/sctv-in-edmonton-notes-toward-an-faq/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/11/sctv-in-edmonton-notes-toward-an-faq/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:00:13 +0000 Colby Cosh http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=232774 http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/11/sctv-in-edmonton-notes-toward-an-faq/feed/ 0 There’s a movement—it’s a clever piece of magazine marketing, actually, but we’ll call it... http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/12/15/how-louis-ck-won-the-internet/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/12/15/how-louis-ck-won-the-internet/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:08:22 +0000 Jesse Brown http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=229721 http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/12/15/how-louis-ck-won-the-internet/feed/ 25 He circumvented the entertainment industry, and made $200,000 in four days http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/26/who%e2%80%99s-laughing-now/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/26/who%e2%80%99s-laughing-now/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:20:01 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/27/who%e2%80%99s-laughing-now/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/26/who%e2%80%99s-laughing-now/feed/ 0 Dramas and reality shows are getting trounced by half-hour comedies http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/21/tvs-return-to-normalcy/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/21/tvs-return-to-normalcy/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:44:39 +0000 Colby Cosh http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=186225 http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/21/tvs-return-to-normalcy/feed/ 12 Norm Macdonald has, after what amounts to a decade-long absence, returned to television as... http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/14/review-bossypants/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/14/review-bossypants/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:56:08 +0000 John Intini http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=183814 http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/14/review-bossypants/feed/ 1 John Intini reviews Tina Fey's new book http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/16/kenny-and-spenny-stop-fighting/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/16/kenny-and-spenny-stop-fighting/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:00:59 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=163127 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/16/kenny-and-spenny-stop-fighting/feed/ 18 The friends known for humiliating each other go their separate ways http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/09/a-comedians-dark-lens/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/09/a-comedians-dark-lens/#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:00:45 +0000 macleans.ca http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=162218 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/09/a-comedians-dark-lens/feed/ 0 Plus: Walter Mosley’s latest, a biography of the Atlantic Ocean, the father of modern taxidermy, what Boomers can expect from the rest of life, and the late night TV wars http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/01/is-outsourced-offensive/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/01/is-outsourced-offensive/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:40:16 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=159773 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/12/01/is-outsourced-offensive/feed/ 11 It depends who you ask. But even if it isn’t racist, that doesn’t mean it’s enlightened. http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/25/the-tyranny-of-sitcom-happy-endings/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/25/the-tyranny-of-sitcom-happy-endings/#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:11:38 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=159968 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/25/the-tyranny-of-sitcom-happy-endings/feed/ 5 Does it seem to you that half-hour comedies try too hard these days to... http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/24/berlin-and-its-last-jews/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/24/berlin-and-its-last-jews/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:00:53 +0000 macleans.ca http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=159289 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/24/berlin-and-its-last-jews/feed/ 0 Plus, Patrick McCabe’s latest ‘Bog Gothic’ novel, Nora Ephron in fine form, writers’ favourite books, comedian Russell Peters, and the war between chocolate-makers http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/15/nbcs-awesome-new-idea-comedy-at-10/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/15/nbcs-awesome-new-idea-comedy-at-10/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:40:47 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=158204 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/15/nbcs-awesome-new-idea-comedy-at-10/feed/ 14 This idea has been talked about for a while — NBC was rumoured to... http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/08/conan-in-exile/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/08/conan-in-exile/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=156495 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/08/conan-in-exile/feed/ 1 When Conan O’Brien took a job on basic cable, some saw it as a step down. Now it’s looking smart. http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/10/14/dvd-commentaries/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/10/14/dvd-commentaries/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:40:24 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=151149 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/10/14/dvd-commentaries/feed/ 0 Once obscure, head writers of TV shows are becoming stars in their own right http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/21/hollywoods-new-heroine-the-skank/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/21/hollywoods-new-heroine-the-skank/#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:55 +0000 Brian D. Johnson http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=147266 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/21/hollywoods-new-heroine-the-skank/feed/ 0 New teen comedies from young male directors are ‘feminist filmmaking’ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/you-will-meet-a-tall-dark-stranger/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/you-will-meet-a-tall-dark-stranger/#comments Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:09:55 +0000 Brian D. Johnson http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=146785 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/you-will-meet-a-tall-dark-stranger/feed/ 0 Woody may be going through the motions, but with this cast, who cares? http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/its-kind-of-a-funny-story/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/its-kind-of-a-funny-story/#comments Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:24:18 +0000 Tom Henheffer http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=146757 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/11/its-kind-of-a-funny-story/feed/ 0 A Canadian actor breaks out alongside Zach Galafianakis http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/13/joan-rivers-has-the-last-laugh/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/13/joan-rivers-has-the-last-laugh/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:41:28 +0000 Shanda Deziel http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=142189 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/13/joan-rivers-has-the-last-laugh/feed/ 0 A new film puts the lie to her reputation as a red-carpet joke http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/12/harper-like-youve-never-seen-him/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/12/harper-like-youve-never-seen-him/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:20:06 +0000 Julia Belluz http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=141587 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/08/12/harper-like-youve-never-seen-him/feed/ 0 Stephen Harper! The Musical http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/08/no-laughing-matter/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/08/no-laughing-matter/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:01:58 +0000 Philippe Gohier http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=137719 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/08/no-laughing-matter/feed/ 0 From the front lines of the war on comedy, Le Devoir chronicles the death... http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/01/karaoke-with-a-point-to-make/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/01/karaoke-with-a-point-to-make/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:20:17 +0000 Kate Lunau http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=134627 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/01/karaoke-with-a-point-to-make/feed/ 0 PowerPoint-loathing finds a creative new outlet onstage http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/13/who-knew-trotsky-was-so-funny/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/13/who-knew-trotsky-was-so-funny/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 16:40:29 +0000 Brian D. Johnson http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=124364 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/13/who-knew-trotsky-was-so-funny/feed/ 7 A comedy about a Montreal student obsessed with the Red Army hero is a surprise hit http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/03/17/late-night-is-for-frat-boys-only/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/03/17/late-night-is-for-frat-boys-only/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:21 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=115017 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/03/17/late-night-is-for-frat-boys-only/feed/ 11 Women are a big part of the audience, so why don’t hosts like Jay Leno hire any as writers? http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/18/who-on-earth-are-they-talking-to/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/18/who-on-earth-are-they-talking-to/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:00:48 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=106699 http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/18/who-on-earth-are-they-talking-to/feed/ 2 The hit show ‘Modern Family’ never bothers to explain who’s interviewing the characters http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/10/02/a-comedy-opinion-thats-valuable-even-though-its-not-mine/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/10/02/a-comedy-opinion-thats-valuable-even-though-its-not-mine/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:03:24 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=85389 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/10/02/a-comedy-opinion-thats-valuable-even-though-its-not-mine/feed/ 1 As an alternative (or antidote) to my recent post on this season’s comedy development,... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/29/situation-comedy-supply-and-demand/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/29/situation-comedy-supply-and-demand/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:12:21 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=84679 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/29/situation-comedy-supply-and-demand/feed/ 2 [vodpod id=Groupvideo.3530592&w=560&h=340&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] Here’s something I find mildly surprising this season: the network executives knew,... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/10/upbeat-shows-about-downbeat-subjects/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/10/upbeat-shows-about-downbeat-subjects/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:18:29 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=80757 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/10/upbeat-shows-about-downbeat-subjects/feed/ 3 The first new episode of Glee performed well in the ratings. If the ratings... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/01/standing-up-for-jay/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/01/standing-up-for-jay/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:15:59 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=79140 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/09/01/standing-up-for-jay/feed/ 2 The Jay Leno Show approacheth (September 14, for those of you into calendar-marking), and... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/01/comedy-from-the-idiots-point-of-view/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/01/comedy-from-the-idiots-point-of-view/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:30:41 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=46556 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/01/comedy-from-the-idiots-point-of-view/feed/ 4 I haven’t written much about The Jon Dore Television Show, now in its second... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/03/30/failed-sketch-shows-as-talent-incubators/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/03/30/failed-sketch-shows-as-talent-incubators/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:43:45 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://www2.macleans.ca/?p=46426 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/03/30/failed-sketch-shows-as-talent-incubators/feed/ 2 For the last few months, a lot of people have been linking to the... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/20/these-are-a-few-of-my-least-favourite-things/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/20/these-are-a-few-of-my-least-favourite-things/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:13:59 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://blog.macleans.ca/?p=37941 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/20/these-are-a-few-of-my-least-favourite-things/feed/ 3 Among the things I don’t particularly care for in this wide, wide entertainment world... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/10/comedy-tonight-well-maybe-not-tonight-but-some-night/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/10/comedy-tonight-well-maybe-not-tonight-but-some-night/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:34:48 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://blog.macleans.ca/?p=34714 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/02/10/comedy-tonight-well-maybe-not-tonight-but-some-night/feed/ 3 More on this later, but Michael Schneider of Variety has a detailed look at... http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/01/21/the-real-shame-about-jerry-lewis/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/01/21/the-real-shame-about-jerry-lewis/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://tearsheet.ca/dev/?p=1482 http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/01/21/the-real-shame-about-jerry-lewis/feed/ 0 The humanitarian award isn’t the problem. It’s that he’s never got an Oscar for his films. http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/12/17/cbs-is-good-at-finding-comedies-bad-at-producing-them/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/12/17/cbs-is-good-at-finding-comedies-bad-at-producing-them/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:12:57 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://blog.macleans.ca/?p=24908 http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/12/17/cbs-is-good-at-finding-comedies-bad-at-producing-them/feed/ 2 One thing that I find intriguing about the strong performance of comedies on CBS... http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/11/11/why-comedy-will-be-better-off-without-bush/ http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/11/11/why-comedy-will-be-better-off-without-bush/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:34:33 +0000 Jaime Weinman http://macleans.wordpress.com/?p=17136 http://www2.macleans.ca/2008/11/11/why-comedy-will-be-better-off-without-bush/feed/ 9 BY JAIME WEINMAN