When it comes to sketch comedy, there are a few series that belong in the upper echelons of the genre. For a lot of people, The Kids in the Hall doesn't just belong on that list, but should claim the number one spot. With a new season coming to Amazon Prime, a lot of eyes have been turning back to the original seasons. And on re-watch, it's honestly quite surprising how early some of their best recurring characters were established and how big their impact was on setting the tone for this comedy classic.
As a sketch comedy troupe, The Kids in the Hall was first formed in 1984. It was made up of Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, who were performing in cities across Canada in different groups when they finally came together. The CBC series followed five years later, running from 1989 to 1995 in Canada, but building a comedy legacy that has lasted for decades since.
In 2020, Amazon announced that an eight-episode revival of The Kids in the Hall had been ordered. It is planned to be a continuation of the original series, meaning that long-time fans can reasonably expect some of their favorite classic characters and sketches to show up. When looking at the original episodes, it's amazing how many of those classics were established in the first couple of episodes.
Mark McKinney had more than a few big characters during the course of the series, including the always horrifying Chicken Lady. While she made her debut later on, McKinney's other major character popped up for the first time in Season 1, Episode 1. Mr. Tyzik, aka the Head Crusher, made his debut in the first episode and started delivering his righteous justice on all the flatheads -- from a safe distance.
Kathie also made her debut in this same episode, in a sketch detailing her torrid romance with a blues musician. What's interesting about that is she would reappear a few episodes later in one of the show's best recurring sketches, Cathy and Kathie. It featured the ongoing adventures of Scott Thompson and Bruce McCulloch as two women trying to navigate life working in an office building. The photo of Kathie's bluesman could be seen on her cubicle wall.
One of the stranger recurring sketches in the history of The Kids in the Hall made its debut in Season 1, Episode 2. It was called "30 Helens Agree" and was literally based on 30 women named Helen agreeing on a random topic. They were always standing in a field together, would nod in agreement to the statement, and then one or two Helens would comment on it. The whole thing was so random that it was hilarious.
But all of this pales in comparison to the debut of Buddy Cole in Season 1, Episode 2. Scott Thompson's raconteur barfly was the master of the monologue and became a legitimate phenomenon among fans. All of this was laid out within the first two episodes, setting the stage for the poignant, off-the-wall absurd comedy that was going to come the way of viewers. Hopefully, the upcoming sixth season brings the same level of ridiculousness, and fun.