\nJust for Laughs Gaga featuring Tina Fey<\/b>
![](\"http:\/\/www.golding.ca\/maggie\/images\/smiley.gif\")
\nSaturday, July 19, 2003<\/i>
\nThe gala started with Bobby Badfingers, a reprise from an earlier gala. Granted, great finger snapping, but once you’ve seen him do ‘Wipe Out,’ you’re pretty much good. So the extra two numbers, complete with forced audience participation, was a little on the lame side.
\nThe gala really started with the predictable ‘Live from the St-Denis Theatre…’ and the smart, funny, gorgeous Tina Fey ensconced behind the Weekend Update desk. Her update was almost entirely Canadian – including a shot at the latest census data in which thousands listed their religion as ‘Jedi’: “although the data on religion has to be disregarded, Stats Can is happy because they now have a count of Canadian dorks.” Also, she brought up the fact that it’s now legal for Canadian doctors to prescribe medicinal marijuana: “and in related news, actor Woody Harrelson has applied to med school at McGill.”
\nAfter what she referred to as her “9,999th” Anna Nicole Smith joke, Fey said she was about more than trashing celebrities, and broke into ‘Let me Entertain You.’ Great singer, great dancer, and the best part? After all these years of wondering what news anchors are like from the waist down… Fey emerged from behind the desk in fishnets, a leotard, and fake fat legs and butt. As soon as the pic is available, you\u2019ll see what I mean.
\nThe first comic was Suli McCullough, whose best bit was letting us in on the fact that the guy inside Barney is black: \u201cthink about it \u2013 he\u2019s 6\u20198\u201d and dances, he wears a purple fur coat with green trim, and his girl\u2019s name is Baby Bop. He\u2019s Tyrone-asaurus Rex.\u201d
\nNext up was Dave Coulier, who was the least annoying cast member of Full House. His act consists primarily of impersonations of cartoon characters, including Bullwinkle, Scooby Doo and Shaggy. These voices are dead-on, and very funny. He did get in a couple of good actual jokes, including \u201cI\u2019m so excited to be here. I wrote an act this morning and everything. Some of these are time-released jokes. You\u2019ll get them in the car on the way home.\u201d
\nColin Quinn, an SNL alum and former Weekend Update anchor, was next, and came across as relatively funny but mainly drunk. Best bit? \u201cTo be an intellectual in the US these days all you have to do is say \u2018yeah, but there\u2019s a lot of stuff the government isn\u2019t telling you.\u2019 Right, like they\u2019re telling you?\u201d
\nMy personal favourite of the night was Lee Mack, a Brit who was introduced as \u201cadding another notch to his Commonwealth bedpost.\u201d His act included a couple of great physical bits, which are obviously less funny when recounted textually (but the Riverdance from the waist up bit is something you can visualize). Best bit? Can\u2019t decide \u2013 could be \u201cI remember my Nan\u2019s last words. She said to me, \u201cwhat are you doing with that hammer?\u201d Or it could be \u201cI am being blamed for the death of the Queen Mum. I got home, turned on the TV, and the announcer said \u2018if you\u2019ve just turned on your television, the Queen Mother has died.\u2019\u201d
\nThe last act before intermission was Tina Fey\u2019s brief introduction to American culture (prefaced by a great bit about a conversation she had with a fellow-New Yorker about how sad it is that Americans know so much about Canada, but Canadians have no concept of American culture). Her presentation began with a map showing the \u201c4 states \u2013 California, New York, Chicago and Hillbillyville.\u201d She covered freedom of speech, gay marriage (as long as it\u2019s to a person of the opposite sex) and freedom of religion \u2013 \u201cChristian, Jew, or constantly under surveillance.\u201d
\n1st act after intermission was Otis Lee Crenshaw (aka Rich Hall), a convicted felon from the \u201cDarwinian rewind button, Tennessee.\u201d Best bit \u2013 \u201cShania Twain? \u2018That don\u2019t impress me much.\u2019 Shania, you\u2019re Canadian. Anything impresses you. Maple syrup impresses you. \u2018So you\u2019re a rocket scientist. That don\u2019t impress me much.\u2019 How can you not be impressed by a rocket scientist?\u201d
\nI overheard a lot of people say their favourite was Mitch Fatel, who was really good (but I still prefer Lee Mack). Some of his best: \u201cI like small breasts. They have personality. It\u2019s like they\u2019re saying \u2018Hello! Can I help you?\u2019 No thanks, just looking.\u201d And, regarding women who say \u2018I usually wait six months before sleeping with a guy\u2019: \u201chow does that work? Do you e-mail me or something?\u201d
\nNext up was Barry Julien, the only local on the bill. It wasn\u2019t his best set ever, but he didn\u2019t altogether bomb, I guess. Nothing really worth repeating, though.
\nWe had a surprise guest next, when Tina Fey came on a one half of the country duo \u2018The Staley Sisters.\u2019 Other half \u2013 Rachel Dratch of SNL. The premise is that these sisters tour, singing their dead daddy\u2019s inspirational songs, including \u2018She was hangin\u2019 laundry:\u2019
\nShe was hanging laundry one fine day
\nWhen her shoe she bent to tie\u2026
\nOld grey cooch, old grey cooch, I saw Gramma\u2019s old grey cooch that day\u2026
\nThe last comic of the night was Louis CK, whose best bit was on the guy with the sign that says \u201cHonk if you love America.\u201d \u201cSure, I love my country, but no guy with a Magic Marker is going to tell me what to do. Makes me want to walk up to him with a sign that says \u2018Lick my ball if you love Jesus.\u2019\u201d
\nThe show ended with a great a capella group called Naturally Seven. They were fabulous \u2013 rock solid despite a couple of technical glitches.
\nAll around, a great show.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"