Harry Doupe
While not really being the pride of anywhere, Harry Doupe was born and raised in the quaint town of Fort Langley, British Columbia (the first capital of the province). An award winning comic and writer, he began his comedy career in Vancouver, choosing the December 7th date for his first show carefully - "I figured no matter how badly I bombed....historically it would be greatly overshadowed". Over the next few years, he developed a reputation as one of the country's hardest working comics, spending 46 weeks on the road in 1986 alone.
The 1990's brought with them a whole new set of opportunities, and numerous television appearances on shows like "COMICS!", "Comedy On The Road", and "Off The Record" opened the door to the world behind the camera. Over the next decade, Harry became one of the most in-demand writers in the country with his knowledge of sports, music, and pop culture making him a perfect fit for awards shows. The next years would see him write more than twenty, including numerous Junos, Geminis, NHL's and Genies.
As a live act, Harry continued to develop, and put together an extensive resume that includes clubs, community halls, theatres and arenas all across Canada and the United States. Some of the dates of note include EXPO 86, the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, 1995 Grey Cup in Regina, and the Tragically Hips' Another Roadside Attraction at Molson Park in Barrie. He was also the first comedian to play Toronto's Air Canada Centre three times, appearing once with Weird Al Yankovic, and twice with the Tragically Hip at their New Year's Eve 1999 and New Year's Day 2000 shows.
In recent years, he has continued to write and perform, doing both on Toronto 1's "The Toronto Show" (for which he won a 2004 Canadian Comedy Award), acted as head writer for the CBC's Tsunami Fund-raiser "Canada For Asia", and most recently was producer for the series "Kraft Hockeyville".
Having previously lived in Vancouver and San Francisco, he currently resides in Toronto.
Deanne Smith
DeAnne's done lots of really awesome things since she started comedy in 2005, presented for you here in handy bullet point form. She has:
-Created tons of Montreal comedy shows! Comedy OFF the Main, Montreal's weekly, alternative comedy series (2005-2009), Tale Spin! , Montreal's monthly story-telling series (2008-present), Stand Up / Strip Down, Montreal's highly successful bi-monthly burlesque comedy show (2008-present), Happenglad's New Hat, Montreal's monthly experimental new work series (2010-present). She also hosts all of those shows. Wow, DeAnne! Why are you so cool?
-Been on the TV in many nations! NBC's Last Comic Standing (2007), The Comedy Network (2009), Good News Week on Australia's Channel 10 (2009, 2010), Australia's SBS (2009). She's also been on the radio! ABC, Triple J, and CBC, where she's appeared numerous times on Definitely Not the Opera and The Debaters. Holy cow, DeAnne! Your media presence is overwhelming!
-Won and been nominated for many awards! She won Sydney Comedy Festival's Time Out Best Newcomer in 2008, and was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Newcomer (2008), Adelaide Fringe Best Established Comedian (2009) and represented Montreal in the Just for Laughs' Homegrown Comedy Competition (2009). My goodness, girlfriend! People sure seem to like you!
-Presented three outstanding solo shows! "Shouting Over Drunks" 2008, "DeAnne Smith Lacks Focus" 2009, "DeAnne Smith: BALLSY" 2010. I bet critics and the show-going public dug those shows, DeAnne! I will read your "Buzz" section to find out exactly how much!
-Appeared in many top-notch festivals! Just for Laughs (2007, 2009, 2010), Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2010), Sydney Comedy Festival (2008, 2009. 2010), Adelaide Fringe Festival (2008, 2009. 2010), Hobart Comedy Festival (2010). She has also toured with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Road Show (2009, 2010). And you did all this within five years of your first open mic, DeAnne? If you weren't already so old, you'd be like some kind of wunderkind!
-Achieved small-scale recognition in her comedy home town of Montreal! DeAnne was voted one of Montreal's top three comedians by readers of The Montreal Mirror in 2010. (After being named one of Montreal's top four comedians from 2007-2009.) She was named a Noisemaker by the publication in 2009. Amazing! How do you do it, DeAnne?
Incidentally, DeAnne comes from an alcoholic family and sometimes wonders if this is the real reason she's chosen a career in which she competes for attention in a room full of people with drinks in their hands! In writing bios, she's never sure if she should aim to be funny, informational, self-aggrandizing, or all of the above! Soon, she'll probably quit with the self-affirming list of credits and accolades, and just accept that she is, really, like a real comedian and everything! DeAnne Smith is a powerhouse of hilarity! Please love her! Thank you for reading!
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