The Imponderables are no stranger to Montreal’s English comedy scene. Like many comedic groups, the Imponderables – or the Imps – began performing in Fringe Festivals and small clubs and they continue to return to Montreal to share their brand of humour. This year, not only are The Imponderables performing at various venues, they’re the headlining sketch group for Jim Gaffigan’s Videotron Gala on Saturday, July 25, along with Adam Hill, Debra DiGiovanni, Jim Breuer, and Jon Dore.

Blame the Internet

As seen with Susan Boyle, overnight success is possible now with the Internet, something that earlier performers couldn’t ever dream of. Nothing can make or break a person or group faster than the Internet. Through YouTube, Twitter, and all the other social media, it doesn’t take long for the news of great entertainment to reach far and wide. In the case of The Imponderables, the Internet is a Good Thing.

Dave and Eric pointed out that the Internet is actually a wonderful medium for comedy, particularly sketch comedy. The medium fits the attention span of the majority of people who are surfing. Studies have been done that show web surfers only skim writing on the web, picking out the most interesting bits before clicking on to another page. When they click on videos, they don’t want them to run on and on. They want quick, available, good entertainment and then they want to go on to the next thing. Sketch comedy fits that bill.

Not Improv!

Sketch comedy is becoming more popular and seems to have taken off again with the popularity of the comedy improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” which ran from 1998 to 2006. But make no mistake – sketch comedy isn’t improv. It’s well planned, thought out, tried and true comedy, with a pinch of ad libbing to taste.

It’s also not static. Although the group works together to write the script and perfect it, the bit is rarely performed exactly the same way twice. One show, the sketch may be 6 and a half minutes long, the next show 7 or 8. It all depends on if one of the guys wants to throw something extra in or not.

And the ideas? They can be found in the most ordinary of places and turned into the next funniest routine. Eric is still working on making a toaster into something funny. Who knows, maybe they can make it work.

Sketch, Not Skit

Want to drive the guys crazy? Ask them to do a skit for you – or suggest they add something to one of their skits.

How They Got Together

Dave, Jon (without an “h” and if he doesn’t respond, it’s likely he heard you say the “h”), Eric and Tony have known each other for a long time. Dave and Jon went to the same high school and were tapped to emcee their high school talent show. It likely comes as no surprise to hear that they hadn’t planned anything until just hours before the show, but in that short span of time, they developed a quick and funny routine that turned out to be very successful.

How They Stay Together

You don’t have to be with the guys for long before you see the easy camaraderie between them. Their banter flows as they interrupt each other, correct each other and crack up at each other’s expense. They said that the lack of infighting surprises some comedy team veterans, but they work together well and develop their sketches as a team.

If they keep on going they way they have been, it won’t be surprising to see them make their goal of a television show of their own.

The Shows and Videos

The Imponderables are flexible and can tailor their show to a G-rated audience or an R-rated one. Who knows? Maybe we can get them into the Nasty Show next year. Those tickets always sell very well.

Their videos are well planned and appeal to the general public, as well. Matt Hoos is the man behind the scenes that helps make the guys look as good as they do. Matt is no slouch in his department either. His biography shows that he directed HGTV’s “My Parent’s House,” and the pilot episode of “Living On-Line” for CanWest Global, as well as many short films and other TV projects.

All joking aside though, the guys do take their good fortune to heart. Not satisfied with just entertaining, they have taken steps to give back to the community by doing charitable work. Their most fun event to date was the Couchathon in 2008 – it even caught the eye of the Los Angeles Times.

How do you raise money for the children’s charities? You take four comedians, make them sit on a couch for as many hours as they can without falling asleep. You also place a swear jar and fart jar nearby for extra coinage. The guys modestly claimed raising over $5,000, but a look at the Couchathon site shows that as of July 10, 2009, they had raised over $10,000.

If you get a chance, check out The Imponderables. They’re performing tonight at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, the Mainline Theatre at 11:30 PM (3997 St. Laurent, Montreal) and again tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 P.M. at the Gala (Theatre St. Denis, 1594 St. Denis, Montreal) and again at 11:30 at the Mainline Theatre.
If you miss them, be sure to watch for their return. They’re well worth the wait.

July 26^th, 2009 (12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

A family event where the visitor will get to experience18th century culture in Canada. Whether one is a native of the country or a new arrival in Canada, everyone will be able to taste, see, hear and play the way our ancestors did, and thereby be more familiar with the foundations of our country.

Cost: Free

Site : Carrefour du monde

Organization: David M. Stewart Museum

Website: www.stewart-museum.org

Where:

• Aire de pique-nique

Metro station

• Station de métro Jean-Drapeau

These shows are all at:

Ernie Butler’s Comedy Nest
AMC – Pepsi Forum
2313 Ste-Catherine Street West – Metro Atwater
3rd floor
Montreal
(514) 932-6378

July 19 - 6:30pm – Teen Show (Admission $10)
July 20 – 8:30pm – Warm Up Show (Admission $20) (2 for 1 night: One admission price admits 2 people!)
July 21 – 8:30pm – Warm Up Show (Admission $20) (2 for 1 night: One admission price admits 2 people!)

Then, a bit pricier but still cheaper than many of the other comedy shows:

Comedy Night in Canada (Admission $25 – All Shows)
July 22 – 8:30pm
Frank Spadone, The Imponderables, Jon Dore,
Stewart Francis
July 23 – 9:00pm
Debra DiGiovanni Frank Spadone The Imponderables
Mike Wilmot
July 24 – 9:00pm
The Imponderables, Mark Forward, Mike MacDonald,
Mike Paterson, Scott Faulconbridge
July 24 – 11:15pm
Heidi Foss, Jon Dore, Mike MacDonald, Mike Wilmot,
Tim Nutt
July 25 – 9:00pm
Heidi Foss, Mike Paterson, Pete Zedlacher, Tim Nutt
July 25 - 11:15pm
An! gelo Tsarouchas, Mark Forward, Mike MacDonald,
Scott Faulconbridge

(Please note that the Comedy Night in Canada schedule may be subject to change. Most shows will feature performers in addition to those listed.)

According to their website:

Travel the world in two weekends… this summer at Parc Jean-Drapeau! A unique crossroads of cultural diversity, the Week-ends du monde offer an extraordinary window on Montreal life in the 21st century. This special event, held on the weekends of July 17th and 26th, encourages visitors to discover the richness of the different cultures that give Montreal its flavor, through a wide range of activities. The program includes music, dance, and culinary delights, not to mention the event launch on July 17th  with the Belle et Bum Tour that is guaranteed to thrill. By metro, it’s so easy!

Cost: Free

Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau, St. Helene’s Island

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The street has changed over the past 50 years, some great places have come and gone, memories abound but new memories are being made every night. And now, a party has started. It began at 4 P.M. this afternoon and goes on until Sunday.

Rather than repeating what’s already been written, go on over to the Montreal Gazette to read what Anne Sutherland wrote yesterday.

What: West Island Blues Festival -

2 Horse Town
2hands
Late Night Blues
Dale Boyle
Paul Deslauriers Band featuring Dawn Tyler Watson
Kevin Mark

Where: Outdoor event in the park directly in front of Dollard’s Civic Center at 12001 De Salaberry Boulevard (off Sources Boulevard, north of Highway 40).

When: Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 3 pm to 11 pm

Check out their website for the show schedule.

Cost: Free admission, free parking

Enjoy!

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Where: Second Cup Loyola, 7345 Sherbrooke St. W, Montreal  514-509-1624

When: Thursday evenings, beginning at 7 p.m.

Cost: Free
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