Film Peepers, TV’s Call Me Fitz up for multiple comedy awards

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This article was published 10/06/2011 (5591 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Canadian film Peepers leads the 12th annual Canadian Comedy Awards with five nominations, it was announced Wednesday. The Seth Owen-directed comedy, which stars Joe Cobden and Mad Men‘s Jessica Pare, earned multiple nominations, along with films Good Neighbours and Summerhood, and TV’s Call Me Fitz, Less Than Kind and The Debaters.

Dan for Mayor actor Paul Bates and comedian Sean Cullen were on hand at Toronto’s Second City theatre to unveil the nominees in 25 categories spanning film, television, live performance, radio and web.

“The number of submissions is exciting, the calibre of the nominees is outstanding and the (October awards event) will be the best ever,” said Tim Progosh, president of the Canadian Comedy Foundation for Excellence.

While winners are determined by votes from such industry groups as ACTRA and the Directors Guild of Canada, the public will also be able to vote online for five categories, including best TV show, film, web clip, radio program and Comedy Person of the Year.

Nominees for the latter prize include Russell Peters, The Daily Show‘s Samantha Bee, Ron James, Howie Mandel and the late Roger Abbott, from The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

Male standup nominees include Steve Patterson, Mark Forward, Darrin Rose, Tim Steeves (also nominated for best taped live performance) and Jeremy Hotz. In the female standup category, 2010 winner Laurie Elliott is nominated again, along with Heidi Foss, DeAnne Smith, Debra DiGiovanni and Nikki Payne, also nominated in the live performance category.

The Jason Priestley-led TV series Call Me Fitz and last year’s favourite Less Than Kind both lead the television categories with three nominations apiece. Other multiple nominees include Caution: May Contain Nuts, 18 to Life and Men with Brooms. CBC’s The Debaters also earned television nods for best direction and writing, as well as netting two nominations in the radio category.

Director Jacob Tierney’s Good Neighbours earned four nominations, including nods for Tierney and frequent collaborator Jay Baruchel, who stars in the Montreal-set thriller. Summerhood also snagged four nominations, including three for actor-director-writer Jacob Medjuck, while Don’t Walk Out That Door and Gravy Train earned three nominations each.

Best comedic play nominees included Second City’s Something Wicked Awesome This Way Comes, Phillips & Crown, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, Dr. Whom and Pick of the Fringe!

Second City was also nominated for best sketch troupe along with Women Fully Clothed, Picnicface, Falcon Powder and Hot Thespian Action.

Voting occurs June 15 to July 5. The awards and festival will take place from Oct. 13 to 17 in Toronto.

— Postmedia News