The Kids in the Hall season 6

The sixth season of Canadian sketch comedy series The Kids in the Hall aired in 2022; it was a revival, after 27 years, of the original series, which aired for five seasons from 1988 to 1995. Unlike the first five seasons, which aired on CBC in Canada and HBO, then CBS, in the United States, the sixth season aired on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service. It was greenlit and produced by Amazon Prime Video Canada, and was that subsidiary's first original series.[1] The revival was announced in early 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming did not commence until mid-2021.

The Kids in the Hall
Season 6
Promotional poster
Starring
No. of episodes8
Release
Original networkAmazon Prime Video
Original releaseMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
List of episodes

Unlike the previous seasons, season six was not filmed in front of a live audience, nor is it presented with a laugh track. Characters from previous seasons appear in the sixth season, along with a host of new ones.[2] The new season also features a variety of guest stars, the majority of which take part in a recurring segment called "Friends of Kids of the Hall".[3] The season is again executive produced by Lorne Michaels.[4] The Canadian band Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet took part in the filming of the new season's opening to play the show's theme song, an instrumental version of "Having an Average Weekend" though the original recording was used instead.[5]

Guest

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Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1021Episode 1Kelly Makin & Aleysa YoungGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: The Curse, Money Mart, The Last Fax, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Donovan, Foodie's Tarte, 60 on the Pole, Don and Marv Discuss KITH
1032Episode 2Aleysa Young & Kelly MakinGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer GoodhueMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: Speed Racer, Drop Average Pt. 1, The Last Gloryhole, Drop Average Pt. 2, Imaginary Girlfriend, Friends of Kids in the Hall - Charlene, Masturbation Policy
1043Episode 3Kelly Makin & Aleysa YoungGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: Doomsday DJ PT 1, Ambumdlance, Doomsday DJ PT 2, Shakespeare's Bust, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Ron, Gut Spigot, Danny's New Shoes, Doomsday DJ PT 3
1054Episode 4Aleysa Young & Kelly MakinGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: Super Drunk PT 1, Hotel la Rut, Super Drunk PT 2, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Aaron, Antique, Super Drunk PT 3, The Patrol
1065Episode 5Aleysa Young & Kelly MakinGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt Watts & Julie KlausnerMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: We're Having a Baby, Couple's Counseling PT 1, Cats, Couples Counseling PT 2, Surprise, Couples Counseling PT 3, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Jill, Assassin
1076Episode 6Kelly Makin & Aleysa YoungGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: Don and Marv: Amazon, The Baby, Fran and Gordon PT 1, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Michael, Flags of Mark, Fran and Gordon PT 2, Cops - Parade, Bananas, Don and Marv Reach the End of the Hall, Fran and Gordon PT 3
1087Episode 7Aleysa Young & Kelly MakinGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: Taddli Guy - No Smoking, Lukewarm, Taddli Guy - Recycle Right, The Eradicator, Taddli Guy - No Dancing, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Lainie; The Professor
1098Episode 8Kelly Makin & Aleysa YoungGarry Campbell & Dave Foley & Bruce McCulloch & Kevin McDonald & Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson & Jennifer Goodhue & Matt WattsMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Sketches: I'm Not Crazy, I Just Lost My Glasses, Must Wash Hair, Friends of Kids in the Hall: Sasha, Much too Much, My Card, Cliffhanger, Don and Marv - Reburial

Production

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Development

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Following five seasons of The Kids in the Hall and the 1996 follow-up film, The Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, the comedy troupe would reunite for a series of live shows. In 2010, they created the dark comedy mini-series The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town. Instead of comedy sketches, Death Comes to Town centers around one continuous storyline with the troupe performing an array of original characters.[6] Several of The Kids in the Hall characters appear in cameo roles: Chicken Lady, Paul Bellini (in his signature towel) and tweaked versions of Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney's police officers characters.[7] Talks of a Kids in the Hall reboot followed. In 2018, Dave Foley reached out and had lunch with Britta von Schoeler at Broadway Video. Foley mentioned that 2018 marked the 30th anniversary of the original series. This led to discussions about having the show return.[8] In March 2020, Amazon Prime Video Canada announced that it had ordered a new season of the original Kids in the Hall sketch show.[1]

Filming

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Production on the new season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming commenced in late May 2021 in Toronto, Canada under the code name "Sweater Vest".[2]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating for the sixth season, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 8.30/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Kids in the Hall have become seasoned comedy veterans without missing a beat, delivering a fresh set of sketches that will delight longtime fans."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 83 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10] Total Film praised the new season, writing that "skeptic fans of the flagship show will be delighted to see that not only have the Kids maintained their strange sense of humor, but have become absolute masters of their craft – reminding everyone who the true kings of comedy really are."[11]

Awards and nominations for The Kids in the Hall, season 6
Year Award Category Recipient(s)/Nominee(s) Result
2022 Hollywood Critics Association[12] Best Streaming Variety Sketch Series, Talk Series or Special The Kids in the Hall Won

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Kids Are Back! Amazon Prime Video to Bring Back The Kids in the Hall With New Episodes as First Canadian Amazon Original Series". Amazon. March 5, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Gregory, Allie (April 20, 2021). "Dave Foley Is Back in Toronto to Finally Shoot 'The Kids in the Hall' Reboot". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Khanna, Vish (May 16, 2022). "'The Kids in the Hall' Continues to Push Boundaries with Uncompromising New Season". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p David, Greg (April 14, 2022). "Prime Video Announces the Premiere Date for Canadian Amazon Original Series The Kids in the Hall". TV, eh?. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Squires, Bethy (May 17, 2022). "Bruce McCulloch Admires the 'Ferocious' Comedy of Julie Nolke". Vulture. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Bierly, Mandi (September 8, 2009). "'The Kids in the Hall' Continues to Push Boundaries with Uncompromising New Season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  7. ^ DeLessio, Joe (August 20, 2010). "The Kids in the Hall on Death Comes to Town". Vulture. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Martin, Garrett (May 13, 2022). "Dave Foley Discusses the Return of The Kids in the Hall". Paste. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Kids in the Hall". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "The Kids in the Hall (2022)". Metacritic. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Lauren MiliciContributions from Amy West (October 19, 2022). "11 Underrated comedies you need to get on your watchlist right now". gamesradar. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "HCA TV Awards: 'Severance,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Dopesick' Win Top Streaming Awards on Night 2". The Hollywood Reporter. August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
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