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| clockwise from top left, are Kevin McDonald, Scott Thompson, Mark McKinney, Dave Foley and Bruce McCulloch. |
Amazon Prime’s revival of the Toronto sketch comedy troupe’s five-season series from a quarter-century ago will be seen in more than 200 countries and territories
The Kids in the Hall are reuniting for an eight-episode season of new material on Amazon Prime.
Amazon Prime's first Canadian original series — if you want to call it "original," after the Toronto sketch comedy troupe's five seasons of their self-titled show on CBC and HBO from 1989 to 1995 — will be available to Amazon Prime members in more than 200 countries and territories. No release date has been specified.
Amazon's news release not only says that all five kids — Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson — will be back, but so will fan-favourite characters in this "continuation of the original show."
"We've been investing in Canada for several years and are excited to add to that momentum by making 'The Kids in the Hall' the first Canadian Amazon Original series," said James Farrell, Vice President of International Originals for Amazon Studios."Even after 30 years, 'The Kids in the Hall' has retained its brilliance and originality," said the show's former and returning executive producer, Lorne Michaels. "We are happy to be bringing back all of the original 'Kids' for the new series."
Since 1995 the troupe has reunited for several projects, including live tours, the TV miniseries "Death Comes to Town" and the theatrical movie "Brain Candy," but this represents their first return to exactly what they did to make them stars.
The Kids in the Hall formed as a stage troupe in 1984 and pushed the boundaries of comedy on CBC and HBO, doing sketches in drag and tackling topics such as religion, modern sexuality and suburban life. In a 2018 interview with The Canadian Press, several cast members said they were hoping to reunite for another project.
"To me it's a very similar time to when we were in our heyday — a very turbulent time, lots of social change, lots of political change, political correctness with a stranglehold on popular culture," said Thompson. "I think what people are waiting for is five white guys in their 50s to tell people what's what. Right, people?" he added jokingly.
with files from The Canadian Press