Royal Canadian Air Farce

Thursday, October 14, 2005 - UPDATE - ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE launches its 13th lucky season on CBC Television, Friday, October 28 at 8pm with six permanent cast members.
Craig Lauzon and Alan Park are now full-fledged conspirators in Air Farce’s comedy antics, joining Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy and Jessica Holmes for a new season dedicated to sending up the newsworthy, the pretentious, and the just plain silly.

Both Craig and Alan have made regular appearances on Air Farce - Lauzon sending up Stephen Harper and George Stroumboulopoulos among others, and Park with his weekly ‘Not the Official Story’ sit-down satirical look at the news. Both comics will see their roles in AIR FARCE expanded during the upcoming season.

“There’s a hot supply of funny business, political intrigue, and assorted scandals for us to sink our teeth into this Fall, and we’re ready to ridicule them all,” says Roger Abbott. “Plus, now that we’re a cast of six we can take on even more personalities. More faces means more Farce, more fun.”

Alan Park, who claims both Toronto and Vancouver as hometowns, is a veteran comedy club performer and seasoned comedy writer who has appeared in Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, and toured extensively in England. He also starred in his own episode of CTV’s Comedy Now.

AIR FARCE is taped every Thursday evening at the CBC Broadcasting Centre, Toronto. Free tickets are available by calling 416.205.5050 or online at www.airfarce.com.

Ottawa native Craig Lauzon has been part of the alternative sketch comedy scene since 1996. He has appeared on The Comedy Network’s Chez Carla show and co-wrote and starred in the Canadian Comedy Award nominated show, The Chick and Cubby Comedy Hour. He is a member of the aboriginal sketch comedy troupe, Tonto’s Nephews.

Thursday, October 6, 2005 - UPDATE - Our season launch will be Friday October 28 at 8:00 PM on CBC Television. Our first taping is the night before, Thursday October 27. Please join us in the studio (click here for tickets) and on CBC Television for our first new show of the season. Roger, Don, Luba, Jessica and Alan, and the Air Farce writers - Gord, Rick, Rob and Wayne - and the entire Air Farce production team are looking forward to the new season of Canada's #1 sketch and satirical comedy show.

Available Now! Click Here. Here are 50 favourite funny scenes from the past Air Farce season, including two visits from special guest (and WWE wrestling Diva) Trish Stratus, plus more than 5 minutes of never-broadcast “flubs and quacks” blooper scenes.

Air Farce built its award-winning reputation by spinning daily news headlines into comedy punchlines, taking shots at world and national politics, and finding the funny in everyday events. And the 2005 season provided tons of topical targets: The NHL hockey lockout, George Bush's second term, Same-sex marriage, the Gomery Inquiry (complete with Jean Chrétien's golf balls), Prince Charles and Camilla tying the knot, Paul Martin's minority government, and Stephen Harper's deadly defence of all things Conservative.

Monday, October 3, 2005 - The good news is that the Canadian Media Guild, representing 5,500 CBC technicians, journalists, designers and production staff, and CBC have reached an agreement to end the 7-week lockout and sign a new labour contract. In the days to come, the deal is expected to be ratified by union members and the doors to CBC studios across Canada will be re-opened.

We hope that our new season of Royal Canadian Air Farce will be able to launch on Friday, October 21. Because so many of the people who work on Air Farce are CMG members, and our studio is at CBC Toronto -- and because we're a topical show that is broadcast within 24 hours of taping -- we have not been "stock-piling" new episodes, ready for immediate broadcast. As soon as CBC crews are back at work, the full Air Farce team will be busy and in production.

Please keep checking in at airfarce.com for further updates, and our
official 2005-2006 launch date. If you'd like to join our studio
audience, click here for tickets. If you'd like to be on our e-mail
list for updates, please e-mail us here and you'll be one of the first
to know.

Meanwhile, if CBC is important to you, why not tell your member of
parliament - send him or her an e-mail, and copy Prime Minister Paul
Martin at Martin.P@parl.gc.ca and Heritage Minister Liza Frulla at Frulla.L@parl.gc.ca.

Royal Canadian Air Farce is scheduled to return for a new season on CBC Television. Due to the ongoing lockout, our new season start date remains uncertain. Please check back regularly for more information as talks between the CBC and the Canadian Media Guild continue.

Air Farce saw a ratings uptick during the 2004/2005 season, both on Friday nights (up a modest 3%) and the Monday repeat, which scored a 14% increase in viewers. The dual telecasts delivered an average-per-minute audience of 1,291,000 viewers for each episode of the season, peaking at 1.7-million in mid-February.

The Farce welcomes the ratings rebound, attributing it to the expansion of the cast (as Craig Lauzon and Alan Park joined Roger, Don, Luba and Jessica for most of the season) and the improved pace of the show with more shorter sketches and animations. Viewers responded favourably to the additions, finding more reasons to laugh more often.

CBC Television will repeat episodes from the just-completed season, Fridays at 8:00 PM, from June 17 through September 23.

Classic episodes from earlier seasons (currently 1996-1999) are screened Tuesday to Thursday afternoons at 3:00 PM on CBC.

And episodes from the recent past air daily on the Comedy Network at 7 AM, 1 PM and 7 PM (Eastern and Pacific time; that's 6, 12 and 6 in Atlantic and Mountain; 8, 2 and 8 in Central).

Thanks for another great season, and please join us for our new season starting sometime in the fall.

Royal Canadian Air Farce has wrapped another season on CBC Television, scheduled to return for a new season on Friday, September 30, 2005.

CBC Television will repeat episodes from the just-completed season, Fridays at 8:00 PM, from June 17 through September 23.

Classic episodes from earlier seasons (currently 1996-1999) are screened Tuesday to Friday afternoons at 1:30 PM on CBC.

And episodes from the recent past air daily on the Comedy Network at 7 AM, 1 PM and 7 PM (Eastern and Pacific time; that's 6, 12 and 6 in Atlantic and Mountain; 8, 2 and 8 in Central).

Thanks for another great season, and please join us for our new season starting Friday September 30, 2005 on CBC Television.

FRIDAY, DEC. 31 AT 8 PM: There are some new holds, twists and throws as Royal Canadian Air Farce takes its annual shot at laughing out the old year on 2004: YEAR OF THE FARCE, New Year's Eve at 8pm on CBC Television.

The Farce foursome has morphed into a six-some this season, as originals Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson and Luba Goy and recent newcomer Jessica Holmes are joined by versatile sketch player Craig Lauzon and satiric commentator Alan Park.

Adding to the fun this New Year's Eve is special guest, five-time World Wrestling Entertainment® Womens Champion, Trish Stratus. The Toronto-born WWE superstar is a household name for wrestling fans, and she's developing a reputation in comedy, too—with appearances on Fox's Mad TV and on stage with Toronto 's famous The Second City. Stratus promises “Stratusfaction Guaranteed™”. Also dropping by with his annual laugh-back at the year is national treasure Dave Broadfoot.

It also wouldn't be New Year's Eve without the multiple firing of the Chicken Cannon Target of the Year. Tune in to find out our top target of 2004. The top ten range from politicians like Alfonso Gagliano and Carolyn Parrish to the lovable Spongebob Squarepants to the NHL negotiations between Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow. Whoever the target, the ammunition is sure to be messy.

The Royal Canadian Air Farce's New Year's Eve Special repeats at 10:30 p.m., and the Air Farce will be back at 11:55 p.m. for their traditional countdown to midnight and 2005. Count down the final minutes of 2004 and welcome the new year with Jessica Holmes and Craig Lauzon. They'll show some comedy clips, check the clock, and count down the final 30 seconds of the year. At the stroke of midnight, Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards will launch into a swinging version of Auld Lang Syne , providing the soundtrack for Canadians everywhere to toast the new year. Laughs and the accurate time—plus, a monkey riding a dog and Rex Murphy in a thong—what a way to spend New Year's Eve!

Continue the comedic journey to 2005 at 9 pm on CBC Television with Just For Laughs New Year's Special . Hosted by Shaun Majumder's slick alter ego Raj Binder, the special features performances by Wayne Brady, Caroline Rhea, Tim Allen, Tom Arnold, Lewis Black, Tammy Pescatelli, Omid Djalili and many more. It's a sneak preview of the upcoming Just for Laughs TV series that starts in January. This show repeats at 11:30 p.m. with a break at 11:50 p.m. for the countdown to midnight.

More Farce fun with the hot-button topics of 2004: Coach's Corner on a 7-second delay! Jacko gets more wacko! Squirting baby hoser! George Bush & Britney Spears! Sister Melanoma's Movie Review! Love to lose with the Stankins diet! The TV Commercials you love to hate! Governor General's Spending Spree! Chrétien's "A Proof is A Proof!"

Over an hour of non-stop laughs with Royal Canadian Air Farce, starring Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy and Jessica Holmes.

Here are 4 great Air Farce episodes, featuring 4 great guest stars - Sean Cullen, Ron James, Peter Keleghan and Patrick McKenna - each forming a foursome with Air Farce's Roger, Don and Luba.

Each episode is also a time capsule of what was shaking our world (or at least making headlines) that week - wayward politicians at home, a spanking nun, weapons of mass destruction, and our own weapon of messy destruction, the mighty Air Farce Chicken Cannon.

And, as a special bonus, there's a clip-filled tribute to original Air Farce star and writer John Morgan ("I'm Mike, From Canmore") which Alison Smith prepared for CBC News: The National when John retired from the series. Click here for more details and ordering information.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE is a quartet again! Roger, Don and Luba have invited JESSICA HOLMES to join them as a permanent Air Farce cast member.

After guest appearances where she's performed characters ranging from shamed celebrities Michael Jackson and Paris Hilton to Canadian sports stars Hayley Wickenheiser and Terry Leibel, and plenty of viewer response, Air Farce welcomes Jessica as a weekly player.

"Jessica is a tremendous fit with Air Farce,” says producer Don. “She is a wonderfully skilled and versatile comic who invents characters and impersonates the famous with great ease. Jessica is a fresh and funny addition to our show.

A veteran of sketch and improvisational comedy, Jessica Holmes is an Ottawa native who attended a performing arts high school where she performed comedy with an award-winning improv team. Before studying at Ryerson University 's Radio and Television Arts program in Toronto , she traveled in Europe and did two years of missionary work in Venezuela . After graduating she joined the Second City company and toured the country.

Jessica Holmes starred in the CTV series ‘The Holmes Show' last season, and other TV series appearances have been in Sonic Temple, The Itch, History Bites, and in the feature film Welcome to Mooseport. She also starred in a one-woman show called Jessie's Girls.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 @ 8pm ON CBC-TELEVISION. Guest star Jessica Holmes joins Roger, Don and Luba for a skewed look at the week's events. Click here for an audio sample.

Coming Up: Friday, November 21 @ 8PM on CBC Television. This week on Royal Canadian Air Farce: Guest star Jessica Holmes returns to join Roger, Don and Luba for a skewed look at the week's events.

Coming Up: Friday, October 24 @ 8PM. Royal Canadian Air Farce, Canada’s number one comedy show returns to CBC Television and this week we will be joined by returning guest star James Roussel.

James Roussel has worked in the comedy scene for many years both on screen and stage. A native of Toronto, and a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre, James' las appeared on an episode ofAir Farce last April, and he can be also seen this fall on CTV's new sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. He also appeared in "Ham I Am", a one hour comedy special written by (and starring) fellow Air Farce guest star Craig Lauzon. James' first foray into sketch comedy was part of the troupe Urban Myth as part of CBC's weekly comedy series SketchCom! Currently, James is exploring musical comedy with Kevin Aichle in a duo known as The Country Gentlemen.

Friday, October 17 @ 8PM on CBC Television: Canada’s number one comedy show returns to CBC Television for its first regular show with returning guest star Jessica Holmes.

Jessica Holmes is a successful comedian, actress, screenwriter and speaker. In 1999 she was nominated for the prestigious TIM SIMS ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD then landed several appearances at the JUST FOR LAUGHS INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL in Montreal. She competed in the COMEDY NIGHT IN CANADA stand-up competition and also appeared in the WORLD IMPROV CHAMPIONSHIPS. She was also nominated for several 2000 and 2001 CANADIAN COMEDY AWARDS for her TV and sketch comedy work.

Holmes co-wrote and starred in the Comedy Network series THE ITCH, and the CTV comedy/music series: SONIC TEMPLE. She went on to write and star in her own one-hour comedy special for CTV titled HOLMES ALONE, in which she played a range of hilarious characters such as Candy the happy-go-racist artist, and Patrinka the unsmiling Russian singer. For the special, Holmes received a GEMINI nomination as well as the Platinum Award at the HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL.

The success of Holmes Alone led to the creation of THE HOLMES SHOW - a sketch comedy series that delves into parody and satire. Holmes writes and stars in the series, along with Kurt Smeaton and Roman Danylo.

Jessica can soon be seen in the Ray Romano/Gene Hackman movie Welcome to Mooseport. You can also catch her in an episode of Doc on PaxTV; and alongside Don Ferguson and Kathryn Greenwood in the new CBC comedy XPM.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE’s first road trip from Brandon, Manitoba was such a roaring success – at 1.2-million, their highest-rated show of last season -- they’re going back on the road to launch their 11th season on CBC Television Friday, October 10 at 8 p.m. This time, the Farce is heading to the east coast, with a 1-hour season premiere special live from the Imperial Theatre in Saint John, New Brunswick (The Imperial has been restored to its original 1913 glory as a Victorian proscenium-arch vaudeville road-house.)

“Taking the Air Farce television act on the road, to live audiences in different cities across Canada, has been a ten-year dream,” says Roger Abbott. “First Brandon, and now Saint John – we’re having fun going to places that every Canadian has heard of, but rarely sees on national television.”

Joining the Air Farce cast will be Guest Stars Craig Lauzon and Rochelle Wilson, some famous New Brunswick special guests (see below), a hint of Atlantic salt, and the topical comedy and characters that keep Air Farce on top of the Canadian comedy ratings.

Canadian Idol's Runner Up (and one of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia's favourite sons), Gary Beals makes a memorable appearance in Canadian Idol: Saint John Edition, where he must fight with Ben Mulroney (played by Craig Lauzon) for control of the microphone and go head to head against Phoebe Gobble (played by Rochelle Wilson).

New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord joins Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, and Luba Goy on stage at Saint John’s historic Imperial Theatre, and gives a “Premier performance”.

New Brunswick actor/comedian Marshall Button will be featured with his insider’s view of the Maritimes as the character Lucien.

Conservative MP Elsie Wayne, a native of Saint John, joins in the fun and assists Roger Abbott as he takes a virtual tour around Saint John in "Great Cities of the World".

To kick off the new season, the Air Farce premiere will also include a backward glance at the summer of 2003 – from the same-sex marriage controversy to Ontario’s massive power failure, and television’s latest phenomenon, Canadian Idol. Plus there’ll be regional comedy targets, like the Bay of Fundy’s tidal bore, Saint John M.P. Elsie Wayne and New Brunswick’s skyrocketing auto insurance rates. And no road trip would be complete without Air Farce’s weapon of messy destruction, the Chicken Cannon (with Saint John Mayor Shirley McAlary's assistance).

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE is produced by Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson for Air Farce Productions Inc. in association with CBC Television. Head writers are Gold Holtam and Rick Olsen; the series is directed by Perry Rosemond, recent inductee into The Order of Canada.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE special from Saint John on CBC Television on Friday, October 10, 8-9 pm. The new season will continue on Fridays, 8-8:30 p.m.

Royal Canadian Air Farce, Canada’s number one comedy show comes to Saint John, New Brunswick on Tuesday, September 23 for two tapings of a special that will launch its 11th season on CBC Television on Friday, October 10.

Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, and Luba Goy plus guests will perform at 5 pm and 9 pm at the Imperial Theatre, Saint John on Tuesday, September 23. Tickets are $30, $25, $20 each (HST and Imperial Theatre surcharge included) and can be purchased at the Imperial Theatre box office and all regular outlets. Phone orders are taken at 506-674-4100 or 1-800-323-SHOW (7469). A portion of the proceeds from the tapings will go to these Saint John charities: Saint John Boys & Girls Club, Saint John Theatre Company, and Second Stage Safe Haven.

The Saint John special will feature a line-up of notable guests whose names will be released in the next few weeks..

“We ended last season with an hour-long special from Brandon, Manitoba and it was a big success,” said Don Ferguson. “So we decided to go in the other direction to start the new season. Air Farce once toured constantly when we were on radio, so it’s invigorating to go on the road. Because our shows are topical, I can’t say exactly what will be in this special, but there will be a very definite New Brunswick element.”

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE special from Saint John on CBC Television on Friday, October 10, 8-9 pm. The new season will continue on Fridays, 8-8:30 p.m.

Friday, February 14th @ 8PM on CBC Television: Guest star Kenny Robinson joins Roger, Don and Luba as Colin Powell, Bill Cosby and the master of love, Barry White. Sketches: John Manley’s climactic first budget; Air Canada – flies through financial turbulence; North Korea’s Kim Jong-il, the attention deficit dictator; Meet The Cosbournes; Valentine's Day leaves a man asking the big question – What’s the deal?

Kenny Robinson has been performing as a stand-up comedian and actor for more than 25 years. A native of Winnipeg, he has headlined at comedy clubs throughout Canada and the U.S., and been featured in nearly 30 different television programs and movies.

Robinson has earned accolades as the creator, writer and host of the edgy late-night series After Hours with Kenny Robinson on the Comedy Network. He also brings his irreverent wit and keen political insight to his current role as co-host of The Morning Rush, a weekday program on Toronto radio station Flow 93.5 FM.

On the stand-up scene, Robinson has earned a reputation for fostering cultural diverse talent. As founder, producer and host of the immensely popular Nubian Disciples of Pryor All-Black Comedy Review, he has helped to provide a launching pad for such emerging performers as Gavin Stephens, Ron Josol and Russell Peters. He has also been a talent consultant for Montreal's International Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.

On stage, Robinson has performed alongside the likes of Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Eugene Levy and Norm MacDonald. His screen career, meanwhile, has included an appearance in the Chris Rock feature film Down to Earth, as well as roles in the Showtime television movie Soul Food and the PAX TV series Doc. Robinson also created and co-produced the Gemini Award nominated CBC Special Thick and Thin with Ronnie Edwards.

Airing Friday, January 10 @ 8PM on CBC Television: Teresa Pavlinek joins Roger, Don and Luba this week on Air Farce. Originally, Teresa was a member of The Second City for four years where she wrote and performed three ground breaking shows - all nominated for Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

Her television credits include co-host of The Comedy Network launch, a lead role in THE NINE O'CLOCK SHOW for the CBC, the recurring character of Sue Brown on WTN's GO GIRL as well as SONIC TEMPLE, LIOCRACY and JONATHAN CROSS' CANADA. A pilot she shot last summer starring Jann Arden will air on CTV and she is currently shooting her fifth season of the Gemini nominated History Channel/PBS series, HISTORY BITES. Teresa also has a recurring roll in THE SEAN CULLEN SHOW airing on CBC beginning January 17.

CBC Television’s comedy cornerstone, Royal Canadian Air Farce, starts an hour sooner – 8:00 PM -- beginning Friday, November 29.

The Farce is returning to the evening’s lift-off time slot in response to audience surveys which showed viewers preferred the earlier hour. The show had moved from 8 to 9 o’clock at the start of last season.

“We’re going back to our finest hour,” says Farce’s Roger Abbott, “where we drew our largest and most varied audience numbers for four years. People tell us they like to kick-start their weekend with Air Farce, and 8 o’clock is when they want us.”

In comedy, timing is everything, and Air Farce and Red Green are now positioned to anchor the new CBC Comedy Friday line-up which we’ll launch in January – including the return of Made In Canada, the new Sean Cullen Show, and the series debut of An American in Canada.

Royal Canadian Air Farce moves to 8:00, and The Red Green Show moves to 8:30, starting Friday, November 29 on CBC Television.

Elvira Kurt, voted Funniest Female Comic at the Canadian Comedy Awards, joins Roger, Don and Luba as a cleavage happy lawyer, sassy senior, self-centered talk show host and Alanis Morrisette.

She is no stranger to television, having starred in "Elvira Kurt: Adventures in Comedy", on Canada's Comedy Network, two specials on Comedy Central and the animated series, "Reality Chick". On the Oxygen Network she is the voice of the title character, an eight months pregnant feminist superhero.

As for film and theater, Elvira has performed in 'The Vagina Monologues' and is profiled and showcased in a documentary called 'We're Funny That Way' seen on HBO. Her successful one woman show, 'Viva Elvira!', has debuted in LA and Toronto.

As a Second City alumna, Elvira's training has served her well. Her Gemini nominated hour long special, 'Big Girl Now', also nabbed the Gold Award at the Worldfest International Film Festival and she's had stand out appearances on HBO, VH-1's 'The List', Showtime, A&E, PBS, Lifetime, two CBC Comedy Specials, pilots for CBC and Second City and countless special and guest appearances, hosting and co-hosting on various benefits, awards and talk shows.

No slouch in the writing department, Elvira has contributed to the CBS pilot and HBO special for Ellen DeGeneres, written for 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes' and all the Canadian award shows (Film, Television, Music and of course, Hockey) one of which was nominated for a Gemini for best writing.

Friday, November 8 @ 9PM on CBC Television: Guest Star Peter Keleghan joins Roger, Don and Luba as a drained-brain local news anchor, a videophone user and a prisoner fighting for his right to vote. Sketches: Jean Chretien’s new board game – where every second square is “Screw Paul Martin”; John Manley’s bank plans encounter merger-interruptus; Charlton Heston takes a shot at explaining why guns are good and Air Farce donut trio looks at U.S. immigration, racial discrimination and drunk-driver elimination.

Peter Keleghan is one of the most visible actors in Canada, co-starring on Made in Canada and portraying Ranger Gord on The Red Green Show. This will mark his third appearance on Air Farce.

A double Gemini Award nominee for both Made For Canada and for his role as the self-absorbed news anchor in Ken Finkleman's The Newsroom, Keleghan has appeared on Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Cheers, Burke's Law, Forever Knight and General Hospital. He first attracted attention in Smith & Smith's Comedy Mill series, and was in the feature film Ginger Snaps. He was also seen Ranger Gord in the Red Green feature, Duct Tape Forever, and recently reprised his character of Jim Walcott in Ken Finkleman's Newsroom: The Movie.

Congratulations to our ten "Viewer's Choice Winners". Thanks for picking our November 1st show. There were so many excellent suggestions, but we could only fit in enough one half hour! But due to the response, we'll put together another "Viewer's Choice" special next spring

Coming Up: Friday, October 25 @ 9PM on CBC Television: Sean Cullen, an original member of the music/comedy troupe Corky & The Juice Pigs returns to Royal Canadian Air Farce for his third visit. He first appeared on Air Farce in 1993, and more recently on last year's season premiere (Click here to watch Sean's last episode with us). For more than a decade, this master of stream-of-consciousness improvisation, parody, absurdism and calculus has performed all over the globe. His repertoire includes stand-up, song, characterizations and spot on impersonations. Sean has guest starred on Mad TV, worked with Abbott/Ferguson on their SketchCom series, made 2 appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, received critical acclaim for his solo comedy special, Wood, Cheese and Children, and for his performance on Just For Laughs. Sean has just finished shooting six episodes of The Sean Cullen Show which premieres Fridays at 8:00pm on CBC Television, beginning January 17. (Followed by Made in Canada and, of course, Royal Canadian Air Farce!).

Janet Van De Graaff came to Toronto to get her M.F.A. in acting at York University. After a one and a half-year stint in the Second City National Touring Company, she joined the Toronto Second City Main Stage cast. She wrote and performed in five revues there, receiving two Dora Award nominations for her work. Other theatre credits include The Brady Bunch Live (Bathurst Street Theatre), Honest Ed: The Bargain Musical (Poor Alex), The Drowsy Chaperone (Toronto Fringe Festival and Theatre Passe Muraille), and two seasons of the live improvised soap opera, Sin City (Tim Sims Playhouse). On television, Janet played Yvonne, the effervescent co-host of WTN's Go Girl! She just received a 2002 Canadian Comedy Award for her work on the hit series History Bites, which is currently shooting its fifth season. She has appeared in such films as The Last Don and The Five Senses, and as a guest on Made in Canada, The Royal Canadian Air Farce and Dave Broadfoot's First Farewell Tour.

RAISE THOSE GLASSES…IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE THE 10TH YEAR OF OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOUR ON CBC-TV FROM ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE AS A NEW SEASON LAUNCHES WITH AN HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 AT 9 P.M.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE starts its 10th season of fun on CBC Television. Making the transition from live performance and a very popular radio show, to a weekly TV program was a huge transition and one that has proved enormously successful - as AIR FARCE starts its 10th season it remains CBC Television's number one entertainment program. The new season starts with an hour-long special featuring guest comics Rochelle Wilson and Craig Lauzon joining forces with Farce stars Roger Abbott, Luba Goy, and Don Ferguson.

Canada's newsmaker-of-the-month, Ron MacLean makes a special guest appearance with a comedy preview of Hockey Night's Coach's Corner.

"Our promise this year is to keep the show fresher, faster and funnier all the way through our tenth season," says Don Ferguson.

In their extended season opener AIR FARCE takes aim at a list of current headliners - the Ron MacLean affair, Joe Clark's retirement, Martha Stewart's financial activities, the Queen's visit and even Dr. Phil will be put through the comic wringer. And did you really expect AIR FARCE to ignore The Osbourne Family or George Bush's itchy finger? Not a chance! Prepare for cheekiness, chuckles, and an hour of satirical target practice as ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE starts its 10th season.

Friday, October 11 @ 9PM. Air Farce kicks off its tenth season on CBC Television with a one hour premiere. Returning will be guest stars Rochelle Wilson and Craig Lauzon.

Rochelle Wilson hails from Alberta. At the age of 14 she moved to Toronto with her parents and brother. After two years of studying Art & Photography at Sheridan College, Rochelle naturally became a banker and started Theatresports classes. Fortunately Rochelle gave up banking and pursued her heart's desire and became an actor.

Rochelle was a member of the Second City National Touring Company, performing in the revue It's The Year 2000 And Still No Flying Cars. She has also taped two episodes of SketchCom for CBC Television, with The Lolas and The Stand-Ins, and an episode for CBC Radio's Madly Off In All Directions.

Rochelle is a currently a member of the female comedy duo the Lolas and has written and performed for the Comedy Network, The Best of Open Mike with Mike Bullard, CBC Television, and CBC Radio, as well as countless live gigs at comedy clubs throughout Toronto. The Lolas had the honour of receiving one of the very first Canadian Comedy Awards for "Best Sketch Troupe - Newcomer".

Craig Lauzon is one of Canada's top character performers. He began in Toronto’s alternative comedy scene in 1998. His ability to transform himself into honest and hilarious characters caught everyone’s attention and in 1999 he was nominated for the prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Award - a yearly prize given to promising comedic talent in Toronto. That summer Craig landed a regular role on The Comedy Network’s variety series Chez Carla.

2000 saw Craig appear at the Raising The Roof, We’re Funny That Way and the Much Ado About Sketch comedy festivals. Soon after he wrote and starred in Ham I Am, a live one-man show that got rave revues “…never missing a beat, Lauzon’s characters managed to capture their biggest stereotypes in a way that was hilarious without being harmful.” says news editor Lisa Pirone.

In 2001 Craig co-wrote and starred in The Chick and Cubby Comedy Hour which was nominated for a 2001 Canadian Comedy Award for funniest new play. He also starred in his first 1-hour comedy special for The Comedy Network entitled Ham I Am, based on his one-man show. His special has been nominated for two 2002 Canadian Comedy Awards. Craig’s characterizations have been described as “great Canadian comedy, quick and snarky with surreal moments of brilliance!” (John Doyle, The Globe and Mail). On April 12, 2002 he first appeared as the guest star on the Royal Canadian Air Farce and completed a feature film script to be produced in spring.