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Episode 2 - Susan Kent

Actor/comedian/writer Susan Kent (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Relative Happiness, Hatching Matching and Dispatching) joins the second episode of The Work Report. Susan talks about playing Justin Trudeau, how she got on 22 Minutes, and didgeridoos. 

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When life gives you garbage trucks, turn your 2007 Corolla's into 2008 Corolla's. #OneYearAgoToday #NeverForget #Blessed

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Holy. So excited to spill that I'll be doing a TV taping at the Halifax Comedy Festival Opening Gala. Humbled by the chance to perform alongside some amazing comics. Grateful to everyone (especially in NL) for the support. I am a happy 26 year old boy today.

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This guy for real just proposed at Yuk Yuks's in Ajax. What a #fairytale.

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TONIGHT!! 8pm sharp. So excited. Guaranteed tickets at comedybar.ca. Can't wait to see y'all!

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Jerseys: check. Tickets: check. Tempered expectations: check. #leafs #toronto #tmltalk

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On the road again. Excited to tell some jokes and see some Toronto buds.

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150 tickets left for the #gander show tomorrow night. Come sit up front, looks lonely. Tickets here http://bit.ly/1AAANNb

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The House Of Assembly Webcast: Episode 1 Recap

Yesterday I was asked by Anthony Germain to appear on the CBC Morning Show to discuss opening day at the House of Assembly, which is definitely an event I was previously aware of. Here are my credentials for high level political discussion:

After a rousing speech that referenced Spaghettios (twice), was elected Gander Collegiate Student President in 2006. Proudest moment:  hosting the first school dance since the Blue Star incident of 2003.

Eight days doing social media management for a politician. Basically, we would drive around in a van, he would talk to people, a woman would arrange other opportunities for him to talk to people, and I would throw the important details into the endless ocean of HASHTAG NL POLI. 

On Saturday afternoons I fix myself a Caesar and read the angry posts on Paddy Daly's Facebook to my dogs. 

Beyond that my political observations include “Stephen Harper reminds me of a Stepford Wife” and “Justin Trudeau's hair is quite luxurious” and “he also smokes weed, probably”.

So.... I'm well qualified. Either way, I was asked to provide some commentary on the webcast The House Of Assembly. 

Immediately conjuring scenes of a Harry Potter deleted scene, the coverage starts with a group of adults carrying a large golden rod into the room. What is that thing? Let me know. 

Continuing with the Hogwarts theme, I'd like to think that people choose their party allegiance with some form of sorting hat:

“POOF, NDP! The Hufflepuff of political parties!”

Our definitions of a "party" are completely different. If your definition of a party is to alternate between yelling passive-aggressive things across a room and slapping the table like a minor hockey banquet, I don't want to party with you. SIDENOTE: If you want to party with me I'd go with a box of wine, an infinite supply of cheese and a signed guarantee I'll be in bed by 1:30. 

The Premier and the leader of the opposition literally dragged MHA Dwight Verge to his seat, an antiquated tradition from when the days when monarchy would “literally shoot the messenger”. Modern day representatives are now slowly starved during these incredibly long meetings.

Too many characters and the dialogue is clunky. The majority of speakers read from memos in some form of Olde English. Can we lose this and speak like human beings? “Paul, what's the deal with Nalcor? We're all scared shitless the power is gonna go out and we'll have to spend December playing cards in the dark”.

Apparently every minute these meetings are in session costs $22k. Based on yesteday, around 65% of the discussion is taken up by people bumbling "Mr. Speaker" over and over. If we implement a once per speech quota we would save millions. 

Somewhere, somehow, Dale Kirby is still talking.

Dwight Ball had the dopest red tie/pocket square combo. Him and Paul Davis looked like Jim Cutler and Roger Sterling from Mad Men.

Overall, I think this could be a lot less stiff and a lot more interesting with a venue change. Ditch the whole thing and move it to a Bingo Hall. Two drink minimum. Everyone sits at the same table, you bring your own blotter, and when your number is called you get a chance to speak your mind.

“Under the I, 17”.

“Yes, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to draw attention to the importance of drug awareness and response programs in rural Newfoundland. Also, I'd like to declare that “I'M ON THE HITCH”.

“Very well, Mr. Speaker. Ha! Judy Manning, you forgot to mark your free. That's ironic”.  

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Matt Wright is a St. John’s based comedian. His debut Album “Vasectomy Baby” now available on iTunes and at Fred’s. 

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Set list for tonight's LSPU Hall show! Half sold out, thanks early birds. Tickets at the door! Also features Steve Coombs, Mike Fardy, and The Lease Live and Improvised. YUP.

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Get tickets now: mattwrightcomedy.com

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If you're wondering what kind of shoot we had this is a good indicator. Limitless thanks to a great cast and crew. Can't wait for you guys to see this in 2015.

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If you can't handle me at my worst you can't have me at my best.

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This is why you're dying of heart disease, America.

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Yesterday was a good day. @theleasetv @comedycoup

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9/11 In Gander

September 11th was a Tuesday. I remember this because at the time I was insanely into wrestling and I was watching a WWF VHS tape from the night before – an incredibly dated sentence. My mother came home and asked me to change the channel. The gravity in her tone made it obvious I shouldn't object.

Upon hitting eject on the tape, we immediately saw the second plane hit the World Trade Centre. I'm not entirely sure I grasped what we were watching. I still don't. When my dad came home he thought I was watching a movie. Word started to trickle in that my hometown, Gander, would be the destination for some diverted planes. That was an understatement.

There was an energy in the air in Gander that I haven't experienced since. Planes were landing non-stop. I'm not exaggerating. Planes were circling and waiting to land for hours. Our airport runway had taken the brunt of displaced travelers and our small town of 10,000 grew to 16,000 overnight.

How does a small town accommodate a 60% increase in population overnight? I still don't exactly know. But we did. It was incredible. People were moved into schools, churches, bingo halls – wherever we could put them. My experiences were primarily in Gander Academy, an elementary school that my mother worked at. There were hundreds of people sleeping in the gymnasium, families sprawled over desks, and restless adults sitting in chairs designed for 10 year olds.

The atmosphere in the school the next day felt like a thousand funerals.

For people in Gander, every day life stopped. Our only purpose at that point was to make these people as comfortable as possible. People opened their homes, donated clothing, and cooked food. Tours were given, games were organized, and local musicians put off concerts.

Everyone pitched in. Everyone.I was at my most useless and spent my time either playing video games, sulking, or listening to G-Unit. Even I; in my lethargic 13 year old glory, donated my N64 to some American kids who had taken up lodging in my mothers office. The world had literally come to town. The nine years of broken French I had picked up in French Immersion meant I was to be a translator for grown adults from France. It was my first job.

Our 6000+ guests were in town for about a week before the air was clear for flight again. By the end of it, you could see a marked difference in their body language. Even from one of the darkest moments in history, a wealth of kindness from strangers created optimism in the most broken people.

I`m 26 now; twice the age I was when this all went down. I still think about it. I will never be able to forget the suffering that was caused by the attacks, but I choose to remember being part of a community that came together for a world that was falling apart.  

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Matt Wright is a St. John's based comedian. His debut Album "Vasectomy Baby" now available on iTunes and at Fred's. 

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