It seems like comic Harry Doupe has always been around, performing his clean and witty stand-up act, writing jokes for awards shows and mentoring new generations of funny people. But he’s leaving Toronto for his former home province of British Columbia. Before he goes, some of his favourite peers – Ron James, Tim Steeves, Kristeen von Hagen, Steve Patterson and George Westerholm – are getting together to send him off. And Doupe will have the last word, delivering jokes that span his two decades of life in Toronto. Sunday (October 20), 10 pm, at Second City. See Comedy Listings, this page.
So you’re leaving Toronto. Was it us or you?
When you say “us” who do you mean? If you mean Toronto, it was a little of both. If you mean NOW Magazine, definitely you. Definitely.
If you were breaking up with Toronto, what would your line be?
“Shouldn’t you really have finished completing’ me by now?”
What will you miss most about the Toronto comedy scene?
Great friends. The ability to just show up at places like the bar at Second City, Spirits or the Riv and know I’ll run into a lot of people I love to see.
What won’t you miss?
[A small number of people] think that if something was a certain way in 1993, then it and everyone should be exactly the same now. Growth isn’t a sin or a vice.
What’s been the biggest surprise about the comedy scene during your time here?
At my vintage, nothing in the industry really surprises me. I’m more thrown by normal things like the realization that after all this time, I never once got off the subway at Old Mill station. I mean, it looks nice. Now that I think of it, comedy-wise I’m surprised that my Douche Bonnet bit had the legs it did.
Best joke you wrote for a TV gig that never made it to air?
Wa-a-a-y too many to mention, but here’s one – not that it’s the best, just that I remember it (because once they’re gone from the script, they’re generally gone to me): One year at the Junos, David Foster was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and gave a 24-minute acceptance speech. The next year we had a monologue joke about Alanis Morissette having played the part of God in the film Dogma. “Apparently David Foster wanted it until he found it was a non-speaking part.”
Advice to aspiring comics?
Early in the day: “Stay true to yourself.” A little later in the day: “You need to be able to care enough not to care at all!” Late at night: “The problem with all you guys is… [then 91 minutes of free form].”
Advice to veteran comics?
“We can all stop holding our breath.”
