In Thru the Out Door

In Thru the Out Door is a Canadian comedy special, which aired on CBC Television on June 22, 1998.[1] Created by Andy Nulman and billed as "network television's first-ever all-queer, all-star sketch comedy show", the special was a sketch comedy program highlighting LGBT comedians who had performed in the Queer Comics program at the Just for Laughs festival.[2]

Comedians appearing on the special included Maggie Cassella, Jaffe Cohen, Lea DeLaria, Craig Francis, Robin Greenspan, Elvira Kurt, Bob Smith, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Jonathan Wilson.[3] Sketches included a game show where people with HIV/AIDS had to gamble their medications to get health coverage, a parody of The Honeymooners that recast the show's main characters as Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas and Pablo Picasso, a "House Straighteners" service that helped LGBT people "de-gay" their homes when their parents were about to visit, and a sports bar for people who were not good at sports.[1]

The special received two Gemini Award nominations at the 14th Gemini Awards in 1999, for Best Direction in a Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series (Michael McNamara) and Best Music in a Variety Program or Series (Carole Pope).[4]

  1. ^ a b Alan Conter, "Show tackles sex, gender full-tilt: Born at Just for Laughs, CBC's In Thru the Out Door brings gay comedy to the small screen". Montreal Gazette, June 20, 1998.
  2. ^ Nelson Wyatt, "CBC gay special is comedy pure and simple". Canadian Press, June 18, 1998.
  3. ^ Richard Burnett, "In Thru the Out Door with Andy Nulman"[permanent dead link]. Fugues, November 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999.