When you think of Kevin Sorbo — which is bound to happen at one time or another, usually late at night while watching the Sy-Fy channel, of course — immediately one thinks: Hercules! Muscles! Mane! Whether he’s saving ancient Greece from evil warlords as Hercules or saving the galaxy in Andromeda, Sorbo is the ultimate swoon-worthy, swashbuckling hero. So why on earth would he agree to participate in something called Kevin Sorbo Garbage Weekend?
According to Toronto comedian Pat Thornton, the whole thing started last November at Comedy Bar when he was performing his second annual event, Pat Thornton’s 24-Hour Stand-Up Set, which raises money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
The event and its jokes ended up trending on Twitter for hours, but apparently “none were as popular or lasted as long as taking shots at Kevin Sorbo,” says Thornton. “We said that he was poor and that he ate garbage. We said that he had a beard of bees. We said that he had to fight a snake for food in a garbage can. We said a lot of things about him being down on his luck and being disgusting — none of which were anywhere near true.”
Maybe so, but people tweeted Sorbo about the jabs anyway. “He was very confused,” admits Thornton. Still, based on the success of the Sorbo slams, Gary Rideout Jr., the artistic director and co-owner of Comedy Bar, sought out Sorbo to bring him to Toronto to do a few shows. As luck would have it, Sorbo was coming to town for Fan Expo anyway, “so it all worked out,” says Thornton. “He was an amazing sport for agreeing to something called Kevin Sorbo Garbage Weekend.”
For the two-day event, Sorbo will perform in a host of improv and sketch comedy shows, including the acclaimed SNL-style sketch show Sunday Night Live and Impromptu Splendor, where he and a team of improvisers will try to create a play (a Greek tragedy, perhaps?).
As for the possibility of Kevin Sorbo Garbage Weekend becoming a tradition, Thornton says, “It could. We’ll see.” And if KSorbs decides not to continue, who else would be a dream guest to perform at Comedy Bar?
“I know there are people who want Shaq,” Thornton says.
Kevin Sorbo Garbage Weekend, Comedy Bar, Aug. 26-27