If you’ve ever wondered what the ’80s smelled like, then you might want to check out this Toronto comedic quartet, Smells Like the 80s. OK, so maybe their B.O. doesn’t smell like Corey Hart, but their comedy sure doesn’t stink either. Double award winners at the 2010 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, they’re headed there again next month. We chatted with member Cameron Wyllie about ’80s heartthrobs, Yasmine Bleeth and Crowded House.
So, what — or who — do you think most smells like the ’80s?
The time capsule where we buried our original cast. Trevor lost the map, but we know it’s somewhere in Perth County.
Where do you guys find your inspiration?
Friendship. Ideas come from everywhere. Movies, the news, bits of overheard conversation — but they all kind of just sit in your brain until troupe meetings. It’s only when you’ve got the entire troupe laughing at an idea or a line, that you know you have a concept worth putting effort into. We’re all secretly competing to be the funniest guy in the troupe, so we never stop punching up our material.
You’ve been to a bunch of sketch fests, including this year’s Toronto Sketch Fest. Any memorable moments?
Sketchfest 2011. We were opening the night at Comedy Bar. The show was sold out and the venue was packed. Moments before the host was about to bring us out, a man collapsed in the audience. The show had to be cleared out and a team of paramedics was called in to extract the guy. The audience was forced back into the lobby for almost an hour, nobody knowing if they had just seen a man die. When it was clear and the theatre was filled back up, we were introduced and had to come out and try to make them laugh. Thankfully, after that whole experience, the audience wasn’t mad or upset, just eager to start laughing so they could diffuse the stress of the situation. (P.S. if anybody knows if Jeff is okay, please let us know. We’re still worried about you, little buddy).
Dream guest performer?
David Cross and Bob Odenkirk were huge influences on all of us, but if this is a dream then I guess we have to pick Spider-Man, a bunch of wizards and Yasmine Bleeth, circa 1994.
Dream ’80s playlist?
Some songs from Crowded House’s Deep Cuts, anything from Thomas Dolby’s Aliens Ate My Buick album and of course, some “Monster Mash” (it was still played it in the ’80s.)
If each one of you were an ’80s heartthrob, who would you be?
Sean is Fred Savage — he will always be adorable and loves when his Grandpa reads him stories. K. Trev would be Judd Nelson. He’s the John Bender of our Brat Pack, and absolutely hates it when a grown-up tells him what to do. I’d be Andrew McCarthy, not because of my handsome leading man qualities, but because I would also have agreed to do a sequel to Weekend at Bernie’s. Curtis would be Harry Anderson from Night Court — judge, jury and amateur magician.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
We’re competing in the SirusXM Sketch Off, an audio sketch competition where the winning troupe gets a comedy album produced. We self-produced an album in 2007, so we’re due for a new one. After that, we’ve got a huge set at The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, and then vague plans to all go out for pizza together. It’s Sean’s turn to pick the toppings.
The details:
Year established: 2002
Cast Members: Curtis Diehl, Sean Jordan, K. Trevor Wilson, Cameron Wyllie,
Next gig: Toronto Sketchfest, Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St. W., 416-551-6540. Mar. 8, 9 p.m.
Smells Like The 80s – "Mom Fight" from Smells Like The 80s on Vimeo.