For our Comedy Issue, we interviewed seven of the city’s top comedians. Today, we present comedic jack-of-all-trades Harland Williams. This Bayview native frequently switches hats, not only from standup comedian to movie actor, but he’s also an illustrator, a children’s author, a painter and a musician. Here, Williams dishes about his youth in Toronto and starring in the Citytv sitcom Package Deal.
Growing up in Bayview: We used to love going fishing in the Don River. Back then it was one of the most polluted rivers around. Me and my buddies used to take dandelion removers and go spear fish in the river. It’s probably why I’m a bit demented today.
On his character Sheldon in the new Citytv sitcom Package Deal, which airs this summer: He’s kind of the father figure, but he probably doesn’t have any Father of the Year Awards hanging on his wall.
Why a made in Canada label isn’t always a selling point for a TV show: Canadians have this reputation for going, “Oh, that was Canadian.” Sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes that’s a bad thing. With Package Deal we are trying to create a show that’s full of Canadian talent but doesn’t smack of Canadian TV. We want to showcase the talent of the writers and directors.
On his co-stars, Degrassi’s Randal Edwards and standup comic Jay Malone, who play Williams’ brothers on Package Deal: The three of us have really bonded. We watch sports and hang out. They are great guys to work with. I grew up with four sisters, so at last I’m finally getting some brothers in my life.
The buzz he gets from filming in front of a live studio audience: It’s great TV because you get to hear feedback in real time to the material. For Jay Malone and me, who come from a standup background, when we hear live laughter, that’s fuel for us.
Going off script: Based on the reaction, I’d say about 90 per cent of what we improvised has worked.
On career planning: People were always laughing at me, and I thought, “If I can turn this into a living, it’s a great job.”
His early comedic talent at Senator O’Connor Catholic school: I was kind of a quiet kid, but I would pick my moments. People were torn over whether I was the class clown or the class stoner because I talk kind of slow, but I was just born this way.
Touring across Canada and the United States: Standup gave me the confidence to get up in front of a cast and crew and be totally relaxed and let it all hang out.
Visiting home: When I’m back in Toronto, I like to go to my cottage in Muskoka. (I’ve upgraded a bit from the Don River.)
On his new DVD, Force of Nature, which features him doing standup on a mountain in the Mojave Desert: I think it’s probably the only comedy special ever to have used a helicopter.
