Ask the Kids in the Hall

At Warner Theatre May 3

The Kids in the Hall are back. Everyone's favorite cross-dressing, head-crushing, Canadian comedy troupe, best known for its beloved 1990s sketch show, is currently on its first major tour in six years. The shows feature some classic characters and plenty of new material. The Kids will perform at the Warner Theatre on Saturday, May 3.

Troupe member Scott Thompson, also widely known for his work on "The Larry Sanders Show," will be online Friday, May 2 at 3 p.m. ET to talk funny.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

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washingtonpost.com: Scott Thompson will be joining us shortly...

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Washington, D.C.: I loved it when the big black fireman picked you up during a sketch and carried you away, do you have his number?

Scott Thompson: I wish. I sure remember his smile though and the feel of his hands. That was an homage to Buffalo because when you grow up in Toronto you get their news and it always seemed to be on fire so it was natural that I would dream of firemen.

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Victoria, B.C.: Hi Scott! Are the Kids taping for another tour DVD?

Scott Thompson: Not at the moment but anything can change.

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Wausau, Wisc.: what is one thing that you HAVE to bring on the road with you?

Scott Thompson: The one thing I have to have with me is a good book.

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Sizzler Sist, AS: Scott, My sister and I have been huge fans of The Kids In the Hall since we were teens, and credit the show with our "comedy education." It also proved a valuable "secret language" for referencing jokes and characters around our parents. We can't wait to finally see you and the kids live tomorrow night! Question -- did you feel slighted when Helen Mirren was cast to play the Queen rather than you?

Scott Thompson: I certainly did. Although I thought she did an okay job I didn't think she looked as much like her as I did. Interesting story. Last night I had a dream where I was in Buckingham Palace and I got lost and came across Madonna pretending to be the Queen. Naturally I hid in Prince Phillips private chambers and then was discovered by the Duke of Gloucester and I woke up with a cold.

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Carpooling in Washington, D.C.: Scott - It was great to see you in a recurring role on Carpoolers as the leader of the "mean" carpool group. Has the show been picked up for another season?

Scott Thompson: I don't think so but you never know. I would love to because I loved being mean.

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BC: Does "Buddy" go into the audience? Oh, and we're going to miss seeing Craig play this time around.

Scott Thompson: No. I miss Craig too.

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Salem, Oregon:

How has the group's artistic aesthetic changed since the show?

Scott Thompson: Not one bit. The only real change has been that the aesthetic has been let out a few inches.

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Galena, MD: I frequently find "Running F---" stuck in my head for hours/days on end. This is a blessing and curse - a blessing because you were so rad in that skit, a curse because sometimes I find myself singing it aloud (and laughing) without noticing. Not everyone is necessarily aware that it is completely benign behavior. My (queercore) bandmates want to name the band after the sketch. Can you offer any alternative name that might not cause tears from the poor queers not as familiar with the KITH oeuvre as they should be?

Scott Thompson: yes, how about Strolling Homosexual Gentlemen Stopping Occassionally to Ice his Aging Knees and Rehydrating to Stave off Heat Stroke. As a sidenote what the hell is wrong with your 'queercore' friends not being familiar with the sketch. Tell them to turn off Kathy Griffin for a minute and turn on the Kids.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: When did you decide you wanted to go into acting and performing comedy? Were you a class clown in school?

Scott Thompson: yes I was but I never dreamed that I could make a living at it until I spent a year overseas in the Phillipines and had some time by myself away from my large family to think about my future.

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San Francisco, Calif.: Hi Scott, do you have any plans to tour Scottastrophe?

Scott Thompson: Yes. Any ideas?

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New York, N.Y.: I've really enjoyed reading the Buddy Cole blog you set up, especially the beautiful artwork you produced for it. Is there any chance of a revival of that project, after all the tour madness dies down?

Scott Thompson: Yes. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It was a remarkable year and frankly saved my ass. Before I started to blog I was about to give up show business but I thought I would give it one more chance and so started hollering in character into the Internet wilderness like I'd done years ago with my original site Scottland and when people started to respond it gave me hope. I am pleased you loved the artwork. I hope to do a show or a book one day. Thanks for responding.

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I (heart) Buddy : I read your brief interview in the Post Express yesterday - and agree wholeheartedly with your comments that gay characters in film and TV tend to only serve as supporting roles for the lives and goals of other characters. Thanks for creating Buddy (who shares the stage with no one!) and for raising awareness for the lack of roles for central gay characters.

Scott Thompson: Buddy does kick ass doesn't he. He is no supporting character. It's his story and he doesn't care what women wear or where you put the couch.

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Salem, Ore.: What about is it about your group dynamic that benefits the show and what about it holds it back?

Scott Thompson: Love benefits us and Jealousy holds us back. Bruce just leaned in and said, "Hey I said that first" and "Kevin just popped by and said "Can I get you a pop". See how it works out.

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Tavietown, N.Y.: Hi Scott,

Any plans to resurrect your old website, Scottland? It was one of the first sites I ever visited on the web, back in 1996.

Scott Thompson: Yes there is. I am so proud of that site I can't tell you. I just wish we (my brother Craig and cousin Mark) weren't so naive about the limitations of the Web. One day people will know what we did and today on the fifteenth anniversary of the Web I just want to say, "Where's our posthumous Webbie?"

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Philadelphia, Pa.: The Internet, which we all know contains only the truth, hints that you had some difficulty at York College. Would you please provide us with the explanation as to what happened that may have led the administrators to suggest you seek another direction in your life (a direction we fans, incidentally, are glad you chose.)

Scott Thompson: I was told that I should seek employment in another field and kicked out of my performing program going into my final year so I finished in English. My parting words to my teachers after I locked the door and refused to let them leave was "I'll be the most famous non graduate you ever held back." Of course now I shudder at my anger but i guess that's what being a kid is all about or at least some of it. Listen to your heart, that's my advice.

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New York, N.Y.: What TV shows on DVD did you guys end up watching on the tour bus? What show are you into now? Did you ever check out "Shameless"?

Scott Thompson: The Stanley Cup Playoffs\Doctor Who/Torchwood/Battlestar Galactica/Lost/Human Giant Flght of the Concords/The colbert Report/

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Columbus, Ohio: Hi, Scott! Really enjoyed the show when you came through town last month. What's the strangest or most exciting thing that's happened to you on tour?

Scott Thompson: I went with a couple to their house in the sticks to watch Battlestar Galactica. That was great except they shared it with a vicious albino chihuahua, two cats, one of them part Cougar and six huge boa constictors. I still smell those damn snakes.

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Taneytown, Md.: Whenever I saw you on the show, I always thought of a kid I grew up with named Scott Thompson. He was a bully when we were little - he made me cry one time - but as we got older he got cooler and we became friends. Should I infer anything significant from this?

Scott Thompson: No.

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Tavie, N.Y.: So if the guys are all there how come you're the only one man enough to go to the web chat? Are you the most internet-savvy Kid?

Scott Thompson: All those things.

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New York, N.Y.: Please tell us a funny joke. Please.

Scott Thompson: I hate jokes.

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Victoria, B.C.: I lost my flying pig KITH cap in NYC last year. Next tour stop, can you pick it up for me? It's at the deli.

If not, what kind of merchandise is there on the tour?

Scott Thompson: Will do.

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Anonymous: "The Larry Sanders Show" was one of the funniest and greatest shows ever. I bought the DVD compilation and hope they put out more. Did you enjoy your experience, and how much different or similar is Garry Shandling to Larry Sanders?

Scott Thompson: It was the second greatest experience of my professional life and the main difference between the two is that the real Garry is kind.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Dave Foley once said in an interview that he was known by Kids fans as "the $&%@-! who broke up the Kids in the Hall." Did his move to NBC's "News Radio" in the '90s adversely affect the group?

Scott Thompson: No it was the *%#+ who broke up the group. Now I know it was all five of us *)$# who did it.

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Washington, D.C: Where are you and the kids going to hang out while you're in our city for your show? Will you take a tour of our landmarks of scandal -- such as the Mayflower? Maudre and Jocelyn could make quite a living in our town!

Scott Thompson: I just heard the news about the Madam killing herself. I don't want to make a joke but Maudre and Jocelyn just want to say, "Legalize prostitution already." I couldn't agree more. May she rest in peace. She is a martyr to the hypocrisy of our puritanical society.

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Tavie, N.Y.: Please tell my coworker to stop asking questions about me and get back to work. How am I supposed to slack off and read webchats if he's not picking up my slack?

Did you ever work in an office?

Scott Thompson: Stop it. My answers are not that interesting. And yes, I did work in a office but only as a security guard which I did for many years before semi-stardom struck. In fact I was stll working as a security guard when we did our special in 89.

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Rochester, N.Y.: I'm looking forward to seeing you in Niagara Falls!

I want to know if you're going to do another movie. I remember reading an interview with Kevin in Buffalo's Artvoice a few years ago and he said he'd love to take on religion, similar to Monty Python's "Life of Brian."

Are there any movie plans in the works? If so, what sort of storylines and topics would you like to tackle?

Scott Thompson: I agreee. What a genius movie. They as well as SCTV are our main influences. By the by it's not religion that gets my goat it's the bastards who've stolen it. And by bastards of course I mean people born out of wedlock because that is a terrible sin.

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Daves I know...: When we were kids my Dad only let us sing Jewish songs on the sabbath, so we changed the lyrics of "these are the Daves I know" song to "these are the Dah-veeds I know" (in hebrew accent) to appease him and sang it non-stop. He got the joke and we thought we were hilarious.

Scott Thompson: Lol.

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Queens, N.Y.: How much awesomer are you than the Carrot-Top Scott Thompson?

Scott Thompson: One gram more.

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Arlington, Va.: Scott,

Thanks for doing this chat. I'm a huge fan of the show. I always found it kind of fascinating that sketches dreamed up by a bunch of guys in Canada who were from another generation could resonate with a kid growing up in rural North Carolina (same thing with Monty Python and others). What do you think it is that makes humor so universal (even the sort-of counter-culture/absurdist stuff that you guys did)?

Scott Thompson: Humour is powerlessness talking to power and that will never go out of style. It is to me the one thing that can unite the world because everyone laughs. In fact right now in Afghanistan some little boy is falling down in laughter because his mother just farted under her burkha nd it puffed up and went "Whuh." When is the UN going to appoint someone as the Ambassador of Humour. By the way, the extra canadian u in Humour is free. Take it and do something funny with it.

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Evanston, Ill.: Does anyone ever mistake you for a member of The State, and if so, how much does it piss you off (on a scale of one to ten)?

Scott Thompson: It's never happened.

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San Francisco, Calif.: Back to Scottastrophe. My idea: come to San Francisco.

Scott Thompson: Book me.

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Houston, Tex.: Which of you has the most trouble accepting compliments? Oh, and how are you doing this FINE Friday?

Scott Thompson: Kevin. I'm Fine thanks for asking.

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Tiverton R.I.: Hey Scott! Nice meeting with you in Boston!

I've always wondered have you all been influenced by the Firesign Theater? Everybody says Python I know but some of the surreality is similar at times tyo the Firesign Theatre.

Python is the Beatles of comedy from Britain

Firesign is the Beatles of comedy from the US and The Kids...well you know where I'm going with this.

The Beatles of Canadian comedy!

It's the truth!

Scott Thompson: Mark is a little but I don't know them very well but I do love firemen which is where I came in.

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Oakton, Va.: Will I recognize you guys if I go?

What shows on TV do you find funny?

And lastly, is SNL funnier now or 15 years ago?

Scott Thompson: Tim and Eric/ Human Giant/ Thirty Rock/ Trailer Park Boys/ Kenny vs. Spenny/ Flight of the Concords/ The Office/ Keeping Up Appearances/ League of Gentlemen/ Black Adder/ Whitest Kids/ \

I can't comment as I haven't watched SNL in a while.

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Tulsa, Okla.: Scott, how do you feel about the new younger fan base you guys are encountering on this tour?

Scott Thompson: Fantabulous. They give me hope for the future. Another thing that gives me hope for the future is the release of Johnny Quest on dvd. I have reconnected with my first love Haji.

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Minneapolis, Minn.: Loved the show here in Minneapolis last weekend. I wish I'd known you were a Battlestar Galactica fan; we'd have invited you over.

Scott Thompson: I am in love with Starbuck. It confuses me. I don't know whether I want to make love to her or be her. Sometimes I think I am her. I can't believe it's going to be over soon.

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Vancouver, Canada: Hey Scott,

What advice do you have to up and coming actors trying to make it in the sketch comedy business?

Scott Thompson: Don't listen to advice. Just listen to your heart and take an aspirin every day to keep it pumping free. Pumping Faggot.

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Anonymous: do you think there is any chance Bruce would marry me? I would ask you but I already know the answer.

Scott Thompson: yes but he already has a wife but I know he's for polygamy.

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Lexington, Kentucky: Who is the most uncomfortable kissing whom?

Scott Thompson: Me kissing Kevin because it's never happened. What's that all about?

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Bruno fan in KY: I believe I scared Kevin in Houston... would you mind to tell him I'm sorry?

When I first found out you guys were going to do new stuff, I can't say I was pleased, but after seeing the show, I think it is the best tour yet! Thanks for changing my mind!

Scott Thompson: Will do. He does tend to startle easily. I think that's partly due to him being one quarter quarter horse.

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Washington, D.C.: Scott: You're a comic genius and I really admire your work. Do you ever get tired of playing popular stock characters -- is repeatedly doing Buddy Cole, for example, tougher than it was years ago? Or is it easier?

Scott Thompson: Thanks. Buddy is easier because now I'm his age.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Dear Scott,

My sense of humor is largely the fault of KITH, and I think you should apologize to all of my friends.

Also, I hope the "Installing a Demon" sketch gets put on YouTube at some point, because it's one of the funniest comedy pieces EVAR.

Scott Thompson: I'm sorry. Of course that's hard to take seriously as canadians apologize for everything. Sorry for the qualifier.

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Victoria, B.C.: Where did the group tape the recent Q&A online? (The one where Mark's answer was he'd punch them in the head)

Scott Thompson: Venus.

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Superior, Wisc.: Hi, Scott,

I saw the show in Minneapolis last weekend. I haven't laughed that hard and for so long in a long time. I had a wonderful time! I just wanted to say thank you for touring. Also, are you guys going to do another project soon, and if so, what?

Scott Thompson: Yes but we don't know what it will be.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Scott!

Thank you so much for the chat and for all the joy you and the other KITH have given me over the years. I really appreciate it and think so highly of you and the others, although Paul Bellini can go suck it (kidding). Years ago I had the pleasure of sitting in the front row and seeing you perform at the DC Improv. I also had the honor of being a prop for one of your jokes as you singled me out to come sit closer as you told a story. As a gay man its given me quite a story over the years to say that Scott Thompson flirted with me (at least in my head)!

On to the question: I'm sad to say I didn't know that you guys were on tour again and will be missing out on the show. Will you be going on tour again in the foreseeable future, or will we have to wait another six years to see your collective brilliance on display? Best wishes to you for a successful tour!

Scott Thompson: Thanks and by thanks I mean everyone as this will be my last response as I have to go take my pre-show enema of organic red mountain dew. It's holistic. I don't know if I flirted with you or not because your question didn't come with a pic but for this chat, let's say I did. I have a tendency to flirt with the front row regardless of gender or orientation. I'm shameless. Goodbye everyone. Soon we will take the stage to rock another town, this one called Niagara Falls. You better watch your back Falls. I' coming for you and your rapids too.

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