ONSCREEN
What: Air Farce sa国际传媒 150
When/where: CBC television, Saturday, 5 p.m. PST
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A former knife salesman for Victoria department stores has joined the Air Farce comedy troupe.
Toronto-based Chris Wilson 鈥� who was born and raised in Victoria 鈥� makes his debut Saturday on Air Farce sa国际传媒 150, a 60-minute television special. The sa国际传媒 Day show will be re-broadcast Monday.
When he was younger, Wilson worked as a knife-selling pitchman for both the Bay and Zellers in Victoria. He later graduated with a theatre degree from the University of Victoria before becoming a professional comic actor and writer.
鈥淢y parents are very excited about this. I remember watching [Air Farce] with my dad, the New Year鈥檚 Eve special,鈥� said Wilson, who describes his new job as 鈥渁 dream come true鈥�.
The 32-year-old joins another new cast member, Isabel Kanaan. The team is rounded out by founding members Luba Goy and Don Ferguson as well as Craig Lauzon, Emma Hunter, Jessica Holmes and Darryl Hinds.
For Air Farce sa国际传媒 150, filmed before a live audience, Wilson particularly enjoyed acting in a La La Land spoof in which he听sends up Ryan Gosling鈥檚 character.
The special includes guest appearances by astronaut Chris Hadfield, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Lorne Cardinal and Eric Peterson from Corner Gas and Helene Joy from Murdoch Mysteries.
Wilson鈥檚 previous credits include performing and writing in the Peter 鈥榥鈥� Chris comedy duo with Peter Carlone. The pair are both University of Victoria theatre grads.
Peter 鈥榥鈥� Chris have appeared on Just for Laughs, CollegeHumour and are writers for CBC Radio鈥檚 The Irrelevant Show. Wilson has also appeared on The听Comedy Network鈥檚 The Beaverton and CraveTV鈥檚 What Would Sal Do?
Wilson auditioned for Air Farce in mid-April.
鈥淚t was pretty fun. They just sent some scripts from past shows. From there, I just put my听own take, my own spin on things. That was that,鈥� he said.
Air Farce is one of the most popular and enduring comedy troupes in Canadian history. It听began as a sketch comedy company in 1970. From 1973 to听1997 Air Farce had a CBC Radio听series. There was also a weekly TV series than ran 1993 to听2008. Air Farce鈥檚 main focus these days is its annual New Year鈥檚 specials.
The shows are produced by Don Ferguson Productions Ltd. in association with the CBC.
Wilson said he got his audition through his previous affiliation with Don Ferguson Productions. That company previously made a听development deal with Peter 鈥檔鈥櫶鼵hris for a sketch comedy show听which has yet to be made.
Wilson has performed with his long-time comedy partner Carlone since 2008, which they debuted their Peter 鈥檔鈥� Chris act at the Victoria Fringe Festival.
Apparently, Carlone is not jealous of his friend鈥檚 career break.
No, I don鈥檛 think so,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淛ust happy.鈥�