October 12, 2009
[Toronto, Ontario] "A comedy institution has successfully tossed itself into the fray here in Toronto for the last 3 years, " writes Dini Dimakos. "Amongst the offerings of conventional comedy clubs like Yuk Yuk’s and Absolute Comedy who often pander to the young college-aged male demographic, one show has risen above; a proverbial comedic erection, if you will. The show is Bitch Salad, helmed by host, patriarch, and the fabulously innovative comedian Andrew Johnston. A vehicle designed not only for Johnston for himself by himself, but also for female stand-up talent in this country. Johnston has effectively stationed his show in Toronto's ‘gay’bourhood at Buddies in Bad Times theatre, and it’s a sell-out every week. I had the opportunity to sit down with my shockingly outspoken cohort on Much Music’s hit shows Love Court and Video on Trial. Perhaps best described as a pop-culture authority, Johnston discussed his latest contribution, Bitch Salad: Black to School, the first ever, much anticipated all-black, all-female comedy showcase in Canada. Here’s what the mischievously handsome, tall glass of sparkling water had to say."
Dini Dimakos: Right now you’re doing great here, you’re on two hit Much Music shows, and you seem to get away with a lot of risqué jokes on Love Court and Video on Trial, why do you think that is? And, how do you suspect the viewing public perceives you?
Andrew Johnston: That’s for real. I don’t know. I’m surprised a lot of the time, quite frankly. I think I’ve said some pretty crazy things that I’m amazed have made air during daytime hours. Honestly, I think it’s because there have been some really quality predecessors to me, Canadian gay comedians like Tommy Sexton, Scott Thompson, Gavin Crawford and Trevor Boris who put themselves out there and made really great, accessible examples that by the time that I was able to hustle my way onto TV, I was just old news. I mean, I just very recently told a male dater on ‘Love Court’ that he had a “standing invitation to sit on my face” and no one batted an eye. Clearly, some ground work had been laid before I came along...
Dini Dimakos: Lucky guy, that’s a great invitation! Do you find that men just want to sleep with you because you're on TV?
Andrew Johnston: Ha! No. Well, hardly. The majority of lovers that I take have no idea who I am. Which is either a very good thing or a very bad thing.
Dini Dimakos: I would say that’s a good thing considering some of the people you’ve slept with! Kidding. What is the next step for Bitch Salad the show, and brand?
Andrew Johnston: I don’t know. I’m just really focused on the next show. As I said, this business isn’t an overnight thing, it takes time, I’m reasonably patient. When it needs to go to the next step, it will. I started it knowing that it was going to be ‘the thing that I did and would be known for’. I didn’t start it thinking that it was a means to an end. I’d love to tour it at some point. Inevitably, I’d love for it to work its way into a late-night talk show format. We’ll see where it goes!
Read more at Examiner
