by NAOMI BLOCH

TV viewers’ favourite everyman for years on the popular British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Colin Mochrie is in the unusual position of being recognized here more for his role on Canadian TV than from his regular spot on the American version of Whose Line. The Vancouver-based improv veteran replaced Rick Mercer on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and though his character Max Pointy—an uncanny send-up of Rex Murphy—became a minor hit, it was his “Apology to America” last spring that seemed to win audiences over, when he offered Canada’s apologies for insulting the Americans’ moronic president and torching the White House in 1812, among other things. The Mirror caught up with Mochrie to chat about culture clashes and the art of improv.

Mirror: Did you ever get any American feedback about your “Apology to America”?

Colin Mochrie: Yeah, it hit the Internet pretty quickly. I started getting some strange e-mails from people, with some really interesting swear words I’d never heard before. I have to say, the majority of Americans who read it found it funny. But there were a few who took it like I was coming out against America, rather than as a comic take on what Canadians feel. I mean, I don’t think it was anything worse than the kind of things Saturday Night Live or The Daily Show do.

M: Do you think maybe some of your American fans felt betrayed?

CM: Oh boy, yeah. I mean, I have many American friends, but sometimes when they get together as a group they’re unbearable. We were doing a Whose Line episode once, and the audience suggestion was “What’s great about living in Canada.” So two of the American improvisers were doing their Bob and Doug McKenzie thing, and the audience thought it was hilarious. Then I got up and said, “Oh, thank God, there are no Americans here.” For some reason the audience suddenly lost their sense of humour. They were booing. And I thought, “Oh I see, it’s okay for you to make fun of other countries.” But they’ve got no sense of humour about themselves.

M: The whole token Canadian thing never seems to be directed towards [fellow improviser] Ryan Stiles on Whose Line.

CM: Well, he grew up in Vancouver but was born in Seattle, so he kind of passes when he wants to. But actually, Greg Proops, who’s from San Francisco, he’s the closest thing to a Canadian. He loves Canada. He’s very knowledgable about the politics—he knows the name of our prime minister and everything, and he has the most Canadian sensibility.

Brit wit

M: On the British version, Greg seemed like the bridge between the American improvisers and the English cast.

CM: Yeah, he’s pretty unique in that he’s one of those Americans who, when he goes to another country, loves the fact that it’s different from his own country. And he really soaks up the atmosphere. One of the great things about working in England was that we got the chance to become really good friends with the British improvisers there, who showed us a whole different style of improvising. And they are just so brilliant. They have such a way with words, and such a comfort zone with the audience.

M: It always seemed they could mix up the sex and kaka humour with the high-brow pretty seamlessly.

CM: Oh yeah, they can go from Benny Hill to Noel Coward in two lines. It’s amazing.

M: So did English audience suggestions ever leave you guys stumped—like, “Do some restoration comedy in the style of the East Enders”?

CM: Well, when they did stuff like that, we found that we really couldn’t lose. The further off the mark we were, the funnier it was, and if we did know what the reference was and did it well, they were shocked that we got it and liked us even more.

M: By the same token, do you think your American comrades might be stumped by local references when you come to Montreal?

CM: Usually, when we get to a place, a little research goes in. People love to throw in local references so the audiences will love them more. There’s always this little contest going on between to see who can get the most references in and become the most beloved in the shortest amount of time. I’m fine, of course, ’cuz I’m Canadian. I know our loonie and our toonie. They still can’t get their heads around our coins.

Catch Mochrie, Proops et al. at the Just for Laughs Improv All Stars show, at the Monument-National (1182 St-Laurent); July 15–17 & 20, 7pm; July 18–19, 7pm & 9:30pm; $34.50+