Matt Alden, senior writer for Caution: May Contain Nuts, is looking for a tux.
The St. Albert writer/actor/improviser just revealed that the sketch comedy TV series was nominated for an award at the Banff World Media Awards. “Getting a nomination for the season two finale on the same day you finish the script of season three? I’d say ‘winning’ but it’s been overused a lot,” he says.
The episode was titled Blow’d Up Zombie with special guest Joe Flaherty playing the dual role of Osama bin Laden and a bomb maniac that even terrorists don’t want to work with.
The icing on the cake was an additional four nominations from Alberta Media Production Industries Association where the madcap sketch comedy is nominated in Best Dramatic Series, Under 30, Best Screenwriter Drama Under 30, Best Makeup and Best Costume.
“We’ve got the right characters, the right comedy, the right sense of humour and the right songs. People love the content,” adds Alden.
Applauded for skewering society’s sacred cows, the cast consists of Alden, Dana Andersen, AimĂ©e Beaudoin, Sheldon Elter, Jeff Halaby, Mark Meer, Howie Miller and Ryan Parker.
For executive producer Camille Beaudoin, an Ecole St. Marguerite d’Youville graduate, the Banff accolade really speaks to the quality of Mosaic Productions’ successful cult hit now showing on APTN and Bite TV.
“There were 900 entries from around the world in 40 categories. We really have a great comedy team and a great production crew. Everyone goes the extra mile and it shows,” Beaudoin says.
Other high profile shows also nominated at the Banff event are Grey’s Anatomy, The MTV Video Music Awards, Hung and Pillars of the Earth.
While a good script is the genesis of an act, she lauds the actors’ skills for delivering the right touch. “Comedy is by far the most difficult medium to write for. People dismiss it as being light, but it’s way harder to write. It takes real skill to write comedic stuff that connects with an audience.”
When the director yells ‘action’ for the season three launch later this month, the creators will be adding a camera backstage to capture extra footage. “Some of the funniest stuff was happening backstage and we were missing it,” explains Alden.
The Banff World Media Awards run June 12 to 15.
For Nuts TV times, check local listings.
