Toque up for new Second City reality show:

Americans are being told to "take off, eh, hosers" when it comes to an upcoming reality show focusing on improv. They won't be allowed in the contest for an art form which started in Chicago!

See the evolution of my comments....

2/18 I don't get this reality contest. First of all, I'll bet it might be limited to Canadians, also the point of improvisation is teamwork and yet this contest appears to be seeking an individual. Legendary status should be earned not conferred.

I like the chair in the banner image, however. Classic.

And for the record, I don't like the mainstage set at Second City that gave up the revolving door, door and window. Call me old fashioned! Musical Director Ruby Streak refers to it in her podcast.

The majority of famous Second City Canadians were best known for their SCTV era as well as being some of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, so the banner image below of 90's era of Mike Meyers looks bad not only because he looks like he is Ralph Cramden, but the photo was stressed to look as old as the rest. Do the math, it's quite a leap in time.

Still don't know for sure but I bet there is a Canadian requirement that doesn't allow anyone else to audition - still seeking confirmation. Otherwise, why are there no U.S. audition sites? And the four step illustration by "Ashley" is "awful," leading people to think that you can win this thing just by lots of practice alone.

Why? Second City originated in Chicago..................Something stinks.....but I"m not bitter.
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MARCH 3 UPDATE: The shadow on their banner image has already been revised to look like Marty Short's Ed Grimley by way of his pre-Something-About-Mary cowlick. Will it change again? The photo for Short on the strip at the bottom is pretty bad, too.
swer. Canadians only. I don't even know if this will air in the U.S.

March 4 UPDATE: "Sketch comedy performers from all over Canada will compete to join the ranks of such legendary Canadian performers as John Candy...." Banner image has changed again, no more shadow.

March 6: Got my answer. I knew it!

-- Chris Allicock wrote: Yes, this is for Canadian residents only. As the show has a Canadian agency funding component this is a mandatory requirement.

Of course, that's the bad news.

The good news is this same "Canadian content" requirement reared it's "ugly" head once before in a way that affected Americans.

When SCTV, which was filmed in Canada, left their Canadian content in their general broadcast for all to see, Americans fell in love with the result --a fake show called "The Great White North" with Bob and Doug McKenzie that, along with the SCTV and it's behind the scenes approach pre-dates both "Wayne's World" and NBC's "30 Rock."

And yes, I actually own an LP of this act. Bob and Doug tickled me at the time. Recently they used these characterizations for a Disney movie "Brother Bear."

Other good news, the unintended result of this Canadian Content rule that starred Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as two brothers was so popular it surely ushered in the way for another Canadian show that was hugely successful on public television and is still celebrated, "The Red Green Show" and all the gang up at Possum Lodge struggling to keep their stick on the ice.

This show featured another comic actor who came from Second City named Patrick McKenna as nephew Harold and Peter Keleghan as Ranger Gord. Dave Thomas appeared as a guest alongside his real brother Ian.

Ironically, and contrary to popular belief, the very talented Thomas has no Second City background or training.