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Ask how a professional wrestler - used to knocking people out with body slams rather than one-liners - got the job hosting a comedy search, and Trish Stratus comes out swinging.
"There was this box of cereal and I pulled out this prize, and I was the host," the former WWE blonde bombshell said. "I got to hang out with goofy people, and be goofy with them."
Stratus is the host of CBC Television's new reality series, Second City's Next Comedy Legend. The show - which premieres on Tuesday - crosses the country in search of the next big Canuck funny man or lady.
Among the stops was a visit to Halifax earlier this year, with SCTV alumnus Joe Flaherty, comedian Elvira Kurt, and director Mick Napier looking for some East Coast talent to take part in the last-one laughing series. The Halifax audition airs on Tuesday, July 17.
"Everyone says 'Aren't Canadians funny?' Yeah, we are. I don't know why, but we are really funny people. It's kind of my personality. Even in wrestling I got to be funny - believe it or not - when I turned into a bad guy," Stratus said.
Like many Canadians, she grew up watching SCTV on television, and seeing Second City veterans - John Candy, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy and others - in big-screen films.
"Everyone is so humble. I am like; 'Oh my God, it's Dave Thomas. Oh my God, It's Joe Flaherty.' And, they are just like 'Hey.'"
While she was known for injecting humour between half-nelsons and opponent pins, Stratus has had a comedy career outside the ring. After breaking her thumb in 2004, she took a hiatus from wrestling to study improv at Toronto's Second City.
"I am a huge fan of improv and sketch comedy, and I thought it would help with my wrestling. What we do out there is kind of improv. We go out there, and they give us a beginning and an end and say 'OK, fuel up the crowd.'"
Word got out she was taking classes, and was soon asked to put together a show where she hosted a night of classic sketches and got to debut some of her own comedic creations.
A number of wrestling fans - those diehards who go to every match in Toronto - were sitting in the front row to root her on.
"I kind of got bit by the comedy bug," Stratus said. "I got to know the cast really well, and it became something like a second family with the Second City group."
Last September, she got a call asking her if she was interested in hosting the TV show - a Canadian Idol meets America's Next Top Model.
"I wasn't sure if I was the hosting type, but they said 'We just want you to be like you, and like Tyra Banks on her show. A free for all, go out and find what you want to do.' That sounded like fun."
Stratus says one of the best parts of the job has been getting to meet some hilarious Canadians and banter with the comedic hopefuls.
"I would throw them a curve ball, and if they threw it back to me, even better."
source: hfxnews.ca
"There was this box of cereal and I pulled out this prize, and I was the host," the former WWE blonde bombshell said. "I got to hang out with goofy people, and be goofy with them."
Stratus is the host of CBC Television's new reality series, Second City's Next Comedy Legend. The show - which premieres on Tuesday - crosses the country in search of the next big Canuck funny man or lady.
Among the stops was a visit to Halifax earlier this year, with SCTV alumnus Joe Flaherty, comedian Elvira Kurt, and director Mick Napier looking for some East Coast talent to take part in the last-one laughing series. The Halifax audition airs on Tuesday, July 17.
"Everyone says 'Aren't Canadians funny?' Yeah, we are. I don't know why, but we are really funny people. It's kind of my personality. Even in wrestling I got to be funny - believe it or not - when I turned into a bad guy," Stratus said.
Like many Canadians, she grew up watching SCTV on television, and seeing Second City veterans - John Candy, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy and others - in big-screen films.
"Everyone is so humble. I am like; 'Oh my God, it's Dave Thomas. Oh my God, It's Joe Flaherty.' And, they are just like 'Hey.'"
While she was known for injecting humour between half-nelsons and opponent pins, Stratus has had a comedy career outside the ring. After breaking her thumb in 2004, she took a hiatus from wrestling to study improv at Toronto's Second City.
"I am a huge fan of improv and sketch comedy, and I thought it would help with my wrestling. What we do out there is kind of improv. We go out there, and they give us a beginning and an end and say 'OK, fuel up the crowd.'"
Word got out she was taking classes, and was soon asked to put together a show where she hosted a night of classic sketches and got to debut some of her own comedic creations.
A number of wrestling fans - those diehards who go to every match in Toronto - were sitting in the front row to root her on.
"I kind of got bit by the comedy bug," Stratus said. "I got to know the cast really well, and it became something like a second family with the Second City group."
Last September, she got a call asking her if she was interested in hosting the TV show - a Canadian Idol meets America's Next Top Model.
"I wasn't sure if I was the hosting type, but they said 'We just want you to be like you, and like Tyra Banks on her show. A free for all, go out and find what you want to do.' That sounded like fun."
Stratus says one of the best parts of the job has been getting to meet some hilarious Canadians and banter with the comedic hopefuls.
"I would throw them a curve ball, and if they threw it back to me, even better."
source: hfxnews.ca
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