Western’s humour writing class was in stitches Monday afternoon with a presentation from Canadian comic Brooks Gray. Professor Mark Kearney brought Gray back to campus to provide students with first-hand insight into the world of comedy writing and Canadian television.

Gray is most commonly known for his role as Barry Ciccarelli in Cock’d Gunns. The Gemini awarding-winning rockumentary follows a talentless group of musicians on their quest to become a famous rock band.

CAN YOU SAY BAD ASS? Comedian Brooks Gray (far right) played a member of the fictional band struggling to make it big in the cancelled Canadian series Cock’d Gunns.

The show’s first season earned three Gemini award nominations in 2008 for Best Comedy, Best Ensemble Performance and Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series.

“The chances of us winning, I thought, was really remote,” Gray said.

However, Grey and his cast members walked away with the awards for best writing and best ensemble.

Despite the show’s apparent success, it was not renewed for a second season.

“It’s almost a cliché in Canadian TV — you get awards after your show has been cancelled. It’s a different game here,” Gray said. “I could sit here and bitch about Canadian TV for hours.”

Gray’s experiences in Canadian television are wide-ranging — he has acted, directed, produced and written for several shows. His knowledge allowed him to give Western students insight into the complexity of Canadian media.

“The pie — especially in this country — is really small,” he explained. “No one expects Canadian shows to be a smash. It’s lucky when it happens, like [with] Corner Gas. It’s amazing that show is as popular as it is.”

In an effort to promote Canadian programming, broadcasters are required to provide a certain percentage of Canadian content to receive funding — a sore subject for Gray.

“[The attitude of broadcasters] is to fulfill a mandate rather than cultivate,” he said.

“We have never been able to cultivate an industry that is self-sustaining in the way that the British have been able to or the Australians,” Gray added while giving credit to a small number of exceptions. “Some shows have been able to break through and become culturally relevant such as Corner Gas or Trailer Park Boys, but the examples are few.”

So what does a future in Canadian television hold for Gray?

“I’m currently developing another show with a couple of guys from Cock’d Gunns. We’re developing and writing a pilot,” he divulged. “I’m also writing for an adult-themed puppet show and developing an animated production with an animation company right now. I am busy doing a lot of different kinds of things.”