Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409140026
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB THOMAS ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
His reason: He's Canadian.
"I'm a Canadian actor," he declares. "We're a little closer to the British actors than the American actors. The happiest career I always have is when I can play three different mediums.
"Last year, I did a Broadway show, `The Goodbye Girl.' Now, I'm doing a television show. Next January, I'll do a film, `Father of the Bride II.' Next year, I'll do another play."
But wouldn't he want the TV show to go another year? Oops, he hadn't thought about that.
"The Martin Short Show" gets a preview on NBC on Thursday (at 8:30 p.m. on WSLS-Channel 10), then slips into its regular Tuesday time slot at 8:30 on Sept. 20. Judging from a sampler of varied sketches, Short seems able to display his uniquely Canadian blend of comedy.
Why does it seem Canadian? Because it bears no relationship to the vaudeville-borscht belt style that dominated American comedy for two generations, nor the angst-ridden rantings of today's standups. Short plays himself, sort of - a top comic with a regular TV show.
That allows him to display the pointy-head Ed Grimley as well as replicas of Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor (honest) and others. But he also has a home life with his wife (Jan Hooks) and two children.
Short recalled that when he announced to his agents his desire to appear on a TV show, they assumed he meant one for HBO.
"I've done HBO specials, I've done Showtime specials," he said. "I'd done two series in late-night [`SCTV' and `Saturday Night Live'].
"To me, the biggest risk is: Could I bring to prime time my sensibility and be successful? Obviously, I would have to make concessions. On `SCTV,' I could do a seven-minute movie parody playing Montgomery Clift. Or you can do whatever you want on your own special."
A straight sitcom sketch show seemed less adventurous. Then he reached back in time for a fitting formula: "The Jack Benny Show."
"I would play Martin Short, not Martin Williams," he explained. "But I would satirize Hollywood and make fun of myself. At the same time, I could do all the characters I've done, and new ones, and have guest stars.
"Benny could be funny if he was at home with Mary. Or if he was with Bob Hope, the show was mainly in the variety form. So the idea isn't new at all. It gives me the best of both worlds."
Short was born in Hamilton, Ontario, 44 years ago, son of a steel company executive father and a violinist mother. At McMaster University in Toronto, he met Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, his future "SCTV" partners.
Short's versatility started in those Canadian days.
"You'd do Shakespeare on radio for CBC during the day," he said. "Then you go from there to do a Diet Pepsi commercial. Then you do `The Apple Tree' and cabaret at night. It was never a question of saying no to anything. The main question was: `Do I bring my own suit or do you have a suit provided?'
"There is no star system in Canada. That's why I think Canadian actors have a tendency to do well down here. You've logged so many practical hours."
Along with Lorne Michaels, Dan Aykroyd and others, Short followed the Canadian exodus to "Saturday Night Live," where his Grimley character and Hepburn impression were a sensation. "I would have stayed more than one season if I didn't have to write," he said. "Performing was wonderful. Writing wasn't."
Short joined two other "SN" alumni, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase, in "Three Amigos!" His other films have included "Innerspace," "Three Fugitives," "Undercover," "Clifford" and "Father of the Bride."
He serves as executive producer of "The Martin Short Show" and, again, the writing chores weigh on him:
"Part of the burden of being someone who comes up with strange characters is where do you get the people to write them? Which is not to say that I don't have a strong writing staff. But it kind of has to come from one source.
"I sometimes envy actors who are just actors and have no ability to write. They lead a wonderful life. They can take the whole summer off, show up in August and say, `Where's my script?'''
by CNB