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22 Minutes of fame?

WHAT: Comedy Night WHO: Glen Foster WHERE: Buffalo Bill’s WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 11 He’s a straight talker. An honest observationist. But don’t let his unassuming demeanor fool you.

WHAT: Comedy Night

WHO: Glen Foster

WHERE: Buffalo Bill’s

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 11

He’s a straight talker. An honest observationist. But don’t let his unassuming demeanor fool you. Beneath his average appearance, beyond his jokes about average Canadians, is a raging comedian who draws anything but average laughs.

Perhaps you don’t recognize the unremarkable and average name, Glen Foster. He’s appeared several times at the renowned Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, been a semi-finalist in the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition, hosted Global TV’s satirical golf show, Get a Grip, performed on A&E’s An Evening at the Improv, and recently starred in his own Comedy Network special.

Still can’t place the face? How about "That Canadian Guy?" Ah, yes, that rings a bell! Isn’t he the guy who loves to poke fun at our government? Who can find something funny about every culture in this mixed up country? Who loves to take shots at our neighbours to the south, who are even more messed up?

"The name, (That Canadian Guy), really came about when I was in England," explains Foster. "I’ve had a Web site for quite some time, glenfoster.com, but in England, it just didn’t seem to be getting through. But when I would come off stage, I would hear, ‘That Canadian guy, he was good.’ And it hit me at that point that people really don’t have that great of an attention span. And unless you’re going to see people a lot, you’re probably only going to see them once and you need something they can hang their hat on. I went home and changed the name of my Web site. From that point, you wouldn’t believe the number of e-mails I got from people saying ‘I couldn’t remember your name, but I remembered That Canadian Guy.’"

His schtick as the critic of all things Canadian had already been developing before the new Web address. Foster was always fond of political and politically correct humour, but his new tag thrust him to the forefront of recognizable Canadian comedians. "My Canada Includes Every Bitching, Whining Province, Aboriginal, Feminist, Minority and Special Interest Group," reads one of the more popular pieces of Foster memorabilia.

And Canadians love it. We have no hesitation laughing at our own short comings, especially when the disparagement is coming from one of our own.

"We like to laugh about ourselves much more than Americans do. The Brits are also very self-effacing," observes Foster. "Americans have commented to me that they can come up here and get away with more jokes than they can at home. We just have a better attitude about it. Actually, I don’t know if it’s attitude or apathy. The whole thing about humour is that it’s a defence. If we’re making jokes about ourselves, maybe it’s because we’re resigned to the fact that we can’t really do anything about it."

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Foster’s site, thatcanadianguy.com, is a testament to his success. Fans love to leave notes for the comedian, and the majority are pretty darn entertaining. Foster’s humour must be contagious, because Internet surfers seem to enjoy replicating his onstage style in their own musings.

"You know, I donna tink dére is a dout dat Glen is de right man for da job! How much more Canadian can you get, Eh? None! None more Canadian! Best of luck Glen. Let's hope we see you every Monday night," writes Jean Krechien.

Just what is Mr. Krechien talking about? Only the latest scandal in the comedy world that could lead to an uprising of That Canadian Guy fans everywhere. The popular CBC comedy, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, announced last spring that it would be losing one of its stars, Rick Mercer. Rumour had it that the program was auditioning comedians across the country as a replacement for Mercer. Foster’s phone, however, remained silent – despite the fact that he had even offered up scripts for past shows. Foster’s fans weren’t oblivious to the fact. Letters started popping up on the Web site saying ‘Mercer is leaving. You’d be perfect!’ Foster saw the opportunity to have a little fun and posed the question on his message board. Hundreds of responses later, a full fledged campaign seems to be under way to add That Canadian Guy to the very Canadian television program. But would Foster actually interested in appearing on the show?

"Yeah, I would," he says frankly. "I think it’s the best show in Canada right now. And I think it’s perfect for what I do. I’ve got an opinion. I’ve got the necessary skills to write. I’ve done it in the past. I’ve done news-type stuff for another show. It’s just something that I think fits my bank quite nicely."

But still, nary a word from Mary Walsh and the gang at Salter Street Films. Foster is the first to admit that perhaps he’s perceived as a little too right wing for the leftist 22 Minutes crew.

"I think the show could use another view. I could really add to the interplay dynamics. Sort of the ‘Jane, you ignorant slut!’ kind of style from Saturday Night Live."

As the date draws closer for the season premiere of the program, executives are still tight-lipped about candidates. News sources speculate that possible replacements might be from within the organization, including 22 Minutes writers, Tim Steeves and Ed MacDonald, or creative producer, Mark Farrell. Ironically, it may be it’s Foster’s stand out and not-so-average persona of That Canadian Guy that keeps the show from adding him to their tight ensemble.

But what does Foster really need with the show anyway? Mercer himself is quoted as saying he doubts the show’s remaining three stars will sign on past the present season. Nothing would tickle Foster’s funny bone more than if he were approached to head up a little competition for the program.

But in the event that 22 Minute producers haven’t yet made their decision, perhaps they should take some simple advice echoed by That Canadian Guy masses: "I don't watch This Hour Has 22 Minutes... but I will if Glen is in the cast! Yeah!"