The Panic Manual

Deadpan Powerpoint: (l to r) Ted Sutton and Mike Kiss

Here is all you need to know about Deadpan Powerpoint, they are funny and they are a hot ticket. I caught their show at last years sketch fest, THE KEYS TO INVINCIBILITY IN VERBAL ARGUMENTATION, where the two of them lectured the audience for an hour, using, of course, a powerpoint presentation, on how to win an arguement. It was pretty awesome. They are back at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival this year with a new lecture, about something. I asked one half of Deadpan Powerpoint, Mike Kiss, some questions. Here are the answers.

How would you describe a Deadpan Powerpoint show to somebody that doesn’t get out to see a lot of sketch comedy?
Two emotionless guys in suits, who pretend to be authorities on ridiculous topics, deliver lectures using powerpoint. Honestly, Deadpan Powerpoint is more descriptive than our own names. We’re a verbose, well-written comedy act, influenced by Steve Allen, Bob and Ray, and Fry and Laurie. We rely very heavily on our writing, and have a minimalist performance style. So, come see us if you want to laugh and don’t want to be yelled at, see a guy’s wang, or sit through a pile of 80’s references. We just make one.

How did the opportunity to perform at Just For Laughs Toronto come about?
JFL scouted us during the 2008 Toronto Sketchfest because they were familiar with our previous act, The Somethingorothers, and probably because they were scouting everyone. We performed at the Rivoli’s SHOWGAME a few months later, and did very well. I never really say that sort of thing, but we really had a great response. They asked us to keep them updated with what we were doing. We didn’t. And then they invited us to perform. So, the secret is to just wait until someone offers you the chance to do something you’ve always wanted to do, then make a fuss over how few comps are available for the gala shows.

What have you learned from your previous comedic failures that you can apply to your Deadpan Powerpoint shows. The Somethingorothers were a failure right?
A spectacular failure. In the end, we had to just walk away from our $428,000 debt and several hurricane-damaged properties. But we ruined a lot of lives, so it wasn’t all a waste. Like, a lot of lives. I think what we’ve learned is that our act is just going to fail sometimes. We’ve always stayed away from wacky jumping around, and some crowds like that. We just have to do what we like, and trust it.

Do you want some pie?
Pie? Sure, I’ll have some pie. Thanks, Wade!

You can catch Deadpan Powerpoint at the sketch fest on:

Thursday, Nov 12th – 7:PM
The Comedy Bar
with Fully Insured and Statutory Jape

Friday, Nov 13th – 7:PM
Theatre Passe Muraille
with Falcon Powder and New Exc!tement

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