Canadian comedian and Hollywood star Mike Myers on Sunday night paid tribute to his native Canada for opening the way for his classic roles as Wayne Campbell, Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and Shrek.
“I just want to say, ‘Canada, I don’t know what to say, buddy. I’d be nothing without you,'” said Myers, who last year led an “elbows up” moment in Canada after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada, as he accepted the Icon Award at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto.
“I wrote a whole speech about how much I love Canada, but I think some of you are tired of hearing that at this point,” Myers added, before getting emotional as he thanked his parents “for moving to Canada and emphasizing the importance of being silly.” And also on Sunday night, hot competition, Gay hockey series have dominated the TV series competition.
Crave and the hit HBO Max drama series took home awards for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Television Drama Performance for Hudson Williams, an audience award voted on by ordinary Canadians, while Sophie Nélisse, who plays Williams’ girlfriend in hot competition, It received the Radius Award.
“If I could cut this award down the middle, I would, because if these eager gays didn’t have a little sexy Russian to feed on, I wouldn’t do so well. So, to honorary Canadian Connor Storey, I share this award with you,” Williams said when accepting his award. Hot competition Co-star Storrie, because he is American, was not eligible to compete in the Best Television Drama category alongside Williams because the Canadian Film and Television Academy only allows Canadian citizens like Williams or permanent residents to compete in the country’s film and television awards.
Hot competition based on Rachel Reid Game changing book The series follows the exciting romance between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, hockey players who played in the Canadian television drama written by Williams and Storey, respectively. “We can’t believe the way the audience has responded to this show. We are so grateful.” Hot competition said TV series creator Jacob Tierney as he accepted the Audience Award at the Toronto ceremony.
The award for Best Television Comedy went to north north, The original comedy is now headed to a second season on CBC and Netflix. “This show is very personal to us. It reflects our community, our families, and our lives in the Arctic,” said Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, co-creator of the Inuk comedy series with Stacy Aglock MacDonald, in accepting the CSA award. The award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Comedy Series went to Anna Lambe for her star turn North North.
In accepting the honor, Lambie praised the creators of Inuk Comedy, Agluk MacDonald and Arnaquq Baril, for “the way you represent our communities, the way you have shown that Inuit do not just exist in a historical context, that we are real, that we are here, and that we are thriving and beautiful communities.”
In terms of cinema, the award for best cinematic film went to the satirical documentary Nirvana band movie presentationa film by director Matt Johnson about two Toronto musicians who go to great lengths to record a gig at a local club. The feature also earned Jay McCarroll an award for Best Performance in a Leading Motion Picture Comedy Role.
Director Johnson, in accepting the Best Picture award, appeared to criticize French-speaking Quebecois directors for their traditional dominance of the CSA’s film categories through a block vote in Montreal: “I’ll start with a piece of advice for Quebecers. You guys have to stop nominating so many people in these categories, you’ll always be ruined if you keep doing that. You should send one, okay?”
RT Thorne 40 acresThe post-apocalyptic thriller starring Daniel Deadwyler lost out in the best picture competition to Johnson’s mockumentary after dominating the pre-television awards in the film categories with nine awards. Grace Glowicki won the award for Best Leading Role in a Motion Picture – Drama for her performance in the gothic horror thriller Honey bouquetfrom directors Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli.
In other awards, Filipino-Canadian broadcaster Hazel Mae received the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism. Also Sunday night, Eugene Levy paid tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, who co-starred with him as part of the SCTV ensemble and more recently in Schitt’s Creek Sitcom and Seth Rogen studio Comedy’s take on Hollywood.
“For me, she was the one person I spent the most time working with over our 50-year career, and that’s something I’m proud to be able to say,” Levy said of the two-time Emmy Award winner and fellow Canadian comedy legend.
