Montreal: There’s some funny business going on between Canadian broadcasters and comics, and it’s pulling in big ratings for domestic networks.

Comics looking to leave the road and follow Rick Mercer and Brent Butt onto network schedules gave it their best with seven-minute sets at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal last month, hoping to land development deals.

And, as broadcasters are increasing their production spending to boost domestic ratings, some came away with gigs for their gags.

The CBC announced an upcoming primetime series for comic Jeremy Hotz, to be called My Life and a Movie and produced by Howard Busgang (The Tournament), and CTV’s sister channel The Comedy Network finalized plans for Insight Productions’ The John Dore Show, starring the Canadian Idol correspondent.

The path to primetime for comics often starts at Just For Laughs, where network’s gauge their TV potential. The big test is: can they raise the roof beams in Montreal on the Just For Laughs main stage, in front of expectant audiences and Los Angeles talent scouts?

‘This is the place we see Canadian comics taking a real shot,’ says Anton Leo, the creative head of English-language comedy at the CBC.

Based on Just For Laughs performances, comics can land appearances on network shows including CBC’s Comics, CTV’s Comedy Inc. or Comedy’s Comedy Now – vehicles that allow network executives to showcase Can-coms and measure whether they can eventually carry a TV special or series.

‘We want to know whether they have what it takes to have a career with longevity,’ says Brent Haynes, director of programming at Comedy.

Haynes was on hand to award Hamilton, ON-based comic Kyle Radke a short film deal on Comedy after he beat out eight other comics to win the annual homegrown comic competition at Just For Laughs.

Driving the increased development and holding deals handed out by Canadian broadcasters is a healthy competition between CBC and CTV for comic talent.

The networks have their stalwarts: Mercer at the CBC, Butt of Corner Gas at CTV, and even Mike Bullard during his short stint at Global Television after parting ways with CTV.

But their success and that of The Trailer Park Boys on Showcase has young comics looking to make a name on Canadian TV, rather than slog away in Los Angeles or New York.

The result – CBC and CTV are creating more restricted free agents by getting comic talent into holding deals for a possible series down the road.

An example is Jennifer Robinson, a veteran writer and regular on several shows, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Comedy Inc.

Now Robinson has a holding deal with CTV, leading to appearances on eTalk Daily and other CTV shows, while restricting her options on other Canadian networks.

‘It’s not that I’m grounded. I can appear on other shows, but I do have to favor CTV,’ she says.

St. John’s, NF-based comic Mark Bennett, who performed at Just For Laughs and pitched a comedy pilot, Hostel House, while at the festival, says Canadian networks are embracing edgy, innovative comedy while U.S. networks still eye reality shows.

‘I find Canada focusing on providing quality shows, while in the U.S. they’re still riding the reality wave, even though it’s ebbing away,’ Bennett says. *

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