Carla Collins: Canada’s Answer to Tina Fey?

Canada

Carla Collins: Canada’s Answer to Tina Fey?

Wed., Apr. 1, 2009 9:00 AM PDT by Sofi Papamarko

Lone Eagle Entertainment

To call Carla Collins a firecracker would be an understatement.

Loud, brash, beautiful, razor-sharp and wildly funny, the former host of Entertainment Now has what some might call “it”. She has so much of “it”, in fact, that the Great White North could no longer contain her.

The actress and comedian eventually got tired of interviewing celebrities and decided to become one herself. She relocated from Toronto, Ontario to Los Angeles, California in the hopes of making it. Her new show, Carlawood, is a mock-umentary that pokes fun at her adventures in the Golden State. But the show sets itself apart from others of its ilk by having “a lot of heart”.

“It’s very light,” says Collins. “It’s not mean. You’re not watching some exploitation train wreck. It’s a feel-good show. I’m about as deep as a lunch tray. The show’s not that much deeper. But I think it’s kind of a great show for these times.”

“Comics shouldn’t leave a rape kit behind,” she continues. “You know, ‘I’m going to come after you and you!’ It doesn’t work for me…I’m a big fan of dark humour but comedy should elevate. Not to sound too altruistic but it’s just that simple of an equation: you want to walk out feeling better than when you came in…I don’t think (cruel humour) gels with the times right now. We have enough stuff going on.”

South of the border, female comics have been getting their due. Canada has always been a huge exporter of comedians (see: Dan Aykroyd, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Russell Peters), but where are our mainstream female comics? Where is Canada’s Tina Fey?

“Right here, baby!” exclaims Collins. “It’s going big! It’s going wide! This shit’s gonna go viral! I’m going to be the one. I will step into that vacant role.”

Collins would really appreciate it if you tuned into her show.

“You will win money directly after watching it,” she deadpans. “If enough people watch Carlawood, the recession will turn around. That’s right, quote me. I will personally come and give you a back massage.”

Carlawood premieres on TVtropolis on April 19th.