The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Comedy›The Kids in the Hall
Entertainment • Comedy

The Kids in the Hall

The Kids in the Hall are a Canadian sketch comedy troupe formed in 1984 in Calgary and Toronto.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Kids in the Hall are a Canadian sketch comedy troupe formed in 1984 in Calgary and Toronto. The group’s television series aired from 1988 to 1995, with later reunion projects including *Death Comes to Town* in 2010 and a revival season in 2022.

History

The troupe formed in 1984 in Calgary and Toronto, drawing members from separate comedy groups. The five core performers were Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. It became one of Canada’s best-known sketch-comedy acts and later expanded into film, touring, and revival television projects.

Television series

The original *The Kids in the Hall* series ran from 1988 to 1995. It aired on CBC in Canada, with U.S. broadcast history that included HBO and CBS.

Style and characters

The group became known for playing most of its characters itself, including many cross-gender roles. Their comedy is often described as dark, absurd, and surreal.

Later projects

After the original series ended, the troupe returned for *Brain Candy* in 1996, later reunited for *Death Comes to Town* in 2010, and launched a revival season in 2022. The revival season premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 13, 2022.

Key facts

  • The troupe formed in 1984 and became known for surreal sketch comedy.
  • Its original television series aired on CBC in Canada and also on HBO and CBS in the United States.
  • The five core performers were Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson.
  • The troupe released a feature film, *Brain Candy*, in 1996.
  • A revival season premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 13, 2022.
🍁
Canadian context

The troupe is a major part of Canadian comedy history, originating in Calgary and Toronto and debuting on CBC.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Kids in the Hall?
A Canadian sketch comedy troupe and television franchise built around five core performers.
Who were the members?
Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson.
When did the group form?
In 1984.
When did the TV series originally air?
The original series aired from 1988 to 1995.
Did the troupe make a film?
Yes. *Brain Candy* was released in 1996.
Did The Kids in the Hall return in the 2020s?
Yes. A revival season premiered on May 13, 2022.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kids_in_the_Hall
    Supports: formation date, members, original series dates, film, reunion projects, revival season
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kids_in_the_Hall_(TV_series)
    Supports: television series dates, CBC/HBO/CBS broadcast history, troupe members
  3. Museum of Broadcast Communications — https://www.museum.tv/tv-encyclopedia-9-1/kids-in-the-hall
    Supports: formation background, members, CBC broadcast context
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_kids_in_the_hall
    Supports: series description, genre, original network, original release date
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11921588/
    Supports: 2022 revival season, release date
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096626/
    Supports: series identity, country of origin, genre
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Kids_in_the_Hall_episodes
    Supports: revival season premiere date