Cream of Comedy is an annual award show broadcast by The Comedy Network that promotes emerging comedic talent in the early stage of their careers, in which five of Canadian finalists for the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award perform live, and the winner is announced.
The show started in 1996; The Second City generously donated its venue for the event. The fundraiser has raised significant annual contributions to The TSEF since it began. Cream of Comedy is taped before a live audience by The Comedy Network for broadcast TBA. The show was established in the memory of Toronto comedic performer Tim Sims.
The first show in 1996, The Award announcement by TSEF Founder Lindsay Leese. And the Award Winner also received the opportunity to write and star in a comedy short produced and aired by The Comedy Network. The show was hosted by Patrick McKenna. The standup comedy:- Ron James, Jay Sankey, Harry Doupe.
1997 In 1997 the show was hosted Bruce Hunter, The Sketch Comedy; The second City, from the show "Last Tango on Lombard" featuring Marc Hickox, Jennifer Irwin, Melody Johnson, Bob Martin, Jack Mosshammer, Jerry Minor, and Angela Shelton. The second City National Touring Company, Mary Pat Farell, Doug Morency, Lee Smart, Gina Sorell, Chris Ward, Jennifer Whalen, and Jim Clayton perform from their show "send in the Clobes".
1998 The show was hosted by Eric Tunney and the nominees; Dawn Whitwell, Tracy Dawson, Gord Disley, Gavin Stephens, Gavin Crawford.
1999 The show was hosted by Sean M. Culen, with his "musicky guy" Dylan Goodhue. The nominees included; Fraser Young, Dave Tomlinson, Craig Lauzon, Jessica Holmes, Nugmutter.
2000 The show was hosted by Brent Butt and the nominees that year included; Aurora Browne, Sam Easton, Laurie Ellott, The Goatee Boys and Darryl Purvis.
2001 The show was hosted Collin Mochrie, and the nominees that year included; Ryan Belleville, Andy Boorman, Debra DiGiovanni, Levi McDougall and Lex Vaughn.
2002 In the year 2002 the show was hosted by, Patrick McKenna, and the Nominees; Rachel Cantelon, Linda Ellis, Brad Hart, Kelvin Herod and Tim Polley.
2003 In 2003 the cream of Comedy show was hosted by Dan Redican, and the Nominees were, Marty Adams, The Gurg, Calcu-Lator and The Oral Presentation, Mae Martin, Ron Sparks.
2004 In the Year 2004 the show was hosted by Elvira Kurt and the Nominees were; Darrin Rows, Iron Cobra, Katie Crown, Knock Knock who's There? Comedy!, Mike Balazo.
2005 The show was hosted by Jon Dore, and the Nominees were; Bob Kerr, Mack Lawrenz, Jeff McEnerey, Kathleen Phillips, Pat Thornton.
2006 The show was hosted by Gavin Crawford and Aurora Browne and the Nominees were; Rebecca Addelman, Black Roses, Nathen Fleider, Andrew Johnston, Desiree Lavoy.
The show features comedy performance by five outstanding jury selected Tim Sims award nominees.
The event is a training ground for relatively young comics. The show gives them a chance not only to expose their wit but also to win the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award.
Four people donated money to begin the Tim Sims encouragement fund and is sponsored by The second city.
Past winners have included Levi Macdougal, Nathan Fielder, and Fraser Young.Five outstanding finalists, out of twenty-one comedic contestants, will be chosen by a jury to perform in the second round (Cream of Comedy), and will have fifteen minutes to prove that they are worthy of winning $5,000.00 and a scholarship to the Toronto Second City training Centre.
The event is a training ground for promising comedians.
The jury will keep the winner's name strictly confidential until the winner is announced on The Cream of Comedy and presented with the Tim Sims award.
In 2014 the show wasscheduled for Monday, 27 October, from 8 pm. The tickets were sold for $20. The show was scheduled to be hosted by 2005 Cream of Comedy winner Jeff McEnery (just for laugh, comedy now). The 2014 Tim Sims Award Nominees: Sam Burns, Caitlin Langelier, Moist Theatre, Brendan Pinto, and Jeremy Woodcock.
Last year the choices will be from, four stand-ups and one sketch duo; Brandon Ash Mohammed, Diana Bailey, Franco Nguyen, Nigel Grinstead, and Sketch Troupe The Weaker Vessels. Diana Bailey is going to be the hard to beat. She's young (twenty-three years old), talented, confidence, and good work ethic. And she has had the opportunity to host the uber-popular Fan Fiction. The comics makes fun of themselves and various other parts of life in delightful ways, any awkward moments were strategic, and laughter was loud.