Review: Tony Ho, CBC Podcasts

Tony Ho has remained a staple of Toronto comedy for over a decade. With their macabre sensibilities and sharp writing, this sketch troupe featuring Miguel Rivas, Roger Bainbridge and Adam Niebergall never ceases to deliver an original and enjoyable experience. Their most recent sketch comedy CBC Podcast, Season 1: Residuals is no different.

What starts as traditional comedic scenes with dark twists (Divorce, Guided Meditation) soon distorts into delightfully sardonic conceptual pieces (Opera, Papa), flexing the absurdity this group is capable of delivering. Each episode is perfectly placed, progressively pulling you into their grim, fantastical world. The stand out of this season is the episode Podcast. It’s spot on with its satirization of mainstream podcasting, and its exploration of unexamined family dynamics encapsulates everything that makes Tony Ho so special.

Residuals started as an album, and the transition to a podcast has lessened the overall experience, with ad breaks lasting longer than some episode run times. Also, while undeniably skilled comedic writers, Tony Ho represents a specific flavour of comedy that is not for everyone. But they’re a refreshing addition to the CBC Podcast family. 

Overall, this is a great entry point to the experience that is Tony Ho. Season one, Residuals, is available now, with the second season currently in development.

Season 1 of the Tony Ho CBC Podcast launched July 22, 2020.
Listen to it here.