House of Venus Show
Encyclopedia
Created by Canadian filmmaker Mark Kenneth Woods
Mark Kenneth Woods
Mark Kenneth Woods is a Canadian writer, actor, producer and director.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Woods is a prolific media artist, writer and actor who works in film, video and television...

 and co-produced by Michael Venus, the first season of the world's first LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...

 themed sketch comedy TV show started airing on OUTtv
OUTtv
OUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...

 in July 2005. The second season began airing in September, 2006 and, after a hiatus, a third season debuted in July, 2009.

The show also aired on SelecTV/OUTtv
OUTtv
OUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...

 in Australia in 2006. Pink TV in France, Belgium, Switzerland and other territories started airing the first 2 seasons of the show with the alternate title "Le Venus Show" in September, 2006. The show began airing in the Netherlands and the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...

 in April, 2008 on OUTTv. here! network in the USA began airing the show in August, 2008.

Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...

 show blends politics and pop culture with humour and irreverence. The series stars Mark Kenneth Woods, Miss Cotton, Michael Venus, Dickey Doo and includes guest stars The B-52's, Peaches, John Cameron Mitchell, Candis Cayne, Lady Bunny, Amanda Lepore, Lady Miss Kier and others.

Alluvial Filmworks, a division of Village Lighthouse, released "The Complete First Season" on DVD worldwide on November 6, 2007 and "The Complete Second Season" on April 22, 2008. "The Complete Third Season" was released through MKW Productions on May 25, 2010.

Origins

After years of success on the LGBT film festival circuit with his short films, Mark Kenneth Woods decided to expand on some of the characters he had created in these shorts and package it as a sketch comedy/variety show. With the help of co-producer Michael Venus, the duo created a unique show relevant to a LGBT audience made up of a series of short films, live action comedic sketches, live performances and interviews with international talent.

Cast

The show has 4 original cast members that play a variety of popular characters and a number of guest appearances.

Mark Kenneth Woods (Season 1-3)

Miss Cotton (Season 1-3 )

Michael Venus (Season 1-3)

Dickey Doo (Season 1-2)

Guests

To date, the show has had a number of internationally renowned guests appear in interviews and short live action segments. Highlights include:

The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...

 (episode #17)

Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne is an American actress and performance artist.Known in the New York City nightclub scene since the 1990s, Cayne came to national attention in 2007 for portraying transgender mistress Carmelita on ABC's prime time drama Dirty Sexy Money...

 (Episode #9 & #16)

Peaches
Peaches (musician)
Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...

 (Episode #13)

Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore is an American model, nightclub hostess, fashion icon, performance artist, and transgender icon. She has appeared in advertising for numerous companies, including M.A.C. cosmetics, Mego Jeans, The Blonds, Swatch, CAMP Cosmetics, and Heatherette, which has used her likeness on...

 (Episode #4 & #15)

John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is an American writer, actor, and director. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus and Rabbit Hole.- Early life:...

 (Episode #14)

Lady Bunny
Lady Bunny
The Lady Bunny is an American drag queen originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who has lived in New York since the 1980s. She is the founder of the annual Wigstock event and is well-known as a nightclub DJ, promoter and celebrity...

 (Episode #6)

Lady Miss Kier
Lady Miss Kier
Kierin Magenta Kirby , better known by her professional name Lady Miss Kier, is an American singer and DJ.-Personal life:Kirby was born in Youngstown, Ohio and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...

 (Episodes #3 & #12)

Miss Honey Dijon (Episode #10)

Carole Pope
Carole Pope
Carole Pope is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose provocative blend of hard-edged New Wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian famous entertainers in the world...

 (Episode #2)

Johnny Hazzard
Johnny Hazzard
Johnny Hazzard is an American pornographic actor, model, and recording artist who performs in gay and bisexual pornographic films for a number of studios, mainly Rascal Video. Most of these videos are directed by Chi Chi LaRue...

 (Episode #17)

Heloise and the Savoir Faire
Heloise and the Savoir Faire
Heloise and the Savoir Faire are a punk outfit based in Brooklyn, New York. Fronted by Heloise Williams , the band's live lineup was originally composed of Williams singing over a pre-recorded track and was accompanied by the dance stylings of Joe "Juge" Shepard and Sara Sweet Rabidoux...

 (Episode #16)

Larry Tee
Larry Tee
Larry Tee is a New York City-based DJ, club promoter, and music producer who coined the musical genre term Electroclash and helped launch the careers of such artists as RuPaul, Scissor Sisters, Fischerspooner, Peaches, W.I.T., and Avenue D, and has collaborated with Amanda Lepore and Princess...

 (Episode #15)

Season 1

Episode #1

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho face off against "Big Daddy" in their first Adventure, the national news goes wacko and musical guest Stink Mitt drop by for some "camel toe." Includes: "Kitchen Scratchy" "6pm in America" "Pimp & Ho: Adventures in Queersploitation" "Camel Toe" by Stink Mitt

Episode #2

Deb and Sisi shop until they drop on the campiest of home shopping networks, The wackiest show on earth celebrates 10 years in the art of "head," Father McFairy and Tammy Hymn beg for your help and Carole Pope
Carole Pope
Carole Pope is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose provocative blend of hard-edged New Wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian famous entertainers in the world...

 (Rough Trade) drops by for a chat. Includes: "Cotton's Sex Ad" "Carole Pope Interview" "Praise the Marys" "Backroom" by Dixmix feat. Kaytea "Shop Until We All Drop" "Wiggle 10"

Episode #3

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho are back when Dr. Normal tries to rid the world of queers in a James Bond-esque installment and Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite was an American house and club/dance group, formed in New York City, United States. The group's best-known single was "Groove Is in the Heart", from their 1990 debut album, World Clique. However, Deee-Lite achieved longer lasting success on the U.S...

) talks candidly about her post-Deee-Lite career. Includes: "No Flow" "Pimp & Ho: License to Queer" "Lady Miss Kier Interview"

Episode #4

Little Billy wonders why he can't marry George W., Pepe and Vance become Designer Gays, someone let Deb and Sisi back on TV and special guest Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore is an American model, nightclub hostess, fashion icon, performance artist, and transgender icon. She has appeared in advertising for numerous companies, including M.A.C. cosmetics, Mego Jeans, The Blonds, Swatch, CAMP Cosmetics, and Heatherette, which has used her likeness on...

 performs "Champagne" with Cazwell
Cazwell
Luke Caswell , known as Cazwell, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for his explicit lyrics and collaborations with Amanda Lepore...

. Includes: "Designer Gays" "Holy Matrimony Billy!" "Amanda Lepore with Cazwell Performance" "Get it Together Girl"

Episode #5

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho fight the religious right in a gangster inspired installment, Wiggle returns for the craziest in headgear and Miss Guy (Toilet Boys) drops by to chat. Includes: "Public Gender Announcement" "Pimp & Ho: Queer Fashion Crime Models" "Wiggle 11" "Miss Guy Interview"

Episode #6

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho fear for their lives in an ode to horror flicks, the amazing Lady Bunny is in the house to perform and Krueger is on the loose. Includes: "Bunny's Crisis Line" "Bunny's Laugh In #1" "Nightmare on Venus Street" "Pimp & Ho: Terror in Pansy Hills" "Bunny's Laugh In #2" "Lady Bunny Interview"

Season 2

Episode #7

Deb and Sisi return to television a little late for the holidays; the heterosexual lifestyle is scrutinized in a Right-Wing Religious Parody and NYC’s 2004 entertainer of the year Edie drops by. Includes: "CBD: Compulsive Beauty Disorder" "Public Gender Announcement #1" "Holiday Hamper" "Cotton Outro #1" "The Heterosexual Agenda 2005" "Edie Interview"

Episode #8

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho face off against ex-gays comic book-style; we get a look at the real House of Venus in a Behind the Music spoof and Berlin/NYC diva Sherry Vine
Sherry Vine
Sherry Vine, a drag performer who works primarily in New York City and Fire Island, but also around the US and in Europe, is known for her parodies of popular songs. Sherry Vine will also be featured on an upcoming web series entitled "Queens of Drag, NYC."-Songs:Vine performs a wide variety of...

 plays with us. Includes: “Behind The Camera” “Sherry Vine Interview” “Cotton Outro #2” “Pimp & Ho: Sissy Sins” “Public Gender Announcement #2" “Hi Boys” by Cotton feat. Big Stuff”

Episode #9

Deb and Sisi get inadvertently racist on their home shopping network, the 6 O'Clock new is scrutinized, we talk to New York's DJ Marco and the gorgeous Candis Cayne performs. Includes: “Guyphone Commercial” “DJ Marco Interview” “Shop Until We All Drop 2” “Candis Cayne Interview” “Fawks News" “My Heart Belongs To Data”

Episode #10

The Designer Gays do their best to make over a corporate executive, the new girl in school has a hard time making friends in "Linette", the art of head is back in Wiggle 12 and we have a chat with Miss Honey Dijon. Includes: “Linette” “Designer Gays: Makeover” “Miss Honey Dijon Interview” “Wiggle 12"

Episode #11

Those shopping network girls Deb and Sisi try selling the "Kitchen Magician" on late night TV, the kookiest kids show is revealed with a little help from Denis Simpson
Denis Simpson
Denis Simpson was a Canadian actor and singer, best known as a host of the TV series Polka Dot Door...

 and we talk to Montreal's sexiest performer Frigid. “Fawshaw Community College” “Art Class” “Pipsy Curtain” “Deb & Sisi's Kitchen Magician” “Frigid Interview"

Episode #12

The Designer Gays try to decorate a nightclub based on Castle Grayskull, the religious right tries to "save the family" and we're in San Francisco for Gay Pride where we talk to Lady Miss Kier, Juanita More and Heklina
Heklina
Heklina is the stage name of Stefan Grygelko, who has performed as a drag queen in San Francisco's alternative drag show Trannyshack and beyond from 1996-present.Heklina is half-Icelandic and named herself after the Icelandic volcano Hekla...

. Includes: “Hi Greg/Hi Beth/Hi Liz” “Save The Family” “Designer Gays: Home Edition” “Rainbow Ministries" “Lady Miss Kier, Juanita More & Heklina Interviews”

Season 3

Episode #13

The Designer Gays take entertaining for Pride to a whole new level, Fawks News correspondent Gracie Nance comes down hard on Canada for allowing gay marriage and we talk to electro goddess Peaches
Peaches (musician)
Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...

 and LA's Jackie Beat
Jackie Beat
Jackie Beat is the drag persona of actor, singer, songwriter and screenwriter Kent Fuher. Beat has appeared in a number of independent feature films both in and out of drag, including Wigstock: The Movie, Flawless and Adam & Steve...

. Includes: “Mansounds” “Designer Gays: Pride Edition” “Peaches Interview” “Fawks News 2” “Jackie Beat Interview" “Venus Girl”

Episode #14

Deb and Sisi talk about swallowing meat cooked in their "Fat- Grilling Machine", lonely Linette gets a phone call from crazy Liz, and Hedwig and Shortbus director John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is an American writer, actor, and director. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus and Rabbit Hole.- Early life:...

 and electroclash king Larry Tee
Larry Tee
Larry Tee is a New York City-based DJ, club promoter, and music producer who coined the musical genre term Electroclash and helped launch the careers of such artists as RuPaul, Scissor Sisters, Fischerspooner, Peaches, W.I.T., and Avenue D, and has collaborated with Amanda Lepore and Princess...

 join us for a chat. Includes: “Liz and Nephew” “John Cameron Mitchell Interview” “Liz and Telemarketer” “Deb and Sisi's Fat-Reductionating Grilling Machine” “Liz and Linette” “Up North Buds 1” “Larry Tee Interview”

Episode #15

Jonny Pimp & Honey Ho are summoned by the “Gaysian Division” of The Queer Secret Service in Hong Kong in a Kung Fu inspired installment, the "Up North Buds" talk about rather gayish "dude" stuff and we talk to the always amazing Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore
Amanda Lepore is an American model, nightclub hostess, fashion icon, performance artist, and transgender icon. She has appeared in advertising for numerous companies, including M.A.C. cosmetics, Mego Jeans, The Blonds, Swatch, CAMP Cosmetics, and Heatherette, which has used her likeness on...

 and Cazwell
Cazwell
Luke Caswell , known as Cazwell, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for his explicit lyrics and collaborations with Amanda Lepore...

. Includes: “Durty Cuntry” “Up North Buds 2” “Cazwell Interview” “Pimp & Ho: The Dragon Fairy” “Amanda Lepore Interview"

Episode #16

The Designer Gays break into a straight guys house in order to "rescue" him from blandness, Liz gets a phone call from Cher, Cotton has a spooky run in with Pinhead, we talk to the gorgeous Candis Cayne and Brooklyn's Heloise and the Savoir Faire perform. Includes: “Liz and Cher” “Designer Gays: The Rescue” “Liz and a Stranger” “Heloise and the Savoir Faire Interview” “Odyle" “Liz and a Pervert” “Candis Cayne Interview” “Cotton vs. Pinhead”

Episode #17

Deb and Sisi make a home video to teach you about style and fashion, little Billy learns all about a new gay disease that could ruin his life, we speak with the legendary B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...

 and pornstar/actor Johnny Hazzard
Johnny Hazzard
Johnny Hazzard is an American pornographic actor, model, and recording artist who performs in gay and bisexual pornographic films for a number of studios, mainly Rascal Video. Most of these videos are directed by Chi Chi LaRue...

. Includes: “Cotton's 20 Load Weekend” “Johnny Hazzard Interview” “Deb And Sisi's Welcome To My House At My Home” “You Got GRIDS Billy!” “B-52's Interview”

Episode #18

An hour long "Best of" featuring favourite clips alongside interviews with the creators and cast, outtakes and never before seen footage. Includes an interview with Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce is a Canadian writer, filmmaker, photographer and underground gay porn director based in Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:...

.

DVD release

"The Complete First Season" DVD was released via Alluvial Filmworks on November 6, 2007. "The Complete Second Season" DVD was released April 22, 2008. "The Complete Third Season" was released on May 25, 2010.
The DVD sets are available online via 10percent.com, amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...

, TLA Video and a variety of retailers.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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