Kenny Hotz
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Joel "Kenny" Hotz (born May 3, 1967) is an award-winning Canadian writer, director, actor, producer and photographer. He is a former South Park
consultant/writer, creator/director/co-star of the Showcase and Comedy Central television show Kenny vs. Spenny
creator/co-writer/cast member of the FX series Testees
and the creator/director and star of Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
. He is the only Canadian entertainer in history who has the achievement of creating two television series that premiered on separate American networks at the same time (FX
and Comedy Central
. He also has the largest Facebook’s fan base for a Canadian TV celebrity. He is one of the owners of The Hoxton a popular club in Toronto Canada.
, Ontario
in 1967. When Kenny was three years old, the top of his right index finger was removed in an exercise bicycle accident. At the age of four years old, Kenny was sent to a film camp where he made his first film. He attended high school at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute
.
Hotz began making short films in 1989, and in 2000 came up with the idea to develop a television show in which he and a friend competed in a series of challenges to prove who was the best, which eventually evolved into Kenny vs. Spenny
. Though he never graduated from Ryerson University
's media arts program, Hotz became a filmmaker and photographer. Hotz had been working as a photographer since 1992, photographing numerous countries and historic world events. The subjects of his photo essays include Auschwitz, Dachau, Needle Park (Zurich, Switzerland), David Koresh, Mount Carmel, Waco, and New Years' in Times Square 2000.
. In that same year, he starred (with Rice) in the documentary Pitch
. Hotz then moved to Los Angeles
to develop television programming. Eventually, Hotz started development on Kenny vs. Spenny
.
Kenny vs. Spenny
was nominated for a Gemini award in 2004. Hotz was a guest with Rice on Jimmy Kimmel
, Tom Green's House Tonight, Carson Daly
and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
in New York. Hotz notes that “I sat next to Conan.” In 2004, he finished his second feature film titled The Papal Chase
, a documentary about Hotz trying to meet the Pope John Paul II
. The film is directed by and stars Hotz, and features cameos by The Rolling Stones
and Pope John Paul II. Hotz was given an unprecedented $10,000 prize by a jury when the film won the acclaimed Phillip Borsos
award for Best Canadian Feature Film in 2004 at the Whistler Film Festival. He also created the concept for the 3D video game "Versusville" for the Kenny vs. Spenny series and was nominated for the Canadian New Media Awards for "Excellence in Gaming". "Kenny vs. Spenny" is the largest international selling comedy format in Canadian history.
Hotz recently consulted on the animated series South Park
, also writing the episodes "Follow That Egg!
" and "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow
". He also worked as a writer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
in 1987.
In 2008, He developed a sitcom called Testees
for the Fox
-owned FX that year, producing 13 shows centering on product testers in various markets. The show lasted just 13 episodes and started airing in October 2008 on FX and the Canadian-owned Showcase cable channel.
Kenny is Jewish, as evidenced in one episode of Kenny vs. Spenny
("Who Can Eat the Most Meat?"). As he blends up a "meat smoothie," to which he adds pork, he notes that his "rabbi
is going to be so pissed." He also pretends to sing in his local synagogue
choir in "First to Stop Singing Loses" (against the rules of that particular competition) and he mentions it in the "Who Do Old People Like More" episode, where he believes it will help him win. He is fluent in Hebrew
, as noted in "Who's the Better Jew". However, in an interview, Hotz stated that he is apathetic toward religion and considers himself an atheist.
Kenny was embroiled in a controversy with the British Columbia Human Rights Commission for alleged hate speech
for his actions in the episode "Who Can Piss Off More People", where he paid to have a plane fly over Toronto dragging a banner that reads "Jesus Sucks".
Hotz had a memorable cameo in Kevin Smith
's 2008 film Zack and Miri Make A Porno
, starring Seth Rogen
and Elizabeth Banks
.
Kenny made a cameo appearance as a homeless man in the second episode of the Pure Pwnage
television series, as well as a cameo in Degrassi Takes Manhattan
in 2010. Kenny, in collaboration with Spencer Rice, completed the final episode of Kenny vs. Spenny
("The Kenny vs. Spenny Christmas Special"). He is currently working on his new series Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
which premiered on July 22, 2011.
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
consultant/writer, creator/director/co-star of the Showcase and Comedy Central television show Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
creator/co-writer/cast member of the FX series Testees
Testees
Testees is a Canadian television series, created by Kenny Hotz and written and produced by Kenny Hotz and Derek Harvie . Testees originally aired on Thursdays at 10:30 PM EST on FX and ran from October 9, 2008 to December 18, 2008. and debuted on October 14, 2008 on Showcase in Canada. The show is...
and the creator/director and star of Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will is a Canadian television series, which debuted on July 22, 2011 on Action.-Season 1 :-External links:* official show page on Action * on Action ** page on IMDb***...
. He is the only Canadian entertainer in history who has the achievement of creating two television series that premiered on separate American networks at the same time (FX
FX
- Entertainment :* FX , an international cable/satellite television network * F/X, a movie set in the world of special effects* F/X: The Series, a television program based on the movie...
and Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
. He also has the largest Facebook’s fan base for a Canadian TV celebrity. He is one of the owners of The Hoxton a popular club in Toronto Canada.
Early life
Hotz was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1967. When Kenny was three years old, the top of his right index finger was removed in an exercise bicycle accident. At the age of four years old, Kenny was sent to a film camp where he made his first film. He attended high school at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute
Forest Hill Collegiate Institute
Forest Hill Collegiate Institute is a semestered public high school of about 900 students and 55 teachers located in the Toronto, Ontario neighbourhood of Forest Hill...
.
Hotz began making short films in 1989, and in 2000 came up with the idea to develop a television show in which he and a friend competed in a series of challenges to prove who was the best, which eventually evolved into Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
. Though he never graduated from Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
's media arts program, Hotz became a filmmaker and photographer. Hotz had been working as a photographer since 1992, photographing numerous countries and historic world events. The subjects of his photo essays include Auschwitz, Dachau, Needle Park (Zurich, Switzerland), David Koresh, Mount Carmel, Waco, and New Years' in Times Square 2000.
Career
After returning to Canada, Hotz worked on a comedic short about the life and death of a homeless dwarf in Toronto named Shorty Gordy with Spencer RiceSpencer Rice
Spencer "Spenny" Nolan Rice is a Canadian writer, director, producer, and comedian. He was the co-star of Kenny vs. Spenny along with Kenny Hotz.-Personal life:...
. In that same year, he starred (with Rice) in the documentary Pitch
Pitch (film)
A pitch is a concise verbal presentation of an idea for a film or TV series generally made by a screenwriter or director to a producer or studio executive in the hope of attracting development finance to pay for the writing of a screenplay."Pitch" is a contraction of the phrase "sales pitch"...
. Hotz then moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to develop television programming. Eventually, Hotz started development on Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
.
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
was nominated for a Gemini award in 2004. Hotz was a guest with Rice on Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, Tom Green's House Tonight, Carson Daly
Carson Daly
Carson Jones Daly is an American television host. He is the host of NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, a late-night talk show that began airing on January 7, 2002. Before his role as host of that program, Daly was a VJ on MTV's TRL, and a DJ for the Southern California based radio station KROQ-FM...
and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
in New York. Hotz notes that “I sat next to Conan.” In 2004, he finished his second feature film titled The Papal Chase
The Papal Chase
The Papal Chase is a 2001 Canadian feature-length guerrilla documentary created by and starring Kenny Hotz, of Kenny vs. Spenny fame.- Plot :...
, a documentary about Hotz trying to meet the Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. The film is directed by and stars Hotz, and features cameos by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and Pope John Paul II. Hotz was given an unprecedented $10,000 prize by a jury when the film won the acclaimed Phillip Borsos
Phillip Borsos
Phillip Borsos was Canadian film director and film producer.Borsos showed an early interest in film-making while attending high school in Maple Ridge, B.C...
award for Best Canadian Feature Film in 2004 at the Whistler Film Festival. He also created the concept for the 3D video game "Versusville" for the Kenny vs. Spenny series and was nominated for the Canadian New Media Awards for "Excellence in Gaming". "Kenny vs. Spenny" is the largest international selling comedy format in Canadian history.
Hotz recently consulted on the animated series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, also writing the episodes "Follow That Egg!
Follow that Egg!
"Follow That Egg" is the tenth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series South Park. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 2, 2005. In the episode, Mrs. Garrison tries to get back together with her ex-boyfriend Mr...
" and "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow
Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow
"Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow" is the eighth episode of the ninth season of the Comedy Central series South Park. It originally aired October 19, 2005...
". He also worked as a writer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
in 1987.
In 2008, He developed a sitcom called Testees
Testees
Testees is a Canadian television series, created by Kenny Hotz and written and produced by Kenny Hotz and Derek Harvie . Testees originally aired on Thursdays at 10:30 PM EST on FX and ran from October 9, 2008 to December 18, 2008. and debuted on October 14, 2008 on Showcase in Canada. The show is...
for the Fox
Fox Entertainment Group
The Fox Entertainment Group is an American entertainment industry company that owns film studios and terrestrial, cable, and direct broadcast satellite television properties...
-owned FX that year, producing 13 shows centering on product testers in various markets. The show lasted just 13 episodes and started airing in October 2008 on FX and the Canadian-owned Showcase cable channel.
Kenny is Jewish, as evidenced in one episode of Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
("Who Can Eat the Most Meat?"). As he blends up a "meat smoothie," to which he adds pork, he notes that his "rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
is going to be so pissed." He also pretends to sing in his local synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
choir in "First to Stop Singing Loses" (against the rules of that particular competition) and he mentions it in the "Who Do Old People Like More" episode, where he believes it will help him win. He is fluent in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, as noted in "Who's the Better Jew". However, in an interview, Hotz stated that he is apathetic toward religion and considers himself an atheist.
Kenny was embroiled in a controversy with the British Columbia Human Rights Commission for alleged hate speech
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
for his actions in the episode "Who Can Piss Off More People", where he paid to have a plane fly over Toronto dragging a banner that reads "Jesus Sucks".
Hotz had a memorable cameo in Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
's 2008 film Zack and Miri Make A Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
, starring Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
and Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
.
Kenny made a cameo appearance as a homeless man in the second episode of the Pure Pwnage
Pure Pwnage
Pure Pwnage was an Internet-distributed, mockumentary series from ROFLMAO Productions. The fictional series purports to chronicle the life and adventures of Jeremy , a Canadian and self-proclaimed "pro gamer"...
television series, as well as a cameo in Degrassi Takes Manhattan
Degrassi Takes Manhattan
The Rest of My Life: Degrassi Takes Manhattan is a 2010 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi, which was known as Degrassi: The Next Generation prior to this film. The movie premiered in Canada on MuchMusic on 16 July 2010, and in the United States on TeenNick...
in 2010. Kenny, in collaboration with Spencer Rice, completed the final episode of Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
("The Kenny vs. Spenny Christmas Special"). He is currently working on his new series Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will
Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will is a Canadian television series, which debuted on July 22, 2011 on Action.-Season 1 :-External links:* official show page on Action * on Action ** page on IMDb***...
which premiered on July 22, 2011.
Filmography
- Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
(1987) - It Don't Cost Nothin' to Say Good MorningIt Don't Cost Nothin' to Say Good MorningIt Don't Cost Nothin' to Say Good Morning is a 1994 documentary film directed by Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice. The film is about the life of a homeless man, known only as "'Shorty' Gordy", who was a drunken, potty-mouthed panhandler, which was filmed over many years, covering Gordy's life and death...
(1994) - PitchPitch (film)A pitch is a concise verbal presentation of an idea for a film or TV series generally made by a screenwriter or director to a producer or studio executive in the hope of attracting development finance to pay for the writing of a screenplay."Pitch" is a contraction of the phrase "sales pitch"...
(1997) - Kenny vs. SpennyKenny vs. SpennyKenny vs. Spenny is a Canadian comedy reality television series about Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Hotz and Rice helped create the series, and it was typically...
(2003–2010) - The Papal ChaseThe Papal ChaseThe Papal Chase is a 2001 Canadian feature-length guerrilla documentary created by and starring Kenny Hotz, of Kenny vs. Spenny fame.- Plot :...
(2004) - South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
– Three episodes (2005) - Elton vs. SimonElton vs. SimonElton vs. Simon is a German re-make of the Canadian show Kenny vs. Spenny.- Plot :Like Kenny and Spenny, Elton and Simon are friends who share an apartment and fight each other in unusual competitions. The winner of a competition is allowed to think out some kind of unpleasant task called...
(2005) - TesteesTesteesTestees is a Canadian television series, created by Kenny Hotz and written and produced by Kenny Hotz and Derek Harvie . Testees originally aired on Thursdays at 10:30 PM EST on FX and ran from October 9, 2008 to December 18, 2008. and debuted on October 14, 2008 on Showcase in Canada. The show is...
(2008) - Zack and Miri Make A PornoZack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
as Zack #2 - Hannah Montana : The Movie (CameoCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as Miley Stewart) (2010) - Pure PwnagePure PwnagePure Pwnage was an Internet-distributed, mockumentary series from ROFLMAO Productions. The fictional series purports to chronicle the life and adventures of Jeremy , a Canadian and self-proclaimed "pro gamer"...
(CameoCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as a homeless man) (2010) - Degrassi Takes ManhattanDegrassi Takes ManhattanThe Rest of My Life: Degrassi Takes Manhattan is a 2010 Canadian film adaptation of the popular, long-running teenage drama Degrassi, which was known as Degrassi: The Next Generation prior to this film. The movie premiered in Canada on MuchMusic on 16 July 2010, and in the United States on TeenNick...
(CameoCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as the record peddler) (2010) - Kenny vs. Spenny Christmas Special (2010)
- Kenny Hotz's Triumph of the WillKenny Hotz's Triumph of the WillKenny Hotz's Triumph of the Will is a Canadian television series, which debuted on July 22, 2011 on Action.-Season 1 :-External links:* official show page on Action * on Action ** page on IMDb***...
(2011–present)
Awards and nominations
- Brooklyn international film festival (2005) – Audience award (best documentary) for The Papal Chase
- Canadian Filmmakers' Festival (2005) – Audience award (documentary) for The Papal Chase
- Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (1996) – Best Canadian documentary for It Don't Cost Nothin' to Say Good Morning
- Whistler Film Festival (2004) – Phillip Borsos Award For the Papal Chase (Inaugural Winner)
- Gemini Awards (2004) – Gemini for Best Comedy Program or Series for: Kenny vs. Spenny
- Vice Magazine (2006) – First Annual Story Awards (Winner)
- Gemini Awards (2006) – Gemini for Best Comedy Program or Series for: Kenny vs. Spenny (Nomination)
- Gemini Awards (2008) – Gemini for Best Comedy Program or Series for: Kenny vs. Spenny (Nomination)
- Gemini Awards (2009) – Gemini for Best Comedy Program or Series for: Testees (Nomination)
- Gemini Awards (2009) – Gemini for Best Comedy Writing in a program or Series for: Testees (Nomination)
- Gemini Awards (2010) – Gemini for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series for: Kenny vs. Spenny (Nomination)
- Canadian Comedy Awards (2010) – Best Director in a Comedy Program or Series (Winner)
External links
- Kenny Hotz Merchandise Kenny Hotz Merchandise.
- Kenny Hotz Official Website Kenny Hotz's Official Website.
- Kenny's My Space Home Kenny Hotz's MySpace.
- Kenny´s Blog Kenny Hotz MSN blog.
- 10 Questions: Kenny Hotz interview.
- A Hotz Comedy (Interview with Kenny Hotz): A Very Hotz Interview
- Kenny Hotz Imdb Profile
- CBC The Hour
- Kenny Hotz South Park Article