Clearly award-worthy.

On behalf of the entire RAMP team, we’d like to sincerely thank the The Canadian Comedy Awards and everyone who voted for The Violator which was awarded funniest web clip of 2009 tonight! This really means a lot to us - especially as it’s one of only three Canadian Comedy Award categories which are voted on publicly. On a medium as democratic (and fickle) as the Internet - we’re very humbled that you think that one of our little video’s is worthy of recognition.

We think Violator is a great representative of all the really fun work we’ve done with The Imponderables - they’re great collaborators, and even better friends - and it’s totally creepy to see both our names carved into a trophy creating a sentence so bizarre that it will one day puzzle alien archaeologists to no end: “VIOLATOR ROCKET ACE MOVING PICTURES AND THE IMPONDERABLES”.

If you can’t tell, we’re having a great time at the Canadian Comedy Festival in Saint John (and not just because they gave us a chunk of glass you could easily kill a man with) - everyone has been incredibly welcoming (even the folks in the Tim Horton’s who were disappointed the award didn’t look as good as it did on stage).

Sorry for the self-serving post - but let’s be frank; It’s not too often people working in short-form Internet comedy get any kind of public recognition (other than YouTube commentors questioning their sexuality) so we’re going to enjoy the rest of the weekend, and hopefully use it as a kick in the pants to get some new RAMP material your way as thanks.

Again, our sincerest “thank you” to everyone who made this amazing night possible!

N.B. - Also, as Matt said during our acceptance speech. This really wouldn’t have been possible without LEGO - so thank you LEGO for not suing us. We’re really grateful about that!

Canadian Comedy Award (may not be exactly as pictured)

[EDIT - We've updated our FAQ on Voting - Click here for more info!]

We were pretty thrilled last year to receive a record two nominations for funniest web video in the 2008 Canadian Comedy Awards - so we’re blown away to have recieved three nominations (for The Violator, Mushmouth, and Basement Accident) in 2009! As far as we know that’s a record for any Canadian Comedy Award category which we’ll be extremely shameless in awkwardly bringing up in uncomfortable social situations!

Of course this an honour that wouldn’t have been possible without our long-standing collaborative work with The Imponderables - whose “unique” brand of “genius” makes the whole thing possible.

…

I don’t think I was supposed to type the air-quotes.

Seriously, the Imponderables were nominated (for about the tenth year in a row) for funniest sketch group as well… and given the year they’ve had - they would sure be my favourites to pick up another block of lucite for their shelves.

The CCA’s always have a very special place in our heart - not only as they have long recognized some of Canada’s legendary comic talent (Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Rick Farrell, Mary Walsh, Mike Myers, Colin Mochrie, Eugine Levy, Seth Rogen - to name-drop but a few) but they are one of the few creative arts awards that recognize the work being done in short-form video on the web.

Even better the “Web Video” field is one of only three awards which include public voting (Pretty Funny Web Video, Pretty Funny Radio Clip, and Canadian Comedy Person of the Year). So if you want to help us out you can head over to the Canadian Comedy Awards Voting Website and Register for a free account to vote!.

[Edit - Yes, as with last year, feel free to link to our nomination badges from your own sites or blogs if you wish, I've included sample code below]

<a href=”http://ccavoting.com/register.php”><img src=”http://www.rocketace.ca/images/cca_sm_violator.jpg” alt=”The Violator is nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award - Vote Here!” /></a>

<a href=”http://ccavoting.com/register.php”><img src=”http://www.rocketace.ca/images/cca_sm_mushmouth.jpg” alt=”Mushmouth is nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award - Vote Here!” /></a>

<a href=”http://ccavoting.com/register.php”><img src=”http://www.rocketace.ca/images/cca_sm_basement.jpg” alt=”Basement Accident is nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award - Vote Here!” /></a>

Also there’s been some question if we have a preference which RAMP show people vote for. So as to not split our vote, we’re encouraging fans of RAMP to vote for “The Violator” this year. While we love all three of our nominees equally - how can you not want to see the improbable run of this plucky underdog continue?

MC Mark Forward! Bull Hooey! That Ron Sparks Guy! Two Weeks of City Garbage Piling up on the Streets! All for $5… there’s not a better deal to be had, friends.

Of course that’s only if you like AWESOME COMEDY.

As always at live shows, if you see any of the usual suspects - come say hello and get some free buttons and stickers and stuff!

It’s another Tuesday Imponderables & Acquaintances at the Rivoli in Toronto. By now you should know that if you show up at the Riv (334 Queen Street West, Toronto) at, say, 9pm this Tuesday (April 7th). Fork over the hefty $5 door fee and revel in japes. Jests. Hella-chuckles.

The “Imps & Acks” shows are always a great time, but this month should be particularly solid - what with the Imps coming off a sold out show in New York the previous weekend - we thought we’d help them out a little bit by throwing out some brand new, never before seen, RAMP video goodness. So hot off the press only 75% of it is actually completed. INFLUENCE the future of RAMP with how hard you laugh. If you don’t laugh we may get depressed and never finish any of this stuff!

(Also Winston Spear is MC’ing tonight - so there will be dancing… HUMOROUS dancing. And opening act Dancyle… about which I know nothing… HUMOROUS nothing. And that Ron Sparks guy will do that “Newsdesk” thing he does so well… which is… (wait for it)… HUMOROUS)

Usual RAMP live show rules in effect - hunt one of the RAMP crew down “Where’s-Waldo-style” and we’ll give you stickers and buttons just for the asking. Hope to see you there.

[EDIT - Except I forgot our "swag bag" at home... so track us down and get a hearty handshake and some business cards, or paper-clips or something... haven't quite figured it out yet]

Just a quick note for any New York fans who haven’t yet caught any of our comedic work with The Imponderables on the big screen - The Imps are doing a show Saturday April 6th, at the People’s Improv theatre in Manhattan. Their live shows kick butt, and I believe there’s some not-seen-on-the-internet RAMP material in their set-list too.

Most importantly it’s RAMP director Matt Hoos birthday - and he’ll be celebrating at the show, so shower him with drinks, and pizza, and Yankee’s hats… and whatever else you people do there.

The Imponderables
Saturday April 6th, 8:00pm
People’s Improv Theatre
154 W. 29th Street
$15

click here for more info

Rocket Ace is extremely excited to congratulate RAMP co-founder, head of development, and our resident screenwriter Jason Rothery on his selection to the 2009 Soulpepper Academy!

An initiative of Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre, the Academy is a unique full-time two-year residency comprised of ten multi-disciplinary theatre artists from across the country with the goal to create “the next generation of cultural leaders” through a mix of full-time skills development, involvement with Soulpepper productions, collaborative new-works creation, and youth and community artistic outreach initiatives.

While we selfishly hate to share Jason with anyone, I suppose we couldn’t have hoped to keep his brilliance hidden forever, so we’re extremely happy to have him join us in Toronto and can’t wait to see what amazing creations the Soulpepper Academy brings to the city in the coming months!

(Aw man, I set this to publish on January <em>2008</em>… so much for making ‘09 the <em>year of less typos</em>!)

What better way to get the new year off to a proper start than joining us for the first Imponderables & Acquaintances of the year at the Rivoli in Toronto - 334 Queen Street West, Toronto - starting at 9pm on Tuesday January 13th!

Trevor Boris, mainstay of “Video on Trial“, midnight lothario of The Couchathon 2008, and that sexy fellow over to the left there will be hosting with all his considerable comedic skill.

Along with the titular Imponderables (getting all ready for The Chicago Sketchfest) the show will also feature a little number called “Deadpan Powerpoint Presents: The Keys to Invincibility in Verbal Argumentation” … details of which I have none - but, frankly, it sounds freaking awesome.

Oh, and there’s a world-premiere of a brand-new RocketAce / Imponderables video. The first of 2009.

If that’s your thing.

As always at live shows, if you see any of the usual suspects - come say hello and get some free buttons and stickers and stuff!

Much like reigning beauty-pageant champions have duties and requirements throughout the year, so is it for those whose head hangs heavy with the duties of the Fez D’Or. Except instead of “duties and requirements” we mean “The Violator” is being played in London, England on January 10th. Part of a forward-thinking collaboration between Daryl’s Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival and the London Short Film Festival, we’re not sure if the Roxy Bar and Screen can handle that much sexy-awesomeness - but you can find out this Saturday night at 8pm. Daryl’s got all the information on location and tickets, and “tube stops” and whatnot. Check it out if you’re in the area. The HLAP shows are a legendary good time, and (if we may toot our own horn) “Violator” looks great on the big-screen.

Not enough wanton hyperbole?

Normally to ship a film to England one has to fill out a lengthy declaration that one’s film “contains no pornography, treasonous content, nor advocates harm against the persons of the royal family”*… but since Daryl is hand-delivering all the films we had to promise no such thing!**

* We may have embellished the terms of the declaration, but only slightly.

**Those looking for actual pornography or treasonous, royal-harming, doctrine may be signifcantly disappointed.

Happy new year to each and every one of you from all of us at RAMP central. We’ve assembled a festive tableaux to express our holiday wishes… Brad, Erin, and Matt all decked out for New Year’s Eve to represent our collective wish that y’all can roll as large as we do… and a festive appliqué of J-Ro counting our (as of yet imaginary) Washingtons - because frankly, 2009 is going to be the year of cash money.

Lot’s of long-delayed RAMP news forthcoming - so stay tuned!

Man, is it already time for the last Imponderables and Acquaintances of the year, already?

Well the boys will do it up in style no doubt, celebrating the end of an era by resurrecting one of only two U.S. Presidents to ever be impeached to rock the MC duties… or a completely different Andrew Johnson which would be cool too… whatever.

Most importantly that top-secret brand new video that we debuted at The Toronto Sketchfest will probably show up for those of you who couldn’t get into the ridiculously sold-out Sketchfest show (which, according to reports, was most of you).

But hey even if you don’t want to see new RAMP and Imponderables hilarity (a little birdie told me the boys are going to test a whole bucket of brand-new material this month) there’s lots of reasons to come out to the Rivoli tonight: The Riv’s tasty food selection! The Chapuda Brothers! The kick-ass new Tea bar that opened next door! Ron Sparks and his Amazing Desk of News! Pay What You Can!

Kick your holiday season off on the right foot - The Last “Imps & Acks” of the year starts at 9pm at the Rivoli - 334 Queen Street West, Toronto.

Usual RAMP live show goodies are in effect - find anyone from RAMP at the show and demand holiday goodies - we’ll be loaded down Santa-style with stickers and buttons and junk like that. You won’t even have to sit on our lap!