Eric Tunney
Encyclopedia
Eric Tunney was a Canadian writer
, comedian
and television host from Windsor, Ontario
who hosted several television shows produced in both Canada and the U.S. and was a regular on the North American live comedy performance circuit.
, with whom he started a band called "Eric and the Tall Boys". His uncle was Canadian wrestling promoter Jack Tunney
; Tunney would put up posters for his comedy shows that depicted him as a child posing with such Canadian wrestling greats as The Sheik
and Whipper Billy Watson
. Tunney started working at Windsor's Komedy Korner at the age of 15, operating spotlights on older comedians (including a young Jim Carrey
) and then moving onto the stage to try his hand at comedy. He was noted for never using foul language, which he maintained throughout his career.
and His Gentleman Players. The mid-nineties also found him as the co-host of Ed the Sock
(a cult hit on City TV). In 1995 he was chosen at an HBO Young Comedian show and taped a live special in Aspen. Soon after, he signed with Karen Evans Management and the William Morris Agency
. His first talk show pilot was produced by Jim Biederman from Broadway Video
(Lorne Michaels
) for CBC
and had a role in the debut motion picture of The Kids In The Hall
, Brain Candy
, in 1996. In 1996 he starred in a pilot for KingWorld. The Eric Tunney Show had guests like Lynne Russell
and Jeanne Beker
and was slated to replace Oprah
in afternoon syndication, but did not receive extended production.
Fellow Canadian comic Brent Piaskoski, a writer living in L.A., said Tunney had greatly impressed Hollywood with a guest host appearance on NBC
's Later
in 1996. The replacement host job eventually went to Rita Devers. In 1997, Tunney and his wife moved to L.A. to, he become the writer and sidekick on the short-lived syndicated talk show Home Team with Terry Bradshaw
. In 1998 with Broadway Video
he hosted a talk show pilot for CNBC
'The Late Edition with Eric Tunney'. His guest was a then-unknown Matt Drudge
. He continued to perform as a standup comic with appearances in 2001 on NBC's Late Friday, in 2003 at the Just for Laughs
comedy festival and Canada's Cream of Comedy. His final televised standup special was for CTV Canada's Comedy Now in 2003.
Tunney died at his home at the age of 45. The results of the post-mortem were inconclusive, with the attending doctor reporting that the most likely finding would be accidental death.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and television host from Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
who hosted several television shows produced in both Canada and the U.S. and was a regular on the North American live comedy performance circuit.
Early life and career
As a teenager, Tunney was close friends with Gordie JohnsonGordie Johnson
Gordie Johnson is a Canadian musician, best known as the front man for the reggae-rock band Big Sugar, and later southern rock band Grady.-Biography:...
, with whom he started a band called "Eric and the Tall Boys". His uncle was Canadian wrestling promoter Jack Tunney
Jack Tunney
John "Jack" Tunney was a Canadian wrestling promoter. Tunney was known worldwide for his appearances on World Wrestling Federation television as the promotion's figurehead president, suspending wrestlers, stripping them of titles, and ordering matches...
; Tunney would put up posters for his comedy shows that depicted him as a child posing with such Canadian wrestling greats as The Sheik
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
and Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
. Tunney started working at Windsor's Komedy Korner at the age of 15, operating spotlights on older comedians (including a young Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
) and then moving onto the stage to try his hand at comedy. He was noted for never using foul language, which he maintained throughout his career.
National coverage
Self-taught as a comedy writer, Tunney was an in-demand stand-up comedian by his early twenties and was working on stage and on screen in Canada and in the United States. He was a host on Canada's teen variety show Switchback and also opened shows for bands at live concerts, including Big Rude JakeBig Rude Jake
Big Rude Jake is a singer, songwriter and jazz musician based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He recorded several albums with different jazz ensembles and musicians, mixing rock, jump blues, blues, ragtime, swing, rhythm and blues and punk rock together...
and His Gentleman Players. The mid-nineties also found him as the co-host of Ed the Sock
Ed the Sock
Ed the Sock is a puppet, created and voiced by Steven Kerzner, that became a Canadian television personality in the 1990s, best known for his appearances hosting programming on MuchMusic and his own talk show, Ed's Night Party, later renamed Ed & Red's Night Party...
(a cult hit on City TV). In 1995 he was chosen at an HBO Young Comedian show and taped a live special in Aspen. Soon after, he signed with Karen Evans Management and the William Morris Agency
William Morris Agency
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
. His first talk show pilot was produced by Jim Biederman from Broadway Video
Broadway Video
Broadway Video is a media production and distribution company located within the Brill Building on Broadway, New York, United States. Founded in 1979 as a production house tasked with post-production work on Saturday Night Live, Broadway Video has since become one of the largest independent...
(Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels, CM is a Canadian-American television producer, writer, and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it.-Early life:...
) for CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and had a role in the debut motion picture of The Kids In The Hall
The Kids in the Hall
The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. Their eponymous television show ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada, and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO in the United States...
, Brain Candy
Brain Candy
Brain Candy is a feature film by The Kids in the Hall, a Canadian comedy troupe. Directed by Kelly Makin, filmed in Toronto, and released in 1996, it followed the five season run of their television series, which had been successful in both Canada and the United States.The five man team plays all...
, in 1996. In 1996 he starred in a pilot for KingWorld. The Eric Tunney Show had guests like Lynne Russell
Lynne Russell
Lynne Russell was a radio host on the Toronto AM radio station 1010 AM CFRB News Radio, part of the Astral Media...
and Jeanne Beker
Jeanne Beker
Jeanne Beker is a Canadian television personality, author and newspaper columnist, who covers fashion and lifestyle news for CTV's FashionTelevision, FashionTelevisionChannel, and The Toronto Star.-Family:...
and was slated to replace Oprah
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
in afternoon syndication, but did not receive extended production.
Fellow Canadian comic Brent Piaskoski, a writer living in L.A., said Tunney had greatly impressed Hollywood with a guest host appearance on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Later
Later (talk show)
Later was a nightly half hour-long talk show that ran on NBC from 1988 until 2001. Later typically aired for half an hour at 1:30 a.m. following Late Night with David Letterman from 1988 to 1993, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien from 1993 to 2001...
in 1996. The replacement host job eventually went to Rita Devers. In 1997, Tunney and his wife moved to L.A. to, he become the writer and sidekick on the short-lived syndicated talk show Home Team with Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
. In 1998 with Broadway Video
Broadway Video
Broadway Video is a media production and distribution company located within the Brill Building on Broadway, New York, United States. Founded in 1979 as a production house tasked with post-production work on Saturday Night Live, Broadway Video has since become one of the largest independent...
he hosted a talk show pilot for CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
'The Late Edition with Eric Tunney'. His guest was a then-unknown Matt Drudge
Matt Drudge
Matthew Nathan Drudge is the American creator and editor of the Drudge Report, a news aggregation website. Drudge is self-described as being conservative and populist. Drudge has also authored a book and hosted a radio show and a television show.-Early years:Matthew Drudge was raised in Takoma...
. He continued to perform as a standup comic with appearances in 2001 on NBC's Late Friday, in 2003 at the Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
comedy festival and Canada's Cream of Comedy. His final televised standup special was for CTV Canada's Comedy Now in 2003.
Later years and death
Tunney was reported to be battling depression in Los Angeles in 2005. In the wake of his marriage breakup in June 2008, Tunney returned to live in Windsor.Tunney died at his home at the age of 45. The results of the post-mortem were inconclusive, with the attending doctor reporting that the most likely finding would be accidental death.