Gerry Dee is back on the road and heading to Sarnia’s Imperial Theater on Sept. 8.
The comedian and actor behind the eight-season run of the television sitcom, Mr. D, and host of Family Feud Canada is appearing in theaters across Ontario in September and October to make up for dates postponed during pandemic restrictions.
“This is kind of a weird tour because these are the dates that were booked pre-pandemic, so I’m glad to finally get to these cities and get back out there,” Dee said.
Formerly a private school teacher, Dee has made that time in his life part of his comedy, including Mr. D’s long run on CBC. The series, which stopped filming in 2018, is still available on streaming services.
“The time between now and then seems to have flown by, but that was one of the greatest business experiences of my life,” Dee said. “I was very fortunate to get one season, left alone eight. I realize how hard that is to do.”
Dee said getting a sitcom had been a goal when he started in standup, so “to accomplish that was a proud moment for me and my family,”
Dee said the character he played on Mr. D “tried to be a really good teacher but, if you look at him, it’s like, ‘I don’t know if that’s the best kind of person I want in front of my kids. ‘
Dee said the character “came from a good place” but was “more caught up in the kids liking him” and always wanted the school days and weeks to be shorter.
“He liked teaching but he never really liked the daily routine, or really understood what it meant to be a good teacher,” he said
It’s been years since Dee’s days working in a real classroom, but the experience still makes its way into his standup.
“I realize I have a following among teachers so I always have a couple of topics for them,” he said.
“I kind of always write from my own world,” Dee said.
That includes drawing on life with his kids.
“Now the kids are older and there’s new challenges we have as parents,” he said. “Whatever’s happening in my world is kind of the updated version of my act. That’s always going to be new and going to change, so that’s what’s exciting about it.”
Family Feud Canada was able to stay in production throughout the pandemic, Dee said.
“We kind of dodge in and around” the restrictions, he said.
“It’s a phenomenal job,” Dee said. “I love it.”
The show takes up about three months of the year and allows time for Dee to tour, do other work and spend time with his family, he said.
“For an actor and a host, it’s a pretty great thing to be able to do.”
There are still a few seats left for the 8 pm show in Sarnia. Ticket information can be found online at www.imperialtheatre.net.