Sci-Fi Expo Guests

RICK GREEN Canadian Television Icon

Rick Green graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. His first job was as a Demonstrator at the Ontario Science Centre. As well as presenting shows on Lasers, Electricity, Cryogenics, etc., Rick developed numerous original programs, science plays and exhibits that combined information, humour and entertainment.

In 1979 he plunged into show biz full time as a member of The Frantics comedy troupe. For the next 8 years the funny foursome created and performed hundreds of live appearances, 150 radio shows, several albums, a half dozen hit stage shows and the groundbreaking TV series Four On The Floor. In 2003, the Frantics came out of retirement and again performed on stage and television.

In 1989, Rick became ‘Commander Rick’, the writer and host of TVO’s speculative fiction news magazine series Prisoners of Gravity. Over five seasons, the show’s quirky edge drew strong ratings and rabid fans, thanks to interviews with legends such as Clive Barker, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Neil Gaiman.

At the same time, Rick joined Steve Smith to co-create The Red Green Show. He wrote & performed in the show for 11 seasons as the bumbling outdoorsman Bill. The Red Green Show has spun off books (which Rick co-wrote and illustrated), DVD’s, CD’s and more. It remains Canada’s longest-running comedy series.

In 1999, Rick created the critically acclaimed hit History Bites. Five seasons, a recently released boxed DVD set and six one-hour specials later, the show is still going strong. History Bites The Separatists has just been nominated for a Canadian Screenwriters Award. The only program to ever appear on both a History and Comedy network, it is a favourite of teachers and professors across Canada. In 2004, Rick was named by the Ontario History Teachers as their “Person of the Year”. Based on the success of History Bites, Rick was invited to become a member of the advisory board for the Histori.ca foundation in 2003.

During his 28 years in the business, Rick has worked behind the scenes on numerous radio, stage and television projects, from the dark comedy Suits to video displays for Founder’s Hall in Prince Edward Island to the Museum of Science in Glasgow. Along the way, he has taken time to nurture, develop and mentor countless young writers and performers, and recently taught a course in physical comedy at Humber College. Recently Rick has been working on a new project with the creators of the hilarious superhero web site www.Hoverboy.com.

His projects have won Gemini Awards, ACTRA Awards, New York Festival Awards, and various educational awards. His material has been performed by talented actors such as Jim Carrey, Gordon Pinsent, David Steinberg, Graham Chapman, Colin Mochrie, Graham Greene, Eric Stoltz, and Martin Short. In 2004 he wrote Kim Cattrall’s HBO special, Sexual Intelligence.

Rick has written and produced numerous corporate videos and presentations for various companies. His humourous articles have been published in The Globe & Mail, the World Press Review, and various industry magazines. In September of 2007, Rick was honoured by his Alma Mater, the University of Waterloo, as one of the top 50 Alumni of the past 50 years!

Working with his wife, Ava Green, he continues to produce transformational new projects that combine entertainment and knowledge.

www.Hoverboy.com