John Catucci, York grad and half of the musical comedy duo The Doo Wops, is starring in a Comedy Network series send-up of makeover programs and reality shows premiering Nov. 15 at 10:30pm.
"Punched Up" is a 13-episode mockumentary series satirizing makeover programs and reality TV.
Right: John Catucci, far right, with cast of "Punched Up"
The show's writing team -- including Catucci -- takes the average Joe or Jane and makes their lives better, or at least funnier.
Catucci got his start as an actor, singer and comedian at York. He graduated with a BA in political science from York in 1996 but continued to be involved in Vanier College Players, where he met David Mesiano (see Gazette story Sept. 26, 2001). From the moment they belted out U2's song, Sunday Bloody Sunday, at a party together, the two knew they were onto a good thing.
They formed The Doo Wops and entertained with their parodies of pop songs. In 2001, the duo won the prestigious Homegrown Comedy Competition at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Since then, they have become regulars at the festival, aired by CBC, and on Just For Laughs Comedy Tours Inc.
Left: David Mesiano, below, and John Catucci as The Doo Wops
They have also performed at the Vancouver International Comedy Festival and at various clubs in Canada and the United States, including the world famous Improv and Comedy Factory in L.A.
Catucci is also a member of The Second City Touring Company as well as a founding member of The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, the 2003 and 2004 Canadian Comedy Award winners for best sketch troupe. TV and film credits include The Comedy Network's "Liocracy", Toronto 1's "The Toronto Show", CBC's "To Die 4" and "The Sean Cullen Show", ABC's Movie of the Week Kiss My Act and The Tuxedo starring Jackie Chan. Catucci has guest starred a number of times on Global TV's "Train 48", and is a series regular on the CBC children's show "The Doodlebops", now in its third season.
Mesiano graduated from York in 2003 with a BA in psychology. He is a member of Second City's Tony n' Tina's Wedding and has appeared on CBC's "The Sean Cullen Show" and "To Die 4".