Colby Cosh: Catherine O’Hara, Canada’s world-class comedienne

2026-02-03 - 11:05

My favourite of Catherine O’Hara’s characters on SCTV (1976-1984) was “Lola Heatherton,” the fading and dubiously talented ingenue who couldn’t get through five minutes of a variety special or a talk show without coming apart at the seams. I hope it’s not tasteless to observe that Joey Heatherton, one of a few ’70s starlets who inspired the character, has done the unthinkable and outlasted her cosmic sister. Lola, to me, is the perfect representation of what Catherine O’Hara brought to SCTV and to the rest of her career. Read More