MacNeill met Whalen and Taylor when all three were writer/performers on “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” the CBC’s beloved mock news show and political satire, which has been running since 1993. All but MacNeill are alumni of The Second City’s Toronto Company, putting them in great company with Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Dan Akroyd, Martin Short, Mike Myers, and Gilda Radner, among others. Each bringing unique talents to the variety of characters they play, the performers prove that no amount of wacky voices or pop culture references can beat time and experience. The troop consists of Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen, all executive producers and writers of the series. Produced by the CBC and airing on IFC in the U.S., “Baroness Von Sketch Show” not only proves Canadian humor translates just fine, but when it comes to sketch comedy, they reign supreme. In its excellent fifth season, the group continues to make good on that promise with no sign of slowing down. Whether it’s the absurdist escalation of Red Wine Ladies’ Night, or the anti-misogynist virtue signaling of a Queer Theory Reading Group, “Baroness Von Sketch Show” took advantage of under-explored scenarios to produce hilarity that resonated with the everywoman. Since its premiere in 2016, “ Baroness Von Sketch Show” has consistently delivered smart, unexpected, rip-roaring comedy on a range of topics rarely addressed by typical sketch shows.

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