The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Many envelope-pushing comedians balk at the thought of taming down their humour in order to appeal to a wider audience. But for Flin Flon-born Sandy Jobin-Bevans, the dream of landing a role on a television show supersedes any inclination to keep his act risqu. A nine-time Canadian Comedy Award winner, Jobin-Bevans stars in the family friendly sitcom Life with Boys, which premieres next month on kiddie channel YTV. The 39-year-old funnyman portrays Jack, the overprotective father of three sons and one teenage daughter, Tess, who will be the focal point of the show. "What a ride it has been so far. These kids blow me away Ð every day on set was more fun than the next," Jobin-Bevans told Zoiks! Online. "I'm excited to finally share this show with audiences." Jobin-Bevans spoke about his life and career in an interview with The Reminder last February, the same month he began shooting Life with Boys. Living in the metropolis of Toronto and landing roles in major films and TV series, he seems about as far away from Flin Flon as imaginable. As a performer with the renowned Second City improv comedy troupe, he has shared the stage with the likes of Martin Short, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell. As an actor, he has appeared on TV shows like Queer as Folk and ReGenesis, and in movies like the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake and Harold & Kumar go to White Castle. And to think it all started in a small remote mining town. Jobin-Bevans came into this world on April 21, 1972. Dad Bill Bevans was a geologist for HBMS, mom Onalee Jobin a nurse at the same hospital where her son was born. Honour His parents gave him the middle name Norman in honour of his grandfather, Norm Bevans, a well-known early Flin Flonner who spent years toting residents around in his taxi cab. Though the family moved to Georgetown, Ont., when Jobin-Bevans was just three years old, they maintained a summer cottage at Bakers Narrows for the next 20 years. Flin Flon still felt like home for the young future star, thanks in large part to his grandfather, F.L. (Bud) Jobin, the former MLA and mayor who became Manitoba's lieutenant-governor. Jobin-Bevans credits his hometown with helping to shape not only his comedic proclivity, but also his work ethic. That was especially apparent when he spent three largely unsuccessful years in Los Angeles. See 'I...' on pg. 9 Continued from pg. 3 "I wasn't booking anything and I was just getting frustrated because I know in Toronto I can work, and I like to work," he said. "And I always say I think that comes from living in a town like Flin Flon, growing up there and having that background Ð it's a working-class (community). We want to work, we don't want to just sit around waiting for something to happen." While he is thrilled with landing regular work as a TV performer, long his goal, Jobin-Bevans admits Life with Boys is not what he initially had in mind. "The funny thing was, I always thought I could be in a cool TV show where I'm like the hot young cop or something like that," he said. "And you end up being the dad of four kids." Don't be surprised if Life with Boys turns into a major hit. It is created by Michael Poryes, the man behind the wildly popular Hannah Montana and That's So Raven shows. Life with Boys is scheduled to debut on YTV on Friday, Sept. 9. Check your local listings.
