"BENEFIT BRINGS IMPROV TO THE MASSES...Rick Wharton began producing a monthly improvisational comedy show at the Laugh Resort more than two years ago. It was a new concept inspired by the belief that an alternative style of comedy could successfully transport itself to a mainstream venue. Wharton, who began his career in comedy in 1989 with the improv troupe Plead the Fifth, was confident that an all-star show would draw. His theories proved correct. Twenty-four shows later, Wharton's improv festivities routinely draw healthy crowds. He pulled the art of spontaneous comedy from the hipster clubs and gave it to the masses. This week, Wharton displays another aspect of his talents as a producer as he presents Yo Adrian II, a comedy binge featuring notable laugh-meisters and songsters." Andrew Clark - The Toronto Star

"COULD IT BE...A CONSPIRACY? Space station ranter Rick Wharton has been calling in favours from his former life in the record business. The Tragically Hip's Gord Downie, Triumph's Rik Emmett and Rush's Alex Lifeson are lined up to appear in Behind the Coat, a Behind the Music-styled half-hour Conspiracy Guy special. Meanwhile, he and his writing partner Denis McGrath are developing a TV version of their Fringe Festival play Just a Second "about a guy who constantly comes in second and how that's viewed as negative." Also ahead is a project called Soupy and Shecky. "When Frank and Dean and Sammy were playing at the Sands, they were playing Vegas at the exact same time," Wharton explained. Claire Bickley, The Toronto Sun

"COMIC CLOTHES... June is gearing up to be a real "funny month." Plead the Fifth perform at Hector's Comedy Cave several times in June. Rick Wharton - "I like wearing this Le Chateau suit because it keeps me from getting harassed by the cops. It's got a black short-waisted jacket and regular suit pants. Singer Robert Palmer spent years struggling in dives. When he put on a suit, success followed, and that's rock'n'roll, babe." Ingrid Hamilton, Toronto Sun

"RICK WHARTON ON STAGE... Rick Wharton was back in town, this time as part of the Second City Revue. I used to think he was funny when he was working with MCA, but the guy has developed into a laugh-a-minute master of cliches and one-liners. They also did a really well done improv bit, using suggestions from the audience. A tough challenge, but the audience loved it." RPM Magazine

"RICK WHARTON MAXES OUT ON IMPROV... there's a new monthly improv night going down in town and quick minded ringmaster Rick Wharton is at the helm. The first time out, the show sold out. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash couldn't even get in. "It's the most organic form of comedy theatre there is" enthuses Second City vet Wharton. "And it's a heck of a lot of fun. With this particular group of people, we delve more into character-based comedy. Everyone involved has a lot of experience doing that. The reason I do it is because I have a real need to perform live. I have an addiction to improvisation." Daryl Jung

"T.O. COMIC SEEKS METHOD FOR IMPROVING ON IMPROV...As if it weren't hard enough to master improv comedy's split-second creativity, Rick Wharton has found a way to make it even tougher, and he hopes, more exciting. Not content just to stage spur-of -the moment sketches, Wharton has taken it upon himself to assemble a brand new troupe for each of his monthly shows at the Laugh Resort on Lombard Street. On occasion, Wharton likes to wing it on his own - for instance, as part of Comedy Slam at the Rivoli. "Working on stage isn't new to me, but I've spent a lot of time in troupe work, especially in the last couple of years. Maybe I'll try a song or two, or a monologue of some kind. In any case, I'll be improvising and feeding off the audience's reactions, which is what I like best." The satisfaction of that immediacy - in both the creative process and the public's response - has generated a solid following for improv nights ever since the series' debut." Henry Mietkiewicz, The Toronto Star

"MAKING IT UP FOR FUN AND PROFIT...This Ain't No Benefit, by Second City alumnus Rick Wharton, drew a virtual sell out crowd. It was the best improv sketch show I've seen since The Illustrated Men - exemplified improv's most attractive qualities. " Andrew Clark - Eye Magazine

"CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK CONFERENCE... I'm looking forward to the industry banquet and watching Rick Wharton in action. Remember him? He used to be Rick Wharton, the MCA promo whiz kid. Now, he's a standup comic. Not much difference in job description right? Anyway, he's plugged into the industry and his wit is very cutting. No one will be spared. I hope he doesn't use my directory of initials, or I just might be on the grease again." RPM Magazine

"PARTY CRASHER - That Space Channel Conspiracy Guy, Rick Wharton, apparently took security matters a bit too far earlier this week. Taging a fake scene for cameras of him getting roughed up and hauled away by actors at the front doors of the American Beauty party, he caught the eye of the real, burly fest bodyguards nearby. They jumped in on the action and roughed him up themselves until a crew member explained what they were doing. But even as he left, one yelled out: "Hey, look, he's getting away!" National Post 

"JUST A SECOND... The theme of Rick ("The Conspiracy Guy") Wharton's Fringe entry depends on your sympathy with his lead character on the matter of the overwhelming frustration one feels at being a second-place finisher in the human race. Wharton is a personable, versatile performer with a particular gift for cornball songs -- the best here is an infectiously silly Steve Lawrence-style run as Soupy, singing sidekick to crass Catskills quipster Shecky Oates (played with stogie-gnashing abandon by Second City alumnus Jef Farquharson). With additional help from Alex Karzis and Jackie Pillon, Just a Second... makes for an above-average 30 minutes of sketch comedy. " Eye Magazine