Kidding Around

THE SHOW: “The Kids in the Hall.” An HBO/Canadian Broadcasting Corp. production airing on Comedy Central at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:30 and midnight Saturdays(check your local cable guide for channels).

THE SETUP: A series of comic skits starring Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Dave Foley and Bruce McCulloch. The guys play almost all roles, both male and female. Brought to you by producer Lorne Michaels of “Saturday Night Live,” this show often resembles “SNL” with a sharper edge, and that’s not even counting the drag.

THE GUY CLOTHES: For everyday looks, it’s pretty much your run-of-the-mill Levi’s, plaid shirts and dull sweaters. There’s also a generous supply of truly ugly overcoats and suits that look like they come from thrift stores in the former East Bloc. Still, the clothes almost always fit the characters, whether the guys are playing crusty old coots or young businessmen. And it’s not that they don’t appreciate fashion. In one wickedly funny skit, trappers who have exhausted the beaver supply prowl corporate halls with steel-jaw traps hunting yuppies for their Perry Ellis, Hugo Boss and of course “many, many Armanis.” The yup-pelts are sold to a suit store.

THE GIRL CLOTHES ON GUYS: Even though it’s an all-guy cast, the Kids have much better taste when they shop in the Misses department. In fact, some of the Kids look much better as Misses. There are very slick jacket-and-skirt combos that could make any career woman jealous. The housedresses hit just the right level of frumpy. In a scene where they play schoolgirls pining over the cutest guy on Death Row, even their uniforms and teen hairdos work. Shoulder pads remain a trouble spot, of course. They always give guys that Joan-Crawford-Transvestite-Dearest look.

THE PAYOFF: Not since Milton Berle have guys in dresses been so funny. The show is reportedly being picked up by CBS, so we can only hope they keep that edge (and dresses) on network TV.