View source for Ed the Sock

{{Infobox character
| name               = Ed the Sock
| image              = edthesock.jpg
| image_upright      = .7
| portrayer          = [[Steven Joel Kerzner]]
| first_major        = Ed's Night Party (1995) 
| first_minor        = Newton Cable (1987)
| occupation         = Television Host, Television Personality
| nationality        = Canadian
}}

'''Ed the Sock''' is a [[sock]] [[puppet]] character, created and voiced by [[Steven Joel Kerzner]], who first appeared on Canadian local cable television in 1987. He is best known for his hosting appearances in the 1990s on [[MuchMusic]] and his own late night talk show, ''[[Ed's Night Party]]''.<ref>[http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24230678 Ed the Sock brings his wisecracks back to TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714125636/http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24230678 |date=2011-07-14 }} The Canadian Press, May 13, 2010 (Article by Bill Brioux)</ref> He is a gray sock puppet with green hair, round eyes, a scowl, a cigar and a rough, gravelly voice.

Since the acquisition of [[MuchMusic]] by [[Bell Media]], causing the cancellation of the majority of its music programming, the Ed the Sock character has continued to be portrayed through FU Network and NewMusicNation.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7757281/ed-the-sock-muchmusic-newmusicnation-steven-kerzner/|title=Ed the Sock (a.k.a. Steven Kerzner) wants to bring MuchMusic back with NewMusicNation|website=Global News}}</ref> 

== History ==

=== Origination of the Character: Newton Cable (1984–1993) ===
Kerzner originated the character while working at Newton Cable, a small local cable television provider in the city of [[North York]], part of [[Metropolitan Toronto]]. In addition to providing cable TV services for parts of the North York neighbourhoods of [[Downsview]], [[Bathurst Manor]], and [[Westminster-Branson]], the company also ran a local cable TV channel. During this time one of the public access shows the station produced needed a co-host on short notice, so Kerzner took a sock and other supplies from the station's craft closet and made a sock puppet with glue caps for eyes. He named the puppet Ed after [[Ed Asner]] and co-hosted the segment himself. He enjoyed the experience and continued to do the character, improving the sock puppet's look and changing its voice somewhat over time. In these early years Ed the Sock served as the sidekick to ''The Late Late Show''<nowiki/>'s human hosts, which included Stan Glass, [[Harland Williams]] and [[Eric Tunney]] (for almost three years). Tim Rykert also hosted for a time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/north-york-post/20150301/282342563293449|title=How North York are you?|date=March 1, 2015|website=North York Post|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> By 1987 Kerzner became a producer and director of programming.<ref>[http://tvguide.ca/Watercooler/Guilty%20Pleasures/Articles/100603_ed_sock_timeline_JO The rough life of Ed the Sock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718165213/http://tvguide.ca/Watercooler/Guilty%20Pleasures/Articles/100603_ed_sock_timeline_JO |date=2011-07-18 }} TV GUIDE, 2010-06-03 (Article by Janine Oliveira)</ref>

=== Rogers Cable (1993–1995) ===
After Newton was purchased by [[Rogers Cable|Rogers]] in 1993, Kerzner repackaged ''The Late Late Show'' for a wider cable audience. At this point Tunney was its host and star. The new show attracted the interest of producer [[John Brunton (producer)|John Brunton]], who took the program to [[CITY-TV]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217281/fullcredits|title=The Best of Ed's Night Party (Video 1996) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

=== CityTV (1995–2008) ===
[[File:Ed-&-Red's-Night-Party-Logo.png|150px|thumb|right|The logo of ''Ed & Red's Night Party'']]

==== ''Night Party'' ====
The show, which would come to be known as ''Night Party'', debuted on February 10, 1995, at 10:30 pm Eastern Time. When Tunney left the show to pursue TV hosting and comedy opportunities in the U.S., he was replaced by [[Howard Glassman|"Humble" Howard Glassman]] (better known as half of the local radio morning show [[Humble & Fred]]), and though Ed the Sock was the only returning element of the old show he was still a sidekick to the star and not the star himself. The synopsis of the show's first season reads: "Humble Howard and sidekick Ed the cigar smoking, wise-guy sock host a talk show featuring talent spotlights, celebrity interviews and studio audience interaction".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonely.geek.nz/television/ed_the_sock/episode_guide.php|title=Ed the Sock - Episode Guide (for reruns in New Zealand)|last=The Lonely Geek|website=lonely.geek.nz|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>

Within the show's first year Brunton and Glassman both departed the series. Brunton cited creative differences with Kerzner, while Humble Howard said he simply could no longer stand working with Kerzner. Their relationship remains contentious today:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontomike.com/2013/03/ed_the_sock_on_his_feud_with_h/|title=Ed the Sock on his Feud with Humble Howard and his Return to MUCH|date=March 8, 2013|website=Toronto Mike}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontomike.com/2006/08/an_interview_with_humble_howar.html|title=An Interview with Humble Howard|last=Toronto Mike|date=August 23, 2006|website=Toronto Mike|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text=I don't want to say anything about Ed or the midget that has his hand up his ass that hasn't already been said by just about everyone that's met him.
|author=Howard Glassman
}}After Humble Howard's departure the show continued with more focus on Ed and less on his human co-host. Canadian comedian [[Craig Campbell (comedian)|Craig Campbell]] replaced Glassman and stayed with the show for a decade. Ed's longest running and arguably most popular co-host, Campbell had a very laid-back demeanor and took a more polite approach with the audience, playing "good cop" to Ed's cruder antics.<ref name="If you don't have anything good to say, say it often">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonely.geek.nz/television/ed_the_sock/|title=Lonely.geek.nz :: Put on your Dancing Shoes!!!! - Greetings|website=www.lonely.geek.nz}}</ref>

In 2004 ''Ed's Night Party'', Campbell was replaced by Steven Joel Kerzner's wife Liana Kerzner (billing herself as "Liana K" and frequently referred to simply as "Red" by Ed). Ed's first female co-host, she was a busty [[Red hair|redhead]] who produced a pin-up calendar of herself which was offered for sale on Ed's website. Liana had dropped out of school in 1997 when she and Kerzner started dating to become a writer and co-producer on the show.

In its final season, the show was re-branded as ''Ed & Red's Night Party'' and increasingly emphasized appearances by porn stars, strippers in a hot tub, and the kind of frat-party excesses that Ed used to pillory.<ref name="Ed the Sock">[https://everything2.com/index.pl?node=ed+the+sock Ed the Sock] June 19, 2008 (Article by JD)</ref> This resulted in criticism and complaints, largely from some female viewers who grew tired of the show's overly sexualized and sometimes sexist clips and comments, which included such segments as ''LoCoDe'' ([[Lowest common denominator|Lowest Common Denominator]]), porn star visits, and weekly clips of drunk spring break girls in [[Wet T-shirt contest]]s with Ed providing joke commentary.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

In its 14th and final season the series was also broadcast on [[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]] in the U.S. as part of their ''Midnight Spank'' late night television programming block.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wn.com/Ed_&_Red's_Night_Party/television|title=Ed's Night Party|access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2008, Rogers announced that ''Ed & Red's Night Party'' would be canceled as of August 31, 2008, in an effort to attract female viewers, some of whom disapproved of Ed's politically incorrect and sexist shtick.<ref name="Rogers to Ed: Put a Sock In It!">[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2008/06/25/rogers_to_ed_put_a_sock_in_it.html] THE TORONTO STAR, June 25, 2008 (Article by Raju Mudhar)</ref> The final show aired Friday, August 29, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brioux.tv/blog/2008/08/28/partys-over-for-ed-the-sock-at-city-tv/|title=Party's over for Ed the Sock at CITY-TV|last=Brioux|first=Bill|date=August 28, 2008|website=brioux.tv|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref> This also marked the end of Kerzner's relationship with both ''Much'' and ''[[Citytv]]'', with Kerzner stating after Rogers announced their decision to ax Ed the Sock: "It appears Citytv is heading towards something more of a women's channel, I don't know."<ref name=":1" />

After ''Night Party'''s cancellation, Kerzner stated that the Ed character would live on in other projects that were already in the works, "for this fall or possibly a few months after that",<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/24975329.html|title=Ed the Sock turfed from CityTV|date=June 25, 2008|website=Oh No They Didn't|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> including other shows on competing networks and a feature film, though these projects never materialized and he remained off the air for more than two years.<ref name="edfinal">{{cite news|newspaper=Toronto Sun |title=Citytv socks it to Ed |url=http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2008/06/25/5976996-sun.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628095306/http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2008/06/25/5976996-sun.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2008 |date=June 25, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2008/06/25/rogers_to_ed_put_a_sock_in_it.html|title=Rogers to Ed: Put a sock in it|last=Mudhar|first=Raju|date=June 25, 2008|website=Toronto Star|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

==== Ed's Nite In ====
At CityTV, Ed also hosted ''Ed's Nite In'', a short-lived series in which he would invite "friends" over to watch (and make fun of) bad movies. The show was slightly different from Ed's later bad movie show ''[[This Movie Sucks!]]'' in that the movies they broadcast were more current in ''Ed's Nite In'' and Ed and his friends did not comment during the movies, only before and after commercial breaks, which also included sketches.

=== MuchMusic (1995–2005) ===
After moving ''Night Party'' to ''[[Citytv]]'', Ed also began making appearances concurrently on [[Much (TV channel)|MuchMusic]]. This lasted from the mid-1990s until he was released by ''Much'' in 2005.

==== Ed's Big Wham Bam ====
While at ''Much'', Ed hosted the short-lived series ''Ed's Big Wham Bam'', a live weekly two-hour program that featured viewers performing talents such as singing, dancing, and cooking. The show was canceled by the network due to poor ratings.

==== Fromage takeover ====
In the late 1990s, MuchMusic VJ [[Christopher Ward (songwriter)|Christopher Ward]], the creator of Much's annual ''[[Fromage (special)|Fromage]]'' special (so named because it mocked the year's "cheesiest" [[music videos]]), decided to no longer host the show himself. Ed accepted an offer to take over hosting duties, which he did until Much canceled the specials in 2005.

''Fromage'' may be the most popular project Ed has been involved with, and he has repeatedly stated that he plans to bring it back in some form.

=== CHCH-TV Hamilton (2010–2012) ===
[[File:ThisMovieSucks!-Initial-Hosts.png|150px|thumb|''This Movie Sucks!'' as seen in the first episode]]

==== This Movie Sucks! ====
In 2010, after more than two years off the air, Ed returned to television on regional [[CHCH-TV]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]<ref name="CHCH expands programming for fall"/><ref name="CHCH-TV 'tweaks' format"/> with ''[[This Movie Sucks!]]'', which was similar to his previous ''CityTV'' show ''Ed's Nite In''. Kerzner relied on the use of [[Student Internships|student interns]] from nearby [[Mohawk College]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mohawk students help bring Ed back to TV|last=Bowes|first=Gord|date=May 27, 2010|work=Hamilton Mountain News}}</ref> and the show was initially plagued with technical issues.

The show was once again co-hosted by his wife [[Liana Kerzner|Liana K]] and featured comedian [[Ron Sparks (comedian)|Ron Sparks]]. In each two hour episode Ed has guests over to watch (and make fun of) a [[List of films considered the worst|bad movie]]. ''This Movie Sucks!'' was named one of the five best television shows of 2010 by ''Toronto Entertainment''<ref>Phung, Wei. "Looking Back At All The Best of 2010", ''Toronto Entertainment'', 27 December 2010</ref> and one of the three best new shows of 2010 by ''Excalibur Magazine''.<ref>Miller, Amy. "The Best New Shows of 2010", ''Excalibur Magazine'', 6 January 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.excal.on.ca/arts/the-best-new-shows-of-2010/|title=The Best New Shows of 2010|access-date=2011-01-08|archive-date=2011-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727141848/http://www.excal.on.ca/arts/the-best-new-shows-of-2010/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A third season of ''This Movie Sucks!'' was reported to be in production but never materialized, with ''CHCH'' announcing that no future episode screenings were planned.

==== I Hate Hollywood ====
Produced concurrently with ''This Movie Sucks!'' on CHCH-TV was another Ed-hosted series called ''[[I Hate Hollywood]],'' which Kerzner based on ''Fromage''<nowiki/>'s style and template.<ref name="CHCH expands programming for fall">[http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20100727/chch.html CHCH expands programming for fall] Media in Canada, July 27, 2010 (Article by Katie Bailey)</ref><ref name="CHCH-TV 'tweaks' format">[http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/251528--chch-tv-tweaks-format CHCH-TV 'tweaks' format] THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR, August 26, 2010 (Article by Steve Arnold)</ref> It was originally supposed to premiere in September 2010,<ref>[http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/GB/20100513/CP05/305139830/-1/SAG03/ed-the-sock-brings-his-wisecracks-back-to-tv-with-new-indie-show-on&template=cpArt Ed the Sock brings his wisecracks back to TV with new indie show on CHCH] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716125802/http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/GB/20100513/CP05/305139830/-1/SAG03/ed-the-sock-brings-his-wisecracks-back-to-tv-with-new-indie-show-on%26template%3DcpArt |date=2011-07-16 }} The Canadian Press, May 13, 2010 (Article by Bill Brioux)</ref> but was pushed back several times until it finally began airing on Wednesday nights, beginning May 2, 2012. The show, once again co-hosted by his wife Liana, made fun of the latest [[celebrity]] [[gossip]] and news but only lasted a few episodes before being canceled by the network.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708140535/http://www.chartattack.com/news/82302/thirteen-reasons-to-celebrate-ed-the-socks-return-to-television Ed The Sock Returning To Save Television]}} CHARTattack, May 14, 2010 (Article by Kate Harper)</ref>

Ed the Sock has not had a show on network TV since this show's cancellation by CHCH.

==== The Being Frank Show ====
Ed briefly became [[Frank D'Angelo]]'s sidekick on ''[[The Being Frank Show]]'' in 2011–2012, which aired during late night [[infomercial]] slots purchased by host and beer entrepreneur [[Frank D'Angelo]] on ''CHCH-TV'', the same network that aired ''This Movie Sucks!'' and ''I Hate Hollywood''. Kerzner appeared as Ed the Sock in the D'Angelo's 2018 film ''[[The Joke Thief]]''.

=== FU Network ===
[[File:Clint Hoekstra and Ed the Sock 2018.png|thumb|Clint Hoekstra and Ed the Sock in 2018]]
After launching fundraisers beginning in 2015, in late 2016 Ed the Sock announced the ''FU Network'', a video sharing website, from which he would share old and new clips. He also announced he would begin [[live stream]]ing a new live weekly show from the entrance/lobby of the [[Hard Rock Cafe]] restaurant in downtown [[Toronto, Ontario]] called ''Live from Canada, It's Ed the Sock!'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCs3C3bMI4&list=PLBRvebbl4FVQE-CTBbH-JoaYW2UaaBpGZ&index=6&t=0s|title=Live from Canada: It's Ed the Sock!|date=November 17, 2016|website=YouTube|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>

The Toronto location of Hard Rock Cafe closed on May 31, 2017, making future shows from that location impossible.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/13/hard-rock-caf-closing-its-doors-at-yonge-dundas-square-location.html|title=Hard Rock Café closing its doors at Yonge-Dundas Square location {{!}} The Star|last=Brait|first=Ellen|date=March 13, 2017|website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-01}}</ref>

In April 2017, Ed posted a video to his YouTube channel called "Who Murdered MuchMusic", documenting what he refers to is the demise and downfall of the Canadian music channel by pointing the finger at [[Bell Media]] and arguing that their behind the scenes management killed the station.<ref>[https://etcanada.com/news/216560/former-tv-personality-ed-the-sock-comes-under-fire-over-who-murdered-muchmusic-video/ Former TV Personality Ed The Sock Comes Under Fire Over Who Murdered MuchMusic Video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212422/https://etcanada.com/news/216560/former-tv-personality-ed-the-sock-comes-under-fire-over-who-murdered-muchmusic-video/ |date=2018-07-23 }} Entertainment Tonight Canada, April 6th 2017 (Article by Rachel West)</ref> The video was pulled by YouTube after Bell Media complained about copyright infringement stemming from Kerzner's use of footage and logos owned by the conglomerate.

In July 2018, he launched an [[Indiegogo]] campaign to have the network officially launch online, promising to bring back old ''MuchMusic'' shows from the 1990s and early 2000s. Although his [[Indiegogo]] campaign failed to reach his goal of $35,000, Ed announced that he had met the goal through additional [[PayPal]] donations people had also made, and that the ''FU Network'' launched as planned, it has since been merged with Ed's website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edthesock.com/|title=Ed the Sock|website=Ed the Sock}}</ref>

=== NewMusicNation (2021) ===

In 2021, Ed launched an Indiegogo campaign and website to support NewMusicNation, an online platform for new Canadian music with new VJs.<ref name="auto"/> The platform also seeks to support musical acts who have been heavily impacted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]].<ref name="auto"/>

In May 2023, Ed the Sock was announced as the host of an overnight radio program on [[CKGE-FM|94.9 The Rock]] in [[Oshawa]], [[Ontario]].<ref>Connie Thiessen, [https://broadcastdialogue.com/ed-the-sock-revives-overnight-radio-format-in-the-gta/ "Ed the Sock revives overnight radio format in the GTA"]. ''Broadcast Dialogue'', May 16, 2023.</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== Night Party ===
''Night Party'' aired in the late-night slot because of its overt depictions of sexuality, primarily involving sexualized, scantily clad (frequently topless) women and Ed's off-color remarks. The show was dismissed by many critics as nothing more than dirty "vaudeville schtick" overly relying on sex and bathroom jokes, with a "phallic in nature and attitude" host described as a "prurient party animal who feeds on his own misanthropy and sexism" and whose comedy, "vacillating between penetrating satire and pointless vulgarity" appealed only to "17 year old boys".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20070714/283029755202501|title=Ed the Sock pulls all the right strings|date=July 14, 2007|via=PressReader|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref> Because of the crude, sexist humor, coarse language and nudity, a [[disclaimer]] had to preface the airing of every episode in the series' run.

Complaints were filed with the [[Canadian Broadcast Standards Council]] throughout the show's run<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsc.ca/decisionsarchive/19-9495/19-9495-0100_PD_E.pdf|title="Ed the Sock" Promotional Spots Decision|date=August 23, 1995|website=Canadian Broadcast Standards Council|access-date=July 6, 2019}}</ref> because of the prevalent "sexism" and allegations the show was "derogatory to women", with some of those complaints upheld. A January 2004 episode received criticism and complaints after Ed, Craig and Liana jokingly compared sex with women to stabbing women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsc.ca/perpetuating-link-between-women-and-violence-breaches-codes-says-canadian-broadcast-standards-council/|title=Perpetuating Link between Women and Violence Breaches Codes, Says Canadian Broadcast Standards Council|date=February 15, 2004|website=CBSC|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=The Ontario Regional Panel reviewed all of the correspondence and screened a tape of the episode in question. The Panel considers that the broadcast of the challenged episode was in breach of Clauses 6 and 11 of the CAB Code of Ethics and Article 7 of the Violence Code.|sign=Canadian Broadcast Standards Council in an October, 2004 ruling|source=CBSC Decision 03/04-0516 - October 22, 2004}}

In a further CBSC decision in March 2005 following a separate complaint, it was ruled that the viewer advisory screened before and during episodes of Night Party was insufficient under the CBA Code of Ethics and needed to be strengthened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsc.ca/late-night-comedy-variety-program-did-not-exploit-women-but-required-detailed-advisories-says-canadian-broadcast-standards-council/|title=CBSC Ruling|date=March 12, 2005|website=Canadian Broadcast Standards Council|access-date=July 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsc.ca/decisionsarchive/20-0304/20-0304-1814_PD_E.pdf|title=CBSC Decision 03/04-1814|date=March 11, 2005|website=Canadian Broadcast Standards Council|access-date=July 6, 2019}}</ref>

Most infamously, following a stunt with a porn star named Doria in 1999, in which she stripped naked and pretended to have sex in "cowgirl" position with the Ed puppet on her hotel bed, many viewers complained and several stations dropped the show, including the entire province of Alberta where the show was banned for some time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/486035019/|title=Ed the Sock Banned in Alberta|date=November 19, 1999|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

=== Triumph the Insult Comic Dog ===
Kerzner has accused [[Triumph the Insult Comic Dog]]'s creator [[Robert Smigel]] of [[plagiarizing|ripping off]] Ed the Sock. The controversy dates back to 1997 when Kerzner claims Ed was set to appear on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' but was suddenly cancelled, months before Smigel's Triumph debuted on that show.<ref>[http://www.bureau42.com/view/7667/this-movie-sucks-discussion “This Movie Sucks” Discussion] bureau42.com, July 11, 2010</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://publish.uwo.ca/~sjohn7/edthesock.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708030329/http://publish.uwo.ca/~sjohn7/edthesock.htm|url-status=dead|title=Is Triumph just a poor man's Ed the Sock??|archivedate=July 8, 2009}}</ref> Conan and NBC maintain that Ed was never even tentatively booked to appear on the show. Kerzner afterwards expressed such resentment towards Triumph and Smigel that NBC stated they "didn't want Ed anywhere near Triumph" when Conan visited Canada for a week of shows during February 2004,<ref>[http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=ed+the+sock Ed the Sock] Everything 2, Originally posted on June 19, 2008. Retrieved on May 4, 2011</ref> with the Canadian network complying.

When Smigel and [[Pets.com]] became embroiled in lawsuits over the Triumph and Pets.com dog puppet characters, Kerzner renewed his claims that Triumph had ripped him off. Kerzner claimed that he did not sue Smigel because "we don't want to give that dog that much attention."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/of-socks-and-men/article25461748/|title=Of socks and men: Ed The Sock has been giving a bad name to male hosiery for a few years now|last=Tertius|date=May 5, 2000|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref>

===Other===
In 2005, Kerzner's ''Ed's Night Party'' co-producer James Stamos was ejected from a [[Toronto Blue Jays]] game for wearing a shirt promoting the show that other fans complained was offensive. An usher asked him to turn the shirt inside out, but Stamos refused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2005/08/01/Franchises/Kind-Of-Blue-Jays-Eject-Fan-For-Wearing-Offensive-Shirt.aspx|title=Kind of Blue: Jays Eject Fan for Wearing Offensive Shirt|date=August 1, 2005|access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref>

After being announced as one of the 2007 Beaches Lions Club Easter Parade marshals, Ed the Sock was removed following dozens of complaints by concerned Beaches residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/03/28/no_easter_parade_for_ed_the_sock.html|title=No Easter Parade for Ed the Sock|last=Taylor|first=Billy|date=March 28, 2007|website=Toronto Star|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torontoist.com/2007/03/ed_the_sock_kic/|title=Ed the Sock Kicked Out of Parade|last=Whaley|first=Karen|date=March 28, 2007|website=Torontoist|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> The organizers determined Kerzner's act was "too raunchy for a community event"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2012/11/21/history-beach-metro-news-2007-year-distinction/|title=A History of Beach Metro News - 2007|last=Blinoff|first=Sheila|date=November 21, 2012|website=Beach Metro|access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref> and replaced him with fellow Canadian comedian [[Luba Goy]] (of the [[Royal Canadian Air Farce]] comedy troupe).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20070409/282578783596706|title=A Chilly Day for Easter Bonnets|last=Chung|first=Matthew|date=April 9, 2007|website=Toronto Star|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, Ed the Sock was criticized for what were described as racist comments concerning [[New Democratic Party]] leader [[Jagmeet Singh]]. NDP MP Don Davies described Ed the Sock's use of "Jughead" to refer to Singh as "pure racism"; several Liberal MPs including Health Minister [[Patty Hajdu]] and Minister of Digital Government [[Joyce Murray]] condemned Ed the Sock's comments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pressprogress|title=Liberal MPs Denounce 'Ed the Sock' After Calls to Disavow Racist 'Dog Whistles' Targeting Jagmeet Singh|url=https://pressprogress.ca/liberal-mps-denounce-ed-the-sock-after-calls-to-disavow-racist-dog-whistles-targeting-jagmeet-singh/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=PressProgress|date=16 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Inspirations ==
Ed's look has become more well defined over the years but is a basic [[sock puppet]] design very similar to any other, such as [[Shari Lewis]]'s famous [[Lamb Chop (puppet)|Lamb Chop]] and [[Lamb Chop's Play-Along|other sock puppet characters]].

Kerzner has claimed that Ed's voice is based on two actual people (non-celebrities), a friend's father and step-father, whose names remain undisclosed. However at other times he has said that Ed's voice is a combination of a “friend’s dad, [[Oscar the Grouch]] and [[Jack Klugman]] from ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]''.”<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/03/12/ed_the_sock_returns_to_muchmusic_march_13.html|title=Ed the Sock returns to MuchMusic March 13|last=Wong|first=Tony|date=March 12, 2013|website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>

The name "Ed" was inspired by actor [[Ed Asner]] who Kerzner enjoyed watching in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' and whose gruff voice is another inspiration for the puppet.

== Other appearances ==
Despite being a vocal critic of [[Video on Trial]] and saying he would never appear on it because in his opinion it was never as good as ''Fromage'', Ed was a guest on that show in 2013, nine years after his days as a regular at MuchMusic had ended. It was supposed to be a chance for Ed to reach a "nationwide audience" again, and "expose Ed to a whole new generation."<ref name=":2" /> Kerzner said Ed would be in the show's regular rotation of comedians after that, but he never appeared on the show again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brioux.tv/blog/2013/03/13/tonight-ed-the-sock-is-alive-and-kickin-on-muchmusics-video-on-trial/|title=Ed the Sock is Alive and Kickin' on MuchMusic's Video on Trial|last=Brioux|first=Bill|date=March 13, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>

Ed has made some radio appearances<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110205114309/http://www.friendsoftheargonauts.com/talk/content.php?136-Ed-The-Sock-Headlines-This-week%92s-edition-of-The-Sports-Guys Ed The Sock Headlines This week’s edition of The Sports Guys] January 21, 2011</ref> and has guested at sci-fi conventions. Kerzner sponsored and co-hosted as Ed (with his wife Liana) the first Constellation Awards in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://constellations.tcon.ca/2007.shtml |title=2007 Constellation Awards Archive |access-date=2010-11-01 |archive-date=2015-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029153616/http://constellations.tcon.ca/2007.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also was an [[advice columnist]] for ''Faze Magazine'' in 2001 and 2002.<ref>[http://www.fazeteen.com/ed/index.html ASK ED & RED...] Faze Magazine</ref> The Kerzners also have a now-defunct New Year's Eve convention Futurecon, which ended abruptly in 2014 after only running for three years (2011-2014).

On June 23, 2011, Ed and Liana began hosting the short-lived ''Ed & Red's Podcast'' for gwmp.tv.<ref>[http://gwmp.tv/tvfilm/edthesock Ed & Red's Podcast] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716095213/http://gwmp.tv/tvfilm/edthesock |date=2011-07-16 }} gold water moving pictures</ref> They have announced plans to bring their podcast back in some form.

In 2011 Ed made several appearances as [[Frank D'Angelo]]'s sidekick on [[The Being Frank Show]], a paid [[infomercial]] program on CHCH-TV, the same network which formerly produced ''This Movie Sucks!'' and ''I Hate Hollywood''.

Kerzner also appeared as a stand-up comedian in his friend [[Frank D'Angelo]]'s independent film [[The Joke Thief]].

In 2018 Ed appeared as a guest on the fourth episode of ''Quillette{{'}}s'' [[Wrongspeak]] podcast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrongspeak Podcast |url=https://soundcloud.com/wrongspeak |website=SoundCloud |access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref>

Ed has made several attempts to be asked to appear on the [[Juno Awards]] but has not been successful as of yet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ed the Sock's Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/EdtheSock/status/1090284193832148994 |website=Twitter |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref> He claims the Junos have a "grudge" against him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1090284193832148994|title=Ed the Sock Junos tweet|last=Ed the Sock|date=January 29, 2019|website=Twitter|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>

== FU Party ==
In 2010, Ed announced his intention to run for [[Prime Minister of Canada]] in the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 federal election]] as head of the new FU Party, a [[joke political party]] never registered with [[Elections Canada]], which he claimed stood for "Fed-Up Party". The FU Party's stated goals included "fighting apathy and stupidity in government".<ref>[http://www.edthesock.com/fu.gif Ed the Sock for Prime Minister - TV Legend announces new party to fight apathy & stupidity] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807032302/http://www.edthesock.com/fu.gif |date=2011-08-07 }} Ed the Sock Website, March 23, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011</ref> Throughout the campaign the "FU Party News Centre" posted links to various articles and videos trying to encourage people to vote and criticizing the political establishment, especially the Conservative government and re-election campaign of [[Stephen Harper]]. Around this time, Ed also started his own [[WordPress]] [[blog]] called "Nobody's Puppet!" where he elaborated his thoughts on politics but also on the media industry.

He searched for volunteer candidates to run in ridings across Canada, as well as a volunteer "Facebook expert" to help promote Ed and his party, until April 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/EdtheSock/status/54314037160321024|title=Ed the Sock - FU Party tweet|date=April 2, 2011|website=Twitter|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/EdtheSock/status/56110544985399296|title=Ed the Sock - FU Party - Facebook volunteer request|date=April 7, 2011|website=Twitter|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref>

Although the Conservatives actually picked up 23 seats and the Liberals lost 43, Ed declared victory for the FU Party on April 28, 2011, claiming that he had successfully assailed apathy and taking credit for the record turnout at advance polls, although actual [[Voter turnout in Canada|voter turnout]] ended up being only slightly higher than in [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]], which helped the governing [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]] to win a majority of seats.<ref>[http://ca.news.yahoo.com/low-voter-turnout-monday-helps-deliver-conservatives-coveted-053803721.html Low voter turnout Monday helps deliver Conservatives' coveted majority]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Canadian Press, May 3, 2011</ref>

After the election Ed stated that the "Orange Surge" showed Canadians had learned that they have a choice. While not officially endorsing the [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]], Ed stated that the "NDP has become the FU vote". Ed also stated he hopes the FU Party will continue to provide "smartass commentary for a dumbass political establishment".

In the 2015 election, Ed once again announced he was running for Prime Minister under the FU banner.

== See also ==
*''[[This Movie Sucks!]]''
* ''[[Ed & Red's Night Party]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.edthesock.com/}}
*{{IMDb name|nm0450156}}

{{Ed the Sock}}

[[Category:Ed the Sock| ]]
[[Category:Puppets]]
[[Category:Much (TV channel) personalities]]
[[Category:Canadian television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:Canadian music critics]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Toronto]]
[[Category:Fictional interviewers]]
[[Category:Fictional television personalities]]
[[Category:Socks]]
[[Category:Canadian video jockeys]]
[[Category:Canadian radio hosts]]