Friends of Gilda was a 1993 ninety-minute television special made by CBC Television to benefit the Genesis Research Foundation,[1][2] the research fundraising arm of the University of Toronto’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
[4] The fundraiser was a tribute to Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989 and featured a long list of performers with whom she was friendly.
[5] Short also appeared in the show itself and shared writing credit with Perry Rosemond.
Paul Shaffer, who conducted and played piano for the same Toronto production of Godspell, appeared as music director.
[4][5][6] The special included songs from Godspell, backstage footage of the production, several clips from Saturday Night Live, and four comedy sketches:[4] Other performers appearing in the show include Valda Aviks,[7] Jim Betts, Karl Blindheim, Valri Bromfield, Avril Chown, Beth Anne Cole, Nancy Dolman, Brian Doyle-Murray, Robin Duke, Patty Elsasser, Victor Garber, Marvin Hamlisch, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Mary Ann McDonald, Derek McGrath, Catherine O'Hara, Carole Pope, Rosemary Radcliffe, Gerry Salsberg, Don Scardino, Stephen Schwartz, Charlene Shipp, Kevan Staples, Rudy Webb and Robin White.