Editing CODCO (section)

==Roots==
In 1973, [[Tommy Sexton]] and Diane Olsen wrote a comedic show about Canadian stereotypes of Newfoundlanders, ''Cod on a Stick''. Originally launched in [[Toronto]], the cast consisted of Sexton, Olsen, [[Greg Malone (actor)|Greg Malone]], [[Cathy Jones]], [[Mary Walsh (actress)|Mary Walsh]] and Paul Sametz.<ref name=nlheritage>[http://www.heritage.nf.ca/arts/codcoprof.html ''CODCO'' at Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage].</ref> The show subsequently opened in [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], with Scott Strong replacing Sametz, and then toured the province with [[Robert Joy]] replacing Strong. When the show was taped by the [[National Film Board]] in 1974, [[Andy Jones (comedian)|Andy Jones]] appeared in the cast as well.

Sexton, Olsen, Malone, Cathy Jones, Andy Jones, Walsh and Joy subsequently performed in the show ''Sickness, Death and Beyond the Grave'' in 1974. In 1975, all except Malone, who was on a brief sabbatical to study at the [[Toronto Dance Theatre]], appeared in ''What Do You Want to See the Harbour For, Anyway?''; later that year, Malone rewrote the show as ''Das Capital''.

In the fall of that year, the troupe compiled bits from their earlier shows for a week-long performance in [[Philadelphia]], which was titled ''Philadelphia: Somewhere on the Hungry Coast of Newfoundland''. That show was also taped for broadcast on [[CBC Television]]'s ''[[Peep Show (Canadian television series)|Peep Show]]'', as ''Festering Forefathers and Running Sons''.<ref>"Television: Ratings are good news for Global". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 20, 1975.</ref>

Joy and Olsen left the troupe in 1976.

[[Michael Jones (writer)|Mike Jones]], Cathy and Andy Jones' brother, was not a performing member of the troupe, but was associated with them as a frequent director of their stage shows.<ref>"Codco show no place for reserve". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', September 22, 1979.</ref>

Over the next number of years, the troupe's members only rarely worked together as CODCO, but often collaborated with each other individually on various projects, including the film ''[[The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood]]'' and the television series ''[[The Root Seller]]'', ''[[The Wonderful Grand Band]]'' and ''[[The S and M Comic Book]]''.<ref name=nlheritage/> [[Greg Thomey]] and [[Paul Steffler]] also frequently collaborated with the CODCO members on various projects.