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After playing in the CFL for nine years, winning two Grey Cups and being named the CFL’s top player three years in a row, retired Stampeder Jon Cornish encounters few challenges that give him pause. Apparently, though, all it takes is a few comedians in funny wigs. If only the Eskimos’ defensive linemen had figured that out earlier.

For Dirty Laundry’s 17th season, the long-form improvised soap opera is spoofing the beloved series Friday Night Lights, and Cornish has been invited to be the special guest for the premiere. He spoke to Alan Cho about translating his football prowess into the art of improv.

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You’ve spent a lifetime training as an athlete. What training have you done for the show? I was hoping I’d have a bit more time, but based on the football and work schedule and all my (charity) appearances, I didn’t have time to take classes. I’m coming into this flying blind.

Does that make you nervous at all? I played professional sports for a long time, so nothing makes me nervous. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be interesting since I have so much experience on the football field where things don’t always go the way you want, but you make it work. It’s like that in improv, where you can’t decide how the story is going to go. You have to be open to whatever presents itself.