Brownstein: Just for Laughs 2025 lineup unveiled, including Russell Peters, Fortune Feimster, Kumail Nanjiani
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There were fears in some quarters that mirth may be at a minimum here in July when no announcements had been forthcoming about the 43rd Just for Laughs Festival, particularly after lineups for such summer staples as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Osheaga and Lasso had already been unveiled.
Well, the chuckles-addicted should fret no longer. Sylvain Parent-Bédard, the JFL president and CEO who took over the fest nearly a year ago amid much turmoil, laid out a fairly impressive and well-stocked lineup on Thursday for this edition, slated to run July 16-27 at familiar downtown venues.
Crowds should be massive for free outdoor events featuring the hilarious Adam Ray in Dr. Phil LIVE on July 24 and hot-shot wit Tom Segura in Come Together on July 26, both at Place des Festivals. Among those to check out at indoor venues are the no-holds-barred Kumail Nanjiani, Mae Martin, Danny Bhoy, Russell Peters, Russell Howard, Brad Williams and hometown star Rachid Badouri — who has made a seamless transition from franco to anglo frivolity.
In addition, there will be galas again, July 25 and 26 at Théâtre Maisonneuve, hosted by Michelle Buteau and Fortune Feimster, respectively. Also back are such fest faves as the Nasty Show, New Faces of Comedy, Culture Show and Brit(ish) series. And expect the air to take a decidedly blueish hue with Roast Battle Canada spectacles.
Parent-Bédard also announced Thursday most of Juste pour rire's indoor lineup. Included for the first time will be the franco equivalent to New Faces, the Nouveau Visage series. Also appearing will be acclaimed French/Moroccan actor/comic Jamel Debbouze of Asterix fame and equally renowned French stage vet Jarry, né Anthony Lambert, as well as an array of local talent.
Overall, there will be about 300 artists appearing in 200 shows, performing outdoors and indoors at Place des Arts, L'Olympia, Espace St-Denis, Club Soda, MTelus, Studio TD and Le Gesù.
It would be understandable if some had their doubts about JFL re-emerging. There was a period last year when we thought 2024 was going to be a largely laugh-less summer in the city for many. In March 2024, it appeared the end was nigh for Just for Laughs, with the announcement that the summer fest had been cancelled and its ownership group was seeking protection from its creditors.
Then two months later, it was revealed that Quebec City's ComediHa! festival, in marking its 25th anniversary, was planning a special comedy salute to Montreal in July. Then in early June 2024, seemingly out of the blue, it was disclosed that ComediHa! had purchased the assets of the financially beleaguered Just for Laughs and had assumed control of the festival.
The fest's new leader, ComediHa! boss Parent-Bédard, was quick to come out with a JFL lineup for last July.
Suffice it to say it could take more than a year for JFL to land big-name talent as in editions gone by, so there were few lofty expectations that Parent-Bédard could pull off the feat in a few weeks.
But he did.
Admittedly, there were no Kevin Harts or Jerry Seinfelds last summer, but he managed to land Dane Cook, Iliza Shlesinger, Bassem Youssef and lovable comedy pitbull Bobby Slayton, among two dozen standups.
It's been something of a whirlwind adventure for Parent-Bédard, more likely a baptism by fire. Not only is he heading Just for Laughs and Juste pour rire here, but under his wing are JFLs in Toronto, Vancouver, Bermuda and Sydney, not to mention travelling shows and one-nighters in this country. Plus, he's still at the helm of Quebec City's ComediHa!, which has since been redubbed Juste pour rire Québec.
'The real cornerstone of Just for Laughs is and will always be Montreal,' Parent-Bédard says. 'I've really discovered that over the last year, having visited Los Angeles, New York, Macao, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney. Everywhere I've been, people in the business say the same thing, that Montreal is the comedy cornerstone in the world, and they are all thrilled to come back.
'The artists will be here again this year, as will be agents, managers, producers, broadcasters from all over the world and commercial and government sponsors. I feel the fans will be coming back as well. We've worked so hard in preparation.'
Parent-Bédard believes a strong foundation for the festival is being built and is bullish about its future. He credits Nick Brazao, the fest's head of programming and talent for bringing much-needed fluidity back.
'Nick has been our organization's cornerstone,' says Parent-Bédard, who, along with Brazao, points out that more anglo and franco talent announcements can be expected in the coming weeks.
Brazao, a former standup in town, is one of the few holdovers from the previous JFL regime.
'This has been an exciting new opportunity for me, having lived through a really tumultuous 2024,' understates Brazao, who first started at JFL in 2009. 'It means so much to the country and the rest of the world to make Montreal such a gathering point for the comedy world.
'There is nothing like this festival that exists in the world, and it energizes us so much to be part of this institution and take it forward to the next generation.'
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