logo
Just For Laughs festival returns to Montreal: Michelle Buteau, Chris Distefano, Robby Hoffman, Mae Martin and more

Just For Laughs festival returns to Montreal: Michelle Buteau, Chris Distefano, Robby Hoffman, Mae Martin and more

Yahoo16-07-2025
Back in 2024, Canadian comedy fans were left without the Just For Laughs (JFL) festivals in Montreal and Toronto. But after a bankruptcy restructuring, with new owner ComediHa! taking over from the former Quebec parent company, the festival returns to Montreal this week (July 16 to July 27), featuring comedians including Michelle Buteau, Chris Distefano, Fortune Feimster, Rhys Darby, Gianmarco Soresi, Robby Hoffman, Gianmarco Soresi, Wally Baram, Mae Martin, Nish Kumar and more.
Nick Brazao, head of programming, told Yahoo Canada it's "satisfying" to be able to bring this impressive lineup to the Montreal festival. Adding that there's a lot of anticipation to see how fans respond.
"There's a lot of pieces that go into putting it together, and then once you see it all kind of happening and all being talked about, it's a good time of year," Brazao said.
For years, comedy fans haven't just seen their favourite comedians at Canadian JFL festivals, but they're unique opportunities to get exposure to talents you never knew about. Whether it's an opener you had never heard of, or the spontaneous late night stop you make hopping from show to show, it's an incredibly fun time.
"To manufacture as much as you can the discovery and the surprise aspect is, I think, a huge part of what makes festivals special and makes them worth doing," Brazao.
But with so many comedians gaining popularity and a fanbase on social media and other platforms, it all gets considered when it comes to, as Brazao described, the goal of having "something for everyone" at the festival.
"It's fun to see the effect of the internet," Brazao said. "The ability of people to reach specific pockets of audiences through social media, or through targeted platforms, whether it's Dropout improv or things like Smosh Reads Reddit stories, ... podcasting, ... through Instagram, through TikTok, or maybe more traditional comedy fans that are consuming Netflix specials and Amazon specials, ... [it's] trying to have as much of a varied landscape of that."
"People are finding ways to ... find audiences and find a relatability with people. And then now they have this opportunity in a fan base that wants to buy a ticket to see them do something. So now they have to kind of reverse engineer a show versus 15, 30, 42 years ago when the festival started, it was comedians starting with two minutes of material and going to an open mic night and turning that into five minutes of material, and turning that into 10 minutes. And if you're really good and really dedicated and brought yourself to so many audiences, you got seasoned enough to be a headlining act, and then you could hopefully be booked elsewhere."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Just For Laughs Montréal (@jflmontreal)
Brazao also highlighted that it's significant for a comedy festival of this size to be in Canada.
"If you're in a comedy club anywhere in North America and even across the world, it's referred to as 'Montreal,' but they mean Just For Laughs, which is very cool that it's irreplaceable kind of currency in terms of brand recognition and value," he said. "So it's being able to hone that and respect that, to create something every year."
"I think any good comedy festival and any good event really embodies the DNA of the city. Montreal is a city unlike any other. ... There are a few festivals in the global footprint, like Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ... but I think Canada being such a comedy home and Montreal being such a renowned stand-up place that comedians want to go to, ... now it's part of the zeitgeist."
While many of the bigger names in the history of JFL have been American, there's also a commitment to including locals, but Brazao highlighted it's about providing a space where comedians from different markets, at different stages in their comedy careers, can come together.
"When you are engaging in an activity with diverse groups of comedians that are at the top of their game, then everybody's talent level rises along with it," he said. "Ultimately, we do a lot of thinking, of trying to set people up for success. ... How do you present them in a way that sets them up for success and can help them elevate to that next level. So I think by blending everybody together, giving them the chance to rub shoulders together and to experience things together, their network is going to be built bigger."
"The best comedians are evergreen in that they could perform in front of any audience with any sort of subjective experience from whatever community they live in, but you found a way to connect with them. ... We have a responsibility to try to bridge some of those gaps, or have them open for maybe more rare or a more currently famous foreign comedian. Maybe that leads to another opportunity of them going on tour or being exposed to their fan base, and now they get more followers from having opened for whatever bigger star could be here. And then those little pieces, I think, along the way, can build up to eventually, they can have their own headlining show on their own, and it can be part of their development."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Is 'Resident Alien' Canceled? What to Know About the Decision and When the Last Episodes Will Air
Why Is 'Resident Alien' Canceled? What to Know About the Decision and When the Last Episodes Will Air

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Why Is 'Resident Alien' Canceled? What to Know About the Decision and When the Last Episodes Will Air

The sci-fi comedy will end with the upcoming season 4 finale Resident Alien no longer has a residence. The sci-fi comedy, based on the comic of the same name, debuted in 2021 on SyFy and now, Resident Alien has been canceled ahead of its upcoming fourth season finale. "I knew going into it that this was likely going to be our final season," series creator and showrunner Chris Sheridan told TV Insider. "Creatively, that was exciting because I knew we could spend the time wrapping up some storylines and driving toward an ending." He continued, "I'm so proud of how good season 4 is and especially proud that we were able to finish as strongly as we did." The show stars Alan Tudyk as an extraterrestrial who crashes on Earth, intending to wipe out humanity. After disguising himself as a doctor named Harry Vanderspeigle, he falls in love with the residents of the small Colorado town where his ship landed, and rethinks his mission of destruction. So why is Resident Alien canceled? Here's what to know about the series ending after four seasons, and what the actors have said about the news. Why is Resident Alien canceled? While a reason has not been given for Resident Alien ending, Deadline reported that the series "came close to cancellation after Season 3." It ultimately scored a renewal, but with a budget reduction and a move from SyFy to USA Network. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network change was "in hopes to expand its audience." The outlet also reported that Resident Alien received a boost in viewers after the first three seasons were added to Netflix in summer 2024. What has the cast said about Resident Alien's cancellation? Series star Tudyk commented on the cancellation, writing on Threads, "It was a hell of a fun playground to play in. Laughter through the tears." Corey Reynolds, who plays Sheriff Mike Thompson, also posted a similar sentiment on the platform, writing, "Best job I ever... had." "Special 'thank you' to all the fans who always showed us so much love. The feeling was absolutely mutual," he continued. "Thank you all for your kind words, love and support!! It's definitely a disappointing turn of events." "Frankly, I would've been happy playing, Sheriff Mike 'Big Black' Thompson, for the rest of my life," the actor added, promising that fans "will still get a complete story." Sara Tomko, who portrays Asta Twelvetrees, posted about the news on her Instagram, sharing photos of her on set. In the caption, she wrote, "It will take time for me to process and digest this fully, I'm sure ... For now, I can say with a full heart that this show changed my life completely." Elizabeth Bowen, who portrays deputy Liv Baker, also posted on Threads, assuring her followers, "We're OK." "We've been thinking that this season was probably our last ever since we got renewed for season 4. This is just confirmation," she said. "Thanks to everyone who has supported the show and continues to support us. We love you. Three more episodes." Will there be a Resident Alien spinoff? A Resident Alien spinoff has not been announced, but Sheridan expects fans to be satisfied with how the series concludes. The showrunner also teased that the finale "is probably my favorite episode of the series.' 'It gives Resident Alien a very satisfying ending while also leaving the door cracked open for any future this world may have," he continued. "I can't wait for everyone to see it." When does the Resident Alien series finale air? The Resident Alien series finale will air Friday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network and SyFy. The episode, fittingly titled "The End Is Here," is written by Sheridan. After the news broke, Tudyk posted an Instagram clip from San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, reacting to the cancellation. In the video, the actor hinted at what's ahead for his character, Harry, in the finale: "And even though no spoilers, I don't die at the end." Where can I watch Resident Alien? Resident Alien airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network and SyFy. The latest episodes are available to stream a week later on Peacock. The first three seasons can be watched on Peacock and Netflix. Read the original article on People

MAGA-affiliated musician's concert draws condemnation from City of Montreal, but goes ahead as planned
MAGA-affiliated musician's concert draws condemnation from City of Montreal, but goes ahead as planned

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

MAGA-affiliated musician's concert draws condemnation from City of Montreal, but goes ahead as planned

A performance at a Montreal church by Sean Feucht, a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement, went ahead as planned on Friday, despite attempts by the City of Montreal to shut it down. Earlier in the day, Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for the Montreal mayor's office, told CBC News that the show "goes against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect" and that the venue, located in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, would be advised that the concert cannot take place. "Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal and, as in other Canadian cities, the show will not be tolerated," she wrote in French. Feucht, an American, who is also a missionary and author, has expressed anti-diversity, anti-2SLGBTQ+ and anti-women's rights views on his platforms. In recent days, Feucht has dealt with several cancellations on his Canadian tour, including in Quebec City. Following the cancellation in Quebec City, Feucht announced that he had found an alternate venue — Église MR in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. When asked specifically why the city would try to cancel the show, Cadotte specified that the church does not have the permits to use its venue for a show. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Feucht wrote the church wasn't backing down, and told his followers it was time to "take a stand for the gospel in Canada." It wasn't clear, however, if he was referring to the city's plans to stop his performance. Just ahead of the 7 p.m. start time, Feucht, who was preparing to enter the church, didn't appear troubled by the city's requirements for a permit. "This is not a performance, it's a church service," he said. "I don't think you need a permit to worship inside a church." Feucht, however, took to the stage inside the church and began singing, accompanied by several musicians, as worshippers swayed along to the music. Meanwhile, a crowd gathered outside in protest, banging spoons on pots and pans, amid a heavy police presence in the area. When Feucht announced his Canadian tour, he stated in a promotional video that he had made it his mission to save Canada and that through him, hundreds of believers would be freed, healed and delivered. Since Wednesday, the singer has had his permits to perform revoked in other Canadian cities including Halifax, Charlottetown, Moncton, Gatineau and Vaughan, Ont.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store