Chris Distefano talks 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' nerves, differences in Canadian comedy audiences

Yahoo

12 hours ago

New York comedian Chris Distefano continues to make people laugh with his hysterical Hulu special It's Just Unfortunate (on Disney+ in Canada), in addition to podcasts and live shows, but this week he took over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live. While Distefano has several accolades, including being the first stand-up comedian to sell out both Radio City Music Hall and the Theater at Madison Square Garden on consecutive nights in 2023, he admitted he was nervous when he stepped out to host Kimmel's show.
"It was one of those things where in the moment I was like, 'I got this,' and then right when the curtains open and they were like, 'Please welcome your guest host Chris Distefano,' I thought I was going to pass out," Distefano told Yahoo Canada. "All the anxiety I was pushing down just rushed right to my head."
But having his mother in the front row of the show helped to ease his nerves.
"Normally I don't like having my family in the front row, because comedy is a very vulnerable thing, but I almost felt like a child again, my mom was in the front row, and that calmed me down," Distefano said. "When I saw her I was like, oh my mom's right there, you're safe. It was a very bizarre feeling."
Differences in Canadian audiences
For Canadians hoping to get more Distefano after his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, the comedian is heading to the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, with a show on July 26.
"The Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival is my favourite comedy festival in the world," Distefano said. "I just love how it takes over the city."
"One of the best parts for me is, not only do I get to do my show, but then you can jump on other comedians' shows that maybe they live in another part of the country, another part of the world and you haven't seen them in a while. ... I'm sure there'll be a special guest on my show, whoever is around."
Distefano has had several shows in Canada throughout the years, but he said that audiences in each region of the country differ.
"The audiences in Toronto, they feel like New York, more blue collar, will laugh, have that edge. Montreal, you definitely have to work a little harder. They're a little bit more like, 'Impress me,' which I like. I don't mind that," Distefano said. "And then Vancouver is kind of more L.A. [in their vibe,] they're chill."
"But then I really like cities like Winnipeg and Edmonton, because people are just getting hammered and laughing at everything. ... That rowdiness, where it's almost like, oh wow, there's going to be a fist fight at my show tonight."
Chris Distefano shines with comedy about his family
Distefano's fans know that he's among the best comedians who really tap into their personal lives for comedy, and a highlight in all of his sets are when he talks about his dad.
"I love poking fun at him because I know that he can take it," Distefano said. "My whole life, ... [he] showed me what love means through comedy, like he would always, him and his brother, my uncle, who passed away, would always mess with me, make fun of me. But that was basically them saying, 'I love you.'"
"That's, I think, why I make fun of him so much. Because I feel like it's really me saying to my dad, 'Hey, I love you.'"
Another fan-favourite element of Distefano's stand-up is when he talks about his now fiancée, Jasmin Canuelas.
"Getting engaged definitely helped. It was tough all these years to be making fun of everything ... and she's like, 'I don't even have a ring on my finger,'" Distefano said. "I think she's kind of now like, go be as funny as you need to be, we've got to pay off this mortgage."
Standing out on social media
In the arc of Distefano's career, the comedian recognized that landing his Hulu special was a "turning point."
"Netflix is great. All these places are great. But Hulu, ... they don't have that many comedy specials. So I had an opportunity to really stand out and not kind of get lost in the shuffle, and to be part of like the inaugural Hulu comedy specials class with Jim Gaffigan and Bill Burr, ... comedy greats, it was really cool," he said.
But as the landscape of how people can discover comedy has evolved, particularly with many first seeing stand-ups through clips on platforms like TikTok, Distefano's thoughts on having social media fame has shifted as well.
"Initially, especially with social media, I would get recognized in the streets and some would be like, 'Oh, aren't you that comedian from TikTok?' I would almost get like offended by it. ... I'm not a TikToker. ... I have comedy specials," Distefano said. "And then that all went away where I was like, hey whatever medium people can see me in, just be grateful and feel blessed that they're watching you, and they even are acknowledging you."
"It's not about getting recognized. That's all ego. It's about my work, and it was memorable enough for them to be like, 'Oh I remember you.' Especially with the mindless scrolling we all do every day. We're taking in thousands of videos and images every day. And I'm like, if mine can stick out to a person, I feel really blessed by that."