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Vancouver Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Gavin Matts spends nights in New York comedy clubs and days auditioning for acting roles
Vancouver native Gavin Matts feels right at home in New York. 'I just like the walking and the city life. In terms of being a comedian , it kind of feels the same as it did when I was starting out in Vancouver , when I was going to the Comedy Mix every night and just trying to get up as much as possible,' said the 30-year-old who has called N.Y. home for seven years. Now Matts, who was named to Vulture Magazine's list of ' Comedians You Should and Will Know' in 2024, frequents Big Apple comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar and Standup NY. 'I'm out every night. So that's pretty much my life,' said Matts, who has been doing standup for 12 years. When he isn't onstage in a club, Matts is busy auditioning for acting roles. He has been in a few short films and shown up in the TV series Ramy and the feature film Easter Sunday. His most notable turn as of late has been as Elliot, one of the writers in the writer's room for Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart) new late-night talk show on the popular HBO (Crave in Canada) series Hacks, which wraps its fourth season on May 29. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'A lot of comedians that I talked to had taped auditions for it,' said Matts about the Hacks' role. 'It's kind of nice to be on the receiving end of, 'Oh, you got that,' because it's happened to me so many times. I've done hundreds of auditions and this is definitely the longest I've been on a show. It's nice that it's a show about comedy on TV.' A show about relationships, Hacks is focused on Vance, an iconic Las Vegas-based standup comedian who is looking to reinvent herself into a relevant voice of the times. To help her freshen her act, she hires Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a Gen Z comedy writer. The two slowly bond and butt heads. This current season has the two at odds as Daniels runs the writing room for Vance's new show. The show is a darling of the critics and has won multiple Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. 'The show is very funny. (It's) the only show that I'm actually straight-up laughing at that is a narrative TV comedy,' said Matts. 'Just being a part of something that is actually funny is rare … I don't have to lie and be like, 'I like the show,' because I genuinely do.' Matts said while shooting the show and watching Smart, whose performance in the series has earned her a pair of Golden Globes and an Emmy, he had to remind himself he was an actor in the series not an audience member with a great seat. 'I was like, 'Oh yeah, I am having to listen to her as an actor,' ' said Matts. 'She's coming off an Emmy. She had just done SNL, like, two nights before, and she's delivering this monologue perfectly. I had to be like, 'OK, active listening. I'm acting right now, and I'm not just mouth agape,' because I caught myself with my mouth a little open, being like, 'Oh, damn, I get to be a part of this,' which is awesome.' Matts had an early go at film school. But only a few months in, he discovered open mic nights at Goldies Pizza in downtown Vancouver, and he was hooked. Not long after his first open mic, Matts won a radio station contest and got to perform at Pemberton Music Festival opening for the Trailer Park Boys. 'That was three months in, and so I was like, 'That's a sign,' ' said Matts. 'It did move fast. I started getting a lot of spots at the Comedy Mix. That place pretty much changed my life.' Matts went on to become the youngest winner of Canada's SiriusXM Top Comic Competition in 2017 at age 22. He used the prize money to get a visa to work in the U.S. Once south of the border, he was getting gigs, including a spot on Conan. He also landed on the radar of comedy heavyweight Bill Burr. 'I had done a set for Comedy Central when I first moved to the States in 2018, and he was doing a show with them (The Ringers),' said Matts. 'He picked me for that show, and then that's how I kind of started having a working relationship with him. I talk to him here and there. He's always very generous with his time and advice.' Burr and his company, All Things Comedy, produced Matts's debut special, Progression, released in October 2023 and available to watch on YouTube. Matts has also made his own films, including the short film Slice of Life, which is dedicated to the Vancouver gallery of the same name. He is in the 2024 Ethan Godel-directed short film Sleep Talking, which won the Best Short Film Award at the 2025 Canadian Film Festival. In April, Matts was a guest on WTF with Marc Maron , an OG podcaster and very successful standup and actor. Maron can be seen in the Vancouver-shot and Owen Wilson-starring Apple TV+ series Stick, which premiers June 4. 'I look up to him a lot,' said Matts. 'It's such a rare thing to get older and still be current and with it. I think he's one of the few that does a good job at that. I think it's because he's introspective and has empathy for others. I have a lot of respect for him.' Matts is currently busy working on a new hour of comedy, auditioning for more acting roles and pitching his own half-hour comedy show. When asked if he will be coming back to Vancouver to perform any time soon, he said an emphatic no and explained that the current U.S. immigration situation isn't something he wants to mess with. 'My green card has been processing, so I'm just not coming until that is done,' said Matts, who was last here a year-and-a-half ago. Matts, whose comedy leans into the darker corners of existence, says the often-bewildering state of the American reality is sometimes tough to crack wise about. 'I've been thinking about this a lot, and actually had a conversation about it this morning with a friend,' said Matts when asked if troubling times are good for comedy. 'I think that it's bad for me, personally, because I do carry a lot of anxiety around everything going on … It is funny to be like, experiencing what you feel like is a complete economic collapse and total collapse, and then have to be going out every night and being like, 'Haha.' 'I think everybody is kind of feeling the same way as me.' Dgee@
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Gavin Matts spends nights in New York comedy clubs and days auditioning for acting roles
Article content Vancouver native Gavin Matts feels right at home in New York. Article content 'I just like the walking and the city life. In terms of being a comedian, it kind of feels the same as it did when I was starting out in Vancouver, when I was going to the Comedy Mix every night and just trying to get up as much as possible,' said the 30-year-old who has called N.Y. home for seven years. Article content Now Matts, who was named to Vulture Magazine's list of ' Comedians You Should and Will Know' in 2024, frequents Big Apple comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar and Standup NY. Article content 'I'm out every night. So that's pretty much my life,' said Matts, who has been doing standup for 12 years. Article content Article content Article content When he isn't onstage in a club, Matts is busy auditioning for acting roles. He has been in a few short films and shown up in the TV series Ramy and the feature film Easter Sunday. His most notable turn as of late has been as Elliot, one of the writers in the writer's room for Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart) new late-night talk show on the popular HBO (Crave in Canada) series Hacks, which wraps its fourth season on May 29. Article content 'A lot of comedians that I talked to had taped auditions for it,' said Matts about the Hacks' role. 'It's kind of nice to be on the receiving end of, 'Oh, you got that,' because it's happened to me so many times. I've done hundreds of auditions and this is definitely the longest I've been on a show. It's nice that it's a show about comedy on TV.' Article content Article content A show about relationships, Hacks is focused on Vance, an iconic Las Vegas-based standup comedian who is looking to reinvent herself into a relevant voice of the times. To help her freshen her act, she hires Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a Gen Z comedy writer. The two slowly bond and butt heads. This current season has the two at odds as Daniels runs the writing room for Vance's new show. Article content Article content The show is a darling of the critics and has won multiple Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. Article content Article content 'The show is very funny. (It's) the only show that I'm actually straight-up laughing at that is a narrative TV comedy,' said Matts. 'Just being a part of something that is actually funny is rare … I don't have to lie and be like, 'I like the show,' because I genuinely do.' Article content Matts said while shooting the show and watching Smart, whose performance in the series has earned her a pair of Golden Globes and an Emmy, he had to remind himself he was an actor in the series not an audience member with a great seat. Article content 'I was like, 'Oh yeah, I am having to listen to her as an actor,' ' said Matts. 'She's coming off an Emmy. She had just done SNL, like, two nights before, and she's delivering this monologue perfectly. I had to be like, 'OK, active listening. I'm acting right now, and I'm not just mouth agape,' because I caught myself with my mouth a little open, being like, 'Oh, damn, I get to be a part of this,' which is awesome.'
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Jocelyn Chia says MH370 joke backlash boosted her career
IN June 2023, Singapore-raised American comedian Jocelyn Chia stirred global outrage after she and Comedy Cellar posted an 89-second clip to TikTok and Instagram from her April 7 set, where she made light of the still-missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. A year later, she's speaking out, claiming the uproar changed her life 'for the better.' ALSO READ: Jocelyn Chia ridicules Malaysia's reaction to The 1975's stunt pulled at GVF 2023 In a recent interview with The Straits Times, she expressed 'gratitude' to Malaysia, saying, 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better,' she said. Come September, she'll relocate to Barcelona to chase her dream of an international comedy career, with shows lined up across Europe including Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. The MH370 joke controversy sparked a wave of hate comments, saw the Comedy Cellar's website hacked, and even led to calls from Malaysian authorities for an Interpol red notice. The backlash escalated to diplomatic levels, with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologising for Chia's 'horrendous comments' and stating that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' Chia, who had been hosting broadcasts for IBM for two years, was dropped following a complaint from the company's Malaysian office. A scheduled performance at another New York club was also cancelled. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery,' she said. The joke itself wasn't new. According to Chia, it had been part of a longer set on Singapore-Malaysia rivalry that she'd performed for over a year. Known for her high-energy delivery and razor-sharp takes on cultural identity and migration, she insists the bit was misunderstood outside the context of New York's unfiltered stand-up scene. Though she now acknowledges that silence wasn't the best response, she prioritised her well-being. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalls. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' She found strength in motivational speaker Tony Robbins' philosophy. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her personal mantra. 'In hindsight, I should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining my New York-style comedy standards,' she says. Despite the criticism from comedians in Singapore and Malaysia, her profile rose in the United States. 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jiu-jitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour,' she adds. She landed appearances on Fox News, U.S. radio shows, and podcasts. She was even offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan and is currently on an Asia tour that includes stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She performed in Singapore on May 21 and her journey is far from over.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Thank you, Malaysia' — Jocelyn Chia says MH370 joke backlash boosted her career
IN June 2023, Singapore-raised American comedian Jocelyn Chia stirred global outrage after she and Comedy Cellar posted an 89-second clip to TikTok and Instagram from her April 7 set, where she made light of the still-missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. A year later, she's speaking out, claiming the uproar changed her life 'for the better.' ALSO READ: Jocelyn Chia ridicules Malaysia's reaction to The 1975's stunt pulled at GVF 2023 In a recent interview with The Straits Times, she expressed 'gratitude' to Malaysia, saying, 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better,' she said. Come September, she'll relocate to Barcelona to chase her dream of an international comedy career, with shows lined up across Europe including Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. The MH370 joke controversy sparked a wave of hate comments, saw the Comedy Cellar's website hacked, and even led to calls from Malaysian authorities for an Interpol red notice. The backlash escalated to diplomatic levels, with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologising for Chia's 'horrendous comments' and stating that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' Chia, who had been hosting broadcasts for IBM for two years, was dropped following a complaint from the company's Malaysian office. A scheduled performance at another New York club was also cancelled. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery,' she said. The joke itself wasn't new. According to Chia, it had been part of a longer set on Singapore-Malaysia rivalry that she'd performed for over a year. Known for her high-energy delivery and razor-sharp takes on cultural identity and migration, she insists the bit was misunderstood outside the context of New York's unfiltered stand-up scene. Though she now acknowledges that silence wasn't the best response, she prioritised her well-being. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalls. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' She found strength in motivational speaker Tony Robbins' philosophy. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her personal mantra. 'In hindsight, I should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining my New York-style comedy standards,' she says. Despite the criticism from comedians in Singapore and Malaysia, her profile rose in the United States. 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jiu-jitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour,' she adds. She landed appearances on Fox News, U.S. radio shows, and podcasts. She was even offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan and is currently on an Asia tour that includes stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She performed in Singapore on May 21 and her journey is far from over.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jocelyn Chia's MH370 joke fallout: ‘It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia,' says Singapore-born comedian
SINGAPORE, May 21 — In 2023, a Singapore-raised US comedian found herself at the centre of an international storm over a controversial joke about the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Jocelyn Chia, once a lawyer and now a stand-up comic known for her high-energy, bold routines, was branded 'comedy's bad girl' by Fox News and made headlines worldwide, including in The New York Times, CNN and the BBC. The incident began when Comedy Cellar, a famous New York comedy club, posted an 89-second clip of Chia's April 7, 2023, set to TikTok and Instagram on June 5. The clip included a joke referencing the mysterious 2014 disappearance of MH370. Although the joke was part of a routine she had performed for over a year, playing on the nuanced rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, the clip sparked fierce backlash. Hate comments flooded in, Comedy Cellar's website was hacked, and protesters rallied demanding an apology. Malaysia's government even threatened her with an Interpol red notice. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan publicly condemned the joke and apologised for Chia's 'horrendous comments,' emphasising that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' The fallout extended to Chia's career: IBM, where she had been a regular broadcast host for two years, terminated her contract after a complaint from its Malaysian office, and a scheduled performance at another New York comedy venue was cancelled. Despite the uproar, Chia stood her ground. Speaking to The Straits Times, she said she 'wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job.' She defended the joke's context and delivery, explaining, 'It is all about context, intent and delivery.' The Boston-born comic, who attended St Nicholas Girls' School and National Junior College in Singapore, said she has no intention of apologising. In hindsight, Chia admitted she should have addressed the backlash more quickly by clarifying her intent and explaining the New York comedy style — 'hard-hitting, unapologetically bold punchlines' — to avoid misunderstandings. Instead, she chose silence to protect her mental health. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalled. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' Drawing strength from US self-help guru Tony Robbins, Chia adopted the mantra: 'This is happening for me, not to me.' What initially seemed like a crisis transformed into an opportunity. While some comedians from Singapore and Malaysia criticised her, her US peers praised her resilience. One comic even complimented her ability to 'jiu-jitsu a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour.' Her newfound notoriety led to a Fox News comedy panel spot, appearances on US radio and podcasts, and a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024. Currently on an Asia tour with shows booked across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, Chia plans to relocate to Barcelona in September to expand her international career, eyeing gigs in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. Ironically, Chia reflected, 'I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better.'
