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Montreal Gazette

Just for Laughs returns from the dead with a money-back guarantee

The Corner Booth Mommy, it's not over: Just for Laughs is back from the dead. It was a tumultuous 2024 for the city's premier comedy fest. In March of that year, the fest was abruptly and shockingly cancelled and the old ownership group sought protection from its creditors. Later, it was saved by Quebec City's ComediHa!, who delivered a small but mighty version of the fest to laugh-starved Montrealers. A year later, Just for Laughs' owner Sylvain Parent-Bédard and program director Nick Brazao, who joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week's episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli, are bringing a star-studded lineup to Montreal this July 16-27. 'It's a massive undertaking, but we want to do it with humility and resilience because it's not easy,' said Parent-Bédard, who called it a 'a dream come true' going from the francophone comedy world to the anglophone one. 'And thanks to the JFL team that used to be there, who built this great Canadian institution.' One of the remaining team members is Brazao. He first started working at the fest in 2009 and said comedians were just as eager to sign up this year. 'There's been excitement about the news of it coming back. It's a testament to the power of the Just for Laughs brand for 42 years,' Brazao said. But wait, there's more. If you bought a ticket for one of this year's galas — Fortune Feimster, Michelle Buteau, Roy Wood Jr., Mikey Day are your hosts — and didn't feel like you got your money's worth in belly laughs, then you get your money back. Seriously. 'I think it's important to make something with the anglophone community that has built this brand and who can have maybe some questions about what we're doing this year,' Parent-Bédard said. 'And to prove we're secure in the programming we've done. I know people are going to laugh, they're going to have fun, and those galas are the cornerstone of the festival.'