I sit with my friend the amazing comedian, writer and performer Shaharah Gaznabbi and we talk about the super funny physical Rhys Darby and his special Mystic Time Bird. While we're at it we explore grief in comedy (and yes there's someone hammering in the background).
Another JFL Toronto has come and gone. It's been such a treat to see so many masters at work, each showcasing their talent in their own unique way. One of the most memorable among them was Patti Harrison, with a show that sent a shock wave of mixed emotions through The Royal Theatre.
Ottawa's Graham Kay, who now calls Brooklyn home, has built up quite the comedy résumé.
I got the chance to catch up on Zoom with the charming and talented Sydnee Washington ahead of her appearances at the Toronto Just for Laughs Festival.
You can catch Syndee's solo show "How to Start a Fire" at JFL Toronto every night at Comedy Bar from September 27-30.
Summers in Toronto are magical, and the Just for Laughs comedy festival is a perfect way to end one with a bang. It's 10 days of your favourite entertainers, the weather is right, and last call stretches 'til the wee hours.
As someone in the funny business, I often struggle between the urge to see and be seen, and the pleasure of my couch + a cozy list of grievances.
One of my favorite things about Toronto's Just for Laughs Festival is that some of the acts are really great at showing you how the sausage gets made.
If you don't know who Vir Das is by this point, that's on you, because he's very busy. Most recently, the stand-up comic released an all-crowd work special which was recorded over Zoom -- two phrases that make him a comedy daredevil. This marks his 4th special for Netflix.
Kurt Braunohler has been embracing the bananas since well before he had a podcast of the same name. A stand-up comedian, actor, and improviser, Kurt's material ranges from the conversational to the absurdist, and has always been willing to go to new places.
Laurie Kilmartin has been making people laugh for a long time. She's been working as a stand-up for most of her adult life, putting out 3 albums (including 2021's Corset) and appearing on late night shows like CONAN, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Andy Kindler has been a stand-up comic for over 30 years; toured endlessly across North America; co-starred in hit TV shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Bob's Burgers, and Maron; spent years doing regular field pieces on The Late Show with David Letterman and returns to the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal every year to deliver his "State of the Industry
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