Sitting down to listen to Jackie Jenkins Jr.'s album, The Jackie Jenkins Jr. Bootleg Comedy Extravaganza, was one of the things I enjoy most about comedy – experiencing something I've not heard before. Jackie is a New Orleans-based comic who has two self-produced specials: Jackie Jenkins Jr.
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.
The journey to the From Scratch Tour for John Mulaney and the city of Toronto has been a long one starting in 2018, and has had many twists and turns. He canceled four shows in Toronto for reasons from "I don't remember" to an opportunity to host Saturday Night Live (again).
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
DeAnne Smith has been doing stand-up for nearly 15 years, beginning in Montreal, moving to the Toronto scene, and performing on stages all over Canada, the United States, the UK, and Australia since.
Comic Gavin Matts has had a pretty good last couple years.
Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, New York-based comedian Dave Merheje has had a pretty stellar 2019.
Seán Cullen is one of those rare Canadian performers who has fans across any age group. People were excited to shake his hand and give him a hug as he sauntered to the stage at one of his recent JFL42 shows.
For followers of the comedian's long career, this was a decidedly deeper and more intimate evening.
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