just for laughs – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 175: Mike Bridenstine & All Star Picks New Faces to Watch

August 2, 2023

comics to watch, jfl, jfl montreal, just for laughs, new faces of comedy, variety

Despite their being several more months of the year left to go, right around now is the time of each year when a big share of the “comedians to watch” lists come out. Namely, the Just For Laughs Montreal New Faces of Comedy and Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch came out recently, highlighting what are supposed to be 2023’s class of comedians you should be paying attention to if you haven’t done so already.

That said, there is much more nuance that goes into picking the many dozens of comics between those two lists (FYI, Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know List has yet to come out) and we enlisted comedy expert and historian and beloved comic Mike Bridenstine to make choice picks from those already highly selective picks. Essentially, Bridenstine and us do an all-star line-up of JFL and Variety’s all-star line-up in this very special episode of TCB Field Report.

Follow Mike @mikebridenstine on IG, pre-order his book The Perfect Amount of Wrong and get info/tix for Microdose and Flagship here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

TCB Debriefing 7/24/23: Chris Fleming, JFL New Faces, Barbie Sets Records, Residuals, Comedy Cellar Streaming

July 24, 2023

News

barbie, chris fleming, comedy cellar, jfl montreal, just for laughs, new faces, peacock, regal cinemas

1. It has been far too long since we’ve gotten a special from the dazzling Chris Fleming. That time is coming to a close soon with the wonderfully named “Hell”. Get your first look at Hell here, then look for it on Peacock on Fri. Aug. 18th.

2. JFL Montreal announces their New Faces of Comedy for 2023. Congrats x 66.

3. Barbie set a lot of records for this Barbenheimer weekend including, Largest Domestic Opening of 2023 so far, Largest Grossing Day of 2023 so far, Largest Domestic Opening Weekend for Gerwig, Robbie, and Gosling, Largest Opening Weekend for Movie Based on a Toy (Deadline). Maybe Margot Robbie will end up being right about this being a billion dollar movie?

4. The Comedy Cellar, one of the world’s most famous comedy clubs, will be breaking new ground by live-streaming two of their shows from the venerable stage to Regal Cinemas on Aug. 5th. If you’re looking for a way to get around the 2 drink minimum at the Cellar, this would be a good one.

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5. One might have thought it couldn’t be done, but Elon Musk might have made the letter X uncool for awhile.

TCB Debriefing 7/13/23: JFL Montreal, SAG-AFTRA Strike, Quiz Lady, Kill Rock Stars, WWDITS

July 13, 2023

News

awkwafina, jfl montreal, just for laughs, kill rock stars, papp johnson, quiz lady, sag-aftra, sandra oh, strike, what we do in the shadows

1. JFL Montreal 2023 line-up (minus New Faces of Comedy, of course)

2. SAG-AFTRA will go on strike just past midnight tonight, joining the WGA in their fight for a fair contract from the AMPTP. All union productions will cease that haven’t been shut down already, which includes plenty of comedies and film festivals and film premieres might as well have tumbleweeds roll down the red carpet until a new contract is agreed upon. This will absolutely affect comedies in production, coming up for release (no more fun Barbie press events), and potential upcoming projects (especially since SAG-AFTRA covers voiceover work as well). Get ready for a bunch of reality TV and game shows, even more than what is already being shoved down our collective throats.

3. Quiz Lady, a buddy road comedy starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh, is set to premiere Nov. 3rd (Deadline) and hopefully both strikes will be over by then and the duo can have a fun late night appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

4. Famous punk record label, Kill Rock Stars, are relaunching their comedy division and starting off with an album release from Papp Johnson. Here’s a sneak peek here.

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5. Just a friendly reminder that What We Do In the Shadows, one of the most enduringly funniest shows on TV, returns for season 5 tonight on FX and Hulu. It’s mandatory viewing as far as we’re concerned, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the Television Academy.

6. With both professional writers and actors going on strike, you better bet that stand-up comedy is going to even more crowded than it already is.

Moontower JFL Austin Returns for Two Week Comedy Extravaganza in April 2023

December 1, 2022

News

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Last year was the first year that international comedy brand Just For Laughs officially partnered with the Moontower Comedy Festival, after a decade of it going solo, to beef up the festival to a two week cornucopia of comedy throughout all of Austin, TX. The experiment went off pretty well, well enough to have the two join forces one more for another Moontower JFL Austin Comedy Festival that will run from Apr. 12th-23rd and feature dozens and dozens and dozens of performers, shows, podcasts, etc. etc. and be the envy of the comedy world for that spring fortnight.

Today, MJFLA made their first line-up that should really entice you if you happen to live in ATX or anywhere near it (per usual).

Thus far, slated to perform will be

Adam Ray
Ben Schwartz & Friends
Blair Socci
Brad Williams
Carlos Ballarta
Chelcie Lynn
Chris Distefano
Clara Blackstone
Dana Gould
Daphnique Springs
Devon Walker
Emil Wakim
Felipe Esparza
Giggly Squad
Ian Bagg
Jeremiah Watkins
Jon Rudnitsky
Josh Adam Meyers
Kenny Sebastian
Laura Peek
Maddy Smith
Marcello Hernandez
Maria Bamford
Martin Urbano
Michael Longfellow
Mike Vecchione
Molly Kearney
Moses Storm
Nimesh Patel
Preacher Lawson
Punkie Johnson
Ralph Barbosa
Robert Kelly
Sahib Singh
Sarah Tollemache
Sawyer Stull
Seth Meyers
Shane Torres
The Sklar Brothers
Tom Rhodes
Tyler Groce
Vir Das
Zach Zucker

Festival badges are on sale now starting at $150 (not bad for two weeks of comedy?) and you really ought to get ’em here.

Just For Laughs Expands Their Global Reach with JFL London

January 20, 2022

News

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It was only earlier this week that JFL announced it’s big line-up for its very first collaboration with the Moontower Comedy Festival down in Austin to form the MJFLA, Moontower Just For Laughs Austin. Today, JFL, the long standing, renowned international comedy brand is making moves to be even more international than they already are with a festival in London.

From Mar. 2nd-5th at London’s revered venue, The O2 (the arena is one of the UK’s biggest venues, FYI, and sure to be a crown jewel part of this weekend festival) will be the site for Just For Laughs London, JFLL. JFL details this new shiny, upcoming festival, “Just For Laughs LONDON will be a four-day pass-based festival, and feature the company’s signature premium comedy programming. Must-attend events will include solo shows, live podcast recordings, in conversations, and cast panels; from both UK-based artists, as well as international stars.”

Given that, at this point in time, it seems to all take place at The O2, it might be like Festival Supreme, which overtake one big space and divvied it all up into several different stages and performances areas throughout a few days. Even though Montreal is JFL’s marquee festival, London will be the biggest city that Just For Laughs has taken on yet (even though they partially did JFL New Faces virtually from LA and NYC last year).

So, JFL currently has a reach of festivals that spans Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Austin, Cancun, and now, London, leaving all to wonder just how big will Just For Laughs get.

Moontower JFL Austin Makes Its First, Very Big Inaugural Line-Up Announcement

January 19, 2022

News

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In 2021, however long ago that was, it was announced that the forces of the Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival and Just For Laughs were joining forces to expand from a four-day Austin, TX based comedy festival to more than double the size.

Well, as of today’s initial line-up announcement, it looks like Moontower JFL Austin (or MJFLA?) has definitely kicked it up a few notches with a pretty damn big first line-up announcement. Just from this first batch, MJFLA has over 80 comedians and 20 shows sourced from around all the country including Marc Maron, Nicole Byer, Nikki Glaser, Please Don’t Destroy, Michelle Buteau, and way more lined-up with a promise of even more to comics and comedy to be jam packed into the eleven days between Apr. 13th-24th, 2022.

Hopefully, when MJFLA comes around, that will makes us all feel a little less forlorn that we’ll have to wait another entire year before SF Sketchfest happens in person again.

Take a gander at the whole first portion of the MJFLA line-up below:

Abby Roberge

Adrienne Iapalucci

Ali Macofsky

Andrew Murphy

Andy Haynes

Andy Kindler

Angelina Martin

Anthony DeVito

Ashley Sharma

Avery Moore

Big Jay Oakerson

Brandi Davis

Brett VerVoort

Brian Gaar

Carlton Wilcoxson

Carmen Lynch

Cat Cohen

Chris Cubas

Chris Redd

Christina P

Dan Soder

Daniel Van Kirk

Danny Goodwin

Deb DiGiovanni

Deon Cole

Donnell Rawlings

Dylan Sullivan

Elizabeth Spears

Emma Willmann

Emmy Blotnick

Erica Rhodes

Goddamn Comedy Jam

Grace Kuhlenschmidt

Guy Branum

Hannah Berner

Holly Hart

Hunter Duncan

Ian Edwards

Irene Tu

Ivan Decker

Jackie Kashian

James Austin Johnson

Janelle James

Jay Whitecotton

Jeremiah Watkins

Jessica Kirson

Jesus Trejo

Joe Mande

Josh Adam Meyers

Joyelle NIcole Johnson

Kelsey Cook

Kurt Braunohler

Langston Kerman

Laurie Kilmartin

Maddy Smith

Marc Maron

Mark Normand

Matt Sadler

Michelle Buteau

Mike Macrae

Moshe Kasher

Natasha Leggero

Nathan Macintosh

Nick Saverino

Nicole Byer

Nikki Glaser

Not Another Dungeons & Dragons Podcast

Orlando Leyba

Pat Regan

Pat Sirois

Please Don’t Destroy

Rachel Feinstein

Rosebud Baker

Sasheer Zamata

Sawyer Stull

Scotty Landes

Sean Donnelly

Shapel Lacey

Solomon Georgio

Sophie Buddle

Taylor Dowdy

The Sklar Brothers

Trevor Wallace

Tyler Groce

Zac Brooks

Zach Zucker

Andy Kindler’s Particular Show

Bananas with Kurt Braunohler and Scotty Landes

Cat Cohen & Friend

Celebrate! with Sean Donnelly

Disgusting Hawk with Jessica Kirson

Dumb People Town with The Sklar Brothers and Daniel Van Kirk

Endless Honeymoon with Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher

Find Your Beach with Rosebud Baker and Andy Haynes

Glow Show hosted by Joey Z

Jack Tucker Comedy Standup Hour

My Dad Isn’t Danny DeVito with Anthony DeVito

My Momma Told Me with Langston Kerman

Seek Treatment with Cat Cohen and Pat Regan

Soccer Comic Rant with Ian Edwards

Stamptown with Zach Zucker

Stand-up On the Spot with Jeremiah Watkins

Tag It! with The Sklar Brothers

The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers

The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder

The Jackie and Laurie Show with Jackie Kashian and Laurie Kilmartin

The Joke of Painting with Andrew Murphy and Avery Moore

The Worst with Big Jay Oakerson

Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

Stay up to date and get badges for Moontower Just For Laughs Austin here.

Moontower Just For Laughs Austin Set for Apr. 13th-24th & Badges Are Now on Sale

December 10, 2021

News

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Earlier this year, the comedy institutions of Moontower and JFL joined forces to expand the annual Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival from a weekend affair into a much bigger week and change extravaganza to be called Moontower Just For Laughs Austin.

They hadn’t locked down dates at the time, but it was announced that Wednesday, April 13th to Sunday, April 24th boasting over 100 comedians throughout 10 venues. The specifics of that have yet to be revealed, but we have no doubt that go to venues, especially the Paramount Theatre, will be a big part of the festival and that there will be a myriad of national touring headliners and big time comedy podcasts and bright and shining new rising stars of comedy based in Austin, TX.

If you miss watching comedy in Austin badly, you don’t even have to wait for the inevitable poster stacked with so many of your favorite comedians. You can buy your MJFLA badge right now starting at $125 and going up all the way to $1,250 for premium VIP benefits and access.

Go get those badges and stay tuned for the MFJLA line-up here.

Moontower Comedy Festival Partners with JFL to Expand from 4 Day to 10 Day Festival

September 24, 2021

News

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Collabs in any sector were one of the defining things of creative endeavors of this era. The pandemic has accelerated the trend as brands, companies, initiatives, and even festivals have partnered up to stand stronger in numbers.

When it comes to comedy festivals in North America, both Austin’s Moontower Comedy Festival and the various festivals operating under the Just For Laughs umbrella are top tier. Just announced today, both Moontower and JFL are partnering to create the Moontower Just For Laughs Austin festival set for next Spring, April 2022. Undoubtedly, the cache between the two will make for a more formidable comedy line-up than Moontower already commands, but details as to what that might be like have yet to be revealed.

However, Moontower JFL Austin will span 10 days as opposed to the 4 day weekend that Moontower has covered in years previous. Considering that a good chunk of comedy moved down to Austin during the pandemic merely because it was open, despite COVID-19 not being over, before much of the rest of North America, we can’t wait to see what sort of programming Moontower/JFL are going for and how much they’re going to balance national/international acts with local talent (which very well might include comedians that transplanted from LA and NYC).

We’ll just have to wait and see, but MJFLA ought to be one of the biggest comedy festivals on the continent from what’s being hinted at here.

Pick of the Day: JFL Festival (Streaming 7/28)

July 27, 2021

News

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As you well know, there won’t be a grand weeks-long display of comedy in Montreal for the annual JFL Montreal Festival this year, but there will still indeed by stuff happening with JFL’s renowned banner on it. Notably, several streams of live shows, some pre-taped, some live will be streaming at festival.hahaha.com starting tomorrow and be available, free of charge, to stream through the entirety of August.

Such streams will include:

JFL Awards Show starting 7/28

In Conversation with Bert Kreischer starting 7/30

Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch starting 7/29

JFL Eat My Shorts starting 7/28

JFL Live in Montreal starting 7/30 (featuring Jen Grant, Nigel Grinstead, Cassie Cao, Marito Lopez, Rodney Ramsey, and Dino Archie; hosted by Jon Dore)

JFL Live in LA starting 7/29 (featuring Maz Jobrani, Gina Yashere, Alonzo Bodden, Jeremy Hotz, Liza Treyger, and Rachel Feinstein; hosted by Sabrina Jalees)

JFL Live in NY starting 7/28 (featuring Todd Barry, Michael Kosta, Josh Johnson, Emma Willmann, Jessica Kirson and Marina Franklin; hosted by Dulcé Sloan)

The Nasty Show starting 7/28 (featuring Donnell Rawlings, Rosebud Baker, Robert Kelly, Yamaneika Saunders, Paris Sashay, and Ari Shaffir)

The Alternative Show starting 7/29 (featuring Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Laurie Kilmartin, Patton Oswalt, Solomon Georgio and Tart & Tarver; hosted by Andy Kindler)

Comedy Night in Canada starting 7/30 (featuring Ali Hassan, Arthur Simeon, Brittany Lyseng, Derek Seguin, Courtney Gilmour, Kyle Brownrigg, and Sterling Scott)

Aside from JFL’s New Faces of Comedy (which you need a ComedyPRO pass for), you can stream all of this for free at festival.hahaha.com. Given how rampant the Delta variant is and the rise of breakthrough cases of COVID-19 of fully vaccinated people, it might make watching live comedy just a tad easier this week.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 66: Danielle Perez & Making Those Lists

June 30, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

comics to watch, danielle perez, just for laughs

Danielle Perez joins in the fray for this week’s TCB Field Report where we follow her big pause from stand-up comedy during lockdown and then finding her way to acting (that includes acting classes on Zoom) and then, starting back into stand-up comedy with an already sold out live show. Also “hot” takes on Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch, JFL’s hybrid format this year, and what venues they know survived. Note, as Danielle said so deftly in this ep., that there will always be new lists.

Follow Danielle @divadelux on IG and Twitter and listen to the WOW RUDE Podcast.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

JFL Montreal Says They’re Going to Do a Mix of Virtual and In Person Shows This Summer

February 17, 2021

News

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(via The Hollywood Reporter)

There is live comedy that is happening in patches here and there across North America. Certainly, you’ve heard of comedians flocking to Florida and Austin, TX from NYC and LA. However, the big time comedy events have only whispers, thus far, as to what they’re going to do and when it’s going happen. The current wisdom, as far as we’ve heard, points towards fall and early next year for live, in-person shows to happen in some sort of fashion like they used to. Of course, that is all subject to the rollout of the vaccine.

JFL Montreal, one of the world’s foremost comedy festivals, is setting to formally return this Summer and have live in-person events, though virtual shows will still very much be a part of the festivities. As to the balance between the two, there are no details as of yet. Hopefully, whatever the share of in-person shows are will be based on the trending COVID-19 numbers and vaccine rollout in Montreal, Quebec, and Canada as we head towards their normal Summer dates from July 15th-31st.

So, maybe get ready to showcase if you’re still gunning for New Faces at JFL?

Pick of the Day: 25th Annual State of the Industry Address with Andy Kindler 10/10

October 9, 2020

News

andy kindler, jfl montreal, just for laughs, state of the industry

For decades, one of the indisputable highlights of the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival has been Andy Kindler’s annual State of the Industry Address wherein Kindler roasts the entire comedy industry-at-large. He’s very much one of the best at satirizing comedy itself, especially when it comes to its organization and structures and it’s essentially a new album/special from Kindler that we can expect each year.

Since JFL Montreal opted to do a paired down virtual edition for 2020 due to the pandemic, we’ll still get the legendary irreverence of Kindler, though it will be done via a live-stream. We have no doubt that Kindler will bring that up in his address. In fact, this year’s State of the Industry Address ought to be something special as comedy has changed more than it ever has in recent memory in the matter of a few months.

Best of all, it’ll be free to tune in and you don’t actually have to go to Montreal, get an overpriced hotel, and try and figure which one of several different festival passes will actually get you into watching Kindler do what he does best.

Alive from home! Andy Kindler’s 25th Annual State of the Industry Speech: finally, i’m alone is set to stream on Sat. Oct. 10th at 3PM PT/6PM ET right here.

JFL Montreal Announces Line-Up For Their First Online Edition

September 9, 2020

News

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JFL Montreal, one of the biggest, longest running comedy festivals in the world, is pushing forward with having a festival of some kind this year. It won’t be quite the limited capacity, mask-wearing attempt at a festival that the Venice Film Festival just had, but JFL has assembled a handful of big stars including Hannah Gadsby, Nicole Byer, Kenya Barris, Amber Ruffin, and Andy Kindler for what will be the very first online JFL Montreal Comedy Festival. Oh yeah, it also will be free.

It’s a much, much more trim version of what is normally just over a week of the main festivities, but a showcase of Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch will still be happening and the “Creators” category of New Faces will be featured (doing live stand-up or sketch over Zoom probably wasn’t the best way to feature New Faces). Andy Kindler on the line-up most certainly means that there will be another annual State of the Industry Address from Kindler (one of JFL’s biggest highlights for our money) and what Andy has to say about the state of comedy this year will very likely be even more unforgettable than it normally is.

This virtual edition of JFL Montreal will be streaming for FREE on Fri. Oct. 9th & Sat. Oct. 10th right here. No need to RSVP or get one of several different festival badges.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 4: Debra DiGiovanni & Adaptation

April 22, 2020

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

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The wondrous and hysterical Canadian transplant Debra DiGiovanni and TCB’s Jake Kroeger have quite the hopeful chat about her numerous gigs doing live-streaming comedy in the last several weeks and how she might specifically imagine to take the stage again and what that might really look like (especially for someone who has played comedy venues of all sorts of sizes). Also, they touch upon the tragic closure of the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC, the rescheduling of some major comedy festivals, as well as what’s new and/or noteworthy in comedy this week.

Follow Debra @debradg on Instagram & @debradigiovanni on Twitter. Tune in to her daily Instagram Live check-in show Afternoon Delight with Zach Noe Towers at 4PM PT via her Instagram handle. The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Just For Laughs Montreal Rescheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 11

April 3, 2020

News

comedy festival, just for laughs, montreal, rescheduled

Normally, the internationally renowned Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival would be held annually in the summer in Montreal, Quebec as it has been for decades. Of course, as you well know, normal is on hiatus for awhile.

Yet, let it be known that will not be the case forever. JFL Montreal, that one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals will indeed still be happening, but will be now taking place from Sept. 29th-Oct. 11th.

That includes all of their star studded gala shows, New Faces, and the plethora of showcase shows that comprise their multi-week festival. We wouldn’t be surprised if attendance numbers might be closely monitored for social distancing and safety depending on where we’re all at this fall, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll livestream it (as we will all be well used to that by then).

Just for Laughs Montreal’s New Faces of Comedy for 2019 Announced

July 22, 2019

Uncategorized

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Just for Laughs Montreal’s New Faces of Comedy for 2019 Announced

JFL Montreal’s New Faces, the annual class of comedians deemed to be watched as they’re on the rise, is a tightly held secret until the moment it’s announced and, fortunately, the moment is here. 59 folks got handpicked by the powers that be at Just For Laughs to be this year’s New Faces of Comedy (which includes a brand new “New Faces: Canada” category).

Much love to some of our favorites Hannah Einbinder, Punkie Johnson, Carmen Angelica, Logan Guntzelman, Sam Tallent, Haley Hepworth, Brad Silnutzer, Anna Drezen, Dewayne Perkins, and Opey Olagbaju!

NEW FACES OF COMEDY

Anna Drezen
Brad Silnutzer
Brendan Scannell
Chanel Ali
Dan Licata
Dewayne Perkins
Hannah Einbinder
Isabel Hagen
Jay Jurden
Joe Praino
Kevin Iso
Logan Guntzelman
Matty Ryan
Opey Olagbaju
Punkie Johnson
Reggie Conquest
Shane Gillis
Shapel Lacey
Tacarra Williams
Tien Tran
Tyree Elaine

NEW FACES: CHARACTERS

Allison Dunbar
George Aivaliotis
Haley Hepworth
Michael Churven
Michael Van Schoick
Rachel Pegram
Shukri R. Abdi
Taylor Ortega
Thomas Whittington
Tristan Griffin

NEW FACES: UNREPPED

Andrew Murphy
Andrew Stanley
Craig Conant
Drew Dunn
Janae Burris
Jordan Jensen
Lael O’Shaughnessy
Napoleon Emill
Sean Grant
Sam Tallent
Tina Friml

NEW FACES: CREATORS

Benito Skinner
Brad Gage
Carmen Angelica
Felipe Di Poi
Jennah Brittany
Tiny Chef (Rachel Larsen, Adam Reid and Ozlem Akturk)
Tutweezy aka Darius Tutwiler

NEW FACES: CANADA

Bee Bertrand
Brett Forte
Cassie Cao
Charles Haycock
Hisham Kelati
Leonard Chan
Rebecca Reeds
Rob Bebenek
Tranna Wintour
Yumi Nagashima

Toronto’s JFL42 Has Everything From Carol Burnett to John Mulaney/Pete Davidson to How Did This Get Made? to Eric Andre

As you can clearly see in the flyer above, that headline could go way longer as the more fan-focused JFL festival in Toronto, JFL42, is packed with top shelf talent that covers so many eras, styles, sensibilities, etc. of comedy that it might be worth making the trek out to Toronto to see all of that in one week, especially if you don’t live in LA or NYC.

You’ve got some time as JFL42 isn’t until mid Sept., but you best get your passes and tickets now (the VIP Pass already sold out). Passes are going for $84-$199 (not including service charges). Go get more details and tickets/passes here.

JFL Montreal “Eat My Shorts” Short Film Competition Taking Submissions

April 19, 2017

Uncategorized

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Just For Laughs and Kevin Hart are holding a short film contest called “Eat My Shorts” that will not only have 5 films screen at the one and only JFL Montreal Comedy Festival in July, but have one filmmaker/team get a development deal through the LOL website/app.

Submission rules/guidelines:
-They’re looking for films that speak to diverse, multicultural, millennial audience
-Total running time must be no less than 3 nor more than 22 minutes in length (including credits)
-All languages will be accepted but subtitles must be in English
-Submission deadline is May 13th.

Best of all, there’s no purchase necessary to enter or win.

Get more details and submit here.

JFL Northwest 2017 Announces Line-Up with Sarah Silverman, Trevor Noah, Tom Segura, My Favorite Murder, Jon Dore, Barry Crimmins

December 1, 2016

Uncategorized

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If you’re in Vancouver in February, you would be doing yourself a big favor by going to JFL Northwest.

Just look at that line-up stacked with some of the best from around the country as well as local to Vancouver.

Tickets go on sale at 10AM PST this Friday, December 2nd right here.

JFL Montreal New Faces 2016 Have Been Announced

July 25, 2016

Uncategorized

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Right now, the world famous Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival is well under way and they’ve just announced one of the festival highlights, the newest class of the New Faces of Comedy.

From an extensive search, these are the folks that JFL thinks are “next”.

That includes from left to right:

NEW FACES OF COMEDY: Ahamed Weinberg, Casey James Salengo, Chris Garcia, Dave Ross, David Gborie, Dino Archie, Evan Williams, Jacqueline Novak, Jenny Zigrino, Jesus Trejo, Joel Kim Booster, Jo Firestone, Jordan Rock, Josh Johnson, Matt Donaher, Matt Ingebretson, Naomi Ekperigin, Randy Syphax, Robert Powell, Sarah Tollemache and Tim Dillon.

NEW FACES OF COMEDY-CHARACTERS: Alan Starzinski, Lily Sullivan, Ego Nwodim, Christine Bullen, Joanna Bradley, Colin O’Brien, Frank Garcia-Hejl, Natalie Palamides, Richie Moriarty and Nicole Sun.

NEW FACES OF COMEDY-UNREPPED: Brendan Lynch, Casey Crawford, Danny Palumbo, Geoffrey Asmus, J.B. Ball, Ismael Loutfi, JP McDade, Janelle James, Molly Ruben-Long, Neko White and Raul Sanchez.

Congratulations to all these New Faces. You should probably look up all of these names, some of which you’ve probably seen featured on here like Garcia, Ross, Novak, Kim Booster, Firestone, Ingebretson, Palamides, etc.

Here’s the Line-Up for 2016 Just For Laughs Montreal Festival So Far

June 1, 2016

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brian regan, carrie fisher, comedy festival, david cross, hannibal buress, harmontown, jfl montreal, john mulaney, julia louis dreyfus, just for laughs, maria bamford, montreal, nick kroll, nikki glaser, oh hello, sarah silverman

Sarah Silverman, Harmontown, George Wallace, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Barry Katz, P.K. Subban, Carrie Fisher, Sebastian Maniscalco, David Cross, Lewis Black, Jeff Ross presents Roast Battle…

…Howie Mandel, Russell Peters, Oh, Hello starring Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Hannibal Buress, Jeremy Hotz, Brian Regan, Maria Bamford, Gad Elmaleh, Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard, Iliza Shlesinger, Kathleen Madigan, Nikki Glaser, Jay Pharoah, Scott Aukerman, Paul F. Tompkins, Mark Watson, Russell Kane, Tiff Stevenson, Rachid Badouri, Dom Irrera, Godfrey, Jessica Kirson, Gina Brillon, Yannis Pappas, Mike Ward, Bobby Slayton, Brad Williams, Ralphie May, Tiffany Haddish, Tony Hale, Timothy Simons, David Mandel, Alan Carr, Tom Green, Janeane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Adam Hills, Tommy Johnagin, Nick Thune, Steve Rannazzisi, Scott Thompson, Kurt Metzger, Big Jay Oakerson, Barry Crimmins, Louie Anderson, Emo Philips, Piff The Magic Dragon, Beth Stelling, Michelle Wolf, Todd Barry, Aparna Nancherla, Jermaine Fowler, Mark Normand, Matt Braunger, Ari Shaffir, Andy Kindler, Anthony Atamanuik, Cameron Esposito, Daniel Sloss, Derek Seguin, Jackie Kashian, James Adomian, Josh Adam Meyers, Katherine Ryan, Corrine Fisher, Krystyna Hutchinson, Stuart Goldsmith, and more!

That’s a good majority of who is performing at the 34th edition of the world renowned JFL Festival in Montreal this year. As you can see, it’s a giant bill of many comedy’s biggest names per usual.

Please note that this doesn’t include the couple dozen or so comedians that will be featured as JFL Montreal’s New Faces of Comedy. Those will not be announced before those live showcases take place.

The Just For Laughs Festival will go from July 13- 31 and you can tickets and/or passes now.

February 28, 2016

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comedy shows, franklin village, hollywood, jfl montreal, just for laughs, los angeles, pasadena, santa monica, showcase, west hollywood

The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival is holding its first round of showcases around LA looking for the next stand-up and character comedians to highlight as a “New Face” of comedy.

Here’s a list of when and where all of this first round is happening (*denotes character showcase instead of stand-up):
Mon. Feb. 29th
Westside Comedy Theater 6PM*, 8PM, 10PM $5
Tues. Mar. 1st
Westside Comedy Theater 6PM*, 8PM, 10PM $5
Wed. Mar. 2nd
UCB Franklin 5PM* $5
Hollywood Laugh Factory 8PM $17-$27/2 drink min.
The Comedy Store Belly Room 10:30PM $5/2 item min.
Thurs. Mar. 3rd
The Ice House 8PM $10-$17/2 drink min.
Fri. Mar. 4th
iO West 5:30PM FREE
Hollywood Improv Comedy Lab 8PM $5

The rest of our listings are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com

Here’s Andy Kindler Delivering The 2015 State of the Industry Address at JFL Montreal

July 27, 2015

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address, andy kindler, ballers, entourage, jerry seinfeld, jfl montreal, just for laughs, speech, state of the industry

Despite his own protestations about being good at roasting, Andy Kindler roasts the entire industry of comedy every year at The JFL Montreal Comedy & Arts Festival. It’s like enjoying a new hour from Kindler every summer.

So, without further adieu, here’s Andy’s 2015 edition of The State of the Industry Address wherein he sticks it to that thing Jerry Seinfeld said about colleges and more.

Here Are Your 2015 JFL New Faces

July 20, 2015

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just for laughs, montreal, new faces

JFL Montreal’s 2015 class of New Faces of Comedy has Dulce Sloan, Alex Edelman, Jak Knight, John Early, Moses Storm, Ester Steinberg, Jon Rudnitsky, Rob Gleeson, Emma Willmann, Vladimir Caamano, Ian Abramson, Chris Redd, Nate Fernald, Julio Torres, Clayton English, Ashley Barnhill, Langston Kerman, Matthew Broussard, Pat Regan, Leonard Ouzts and Claire Mulaney.

The Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy & Arts Festival just announced a big class of New Faces including the names above as well as

New Faces-Characters:
Alison Rich, Don Fanelli, Will Stephen, Phil Augusta Jackson, Sudi Green, Punam Patel, Matt Barats, John Bander, Lyric Lewis and Marques Ray

and

New Faces-Unrepped:
Megan Gailey, Steven Wilber, Tom Brady, Chris Charpentier, Luis J Gomez, Kyle Ayers, Ryan Donahue, Caleb Synan, Rob Haze, Billy Wayne Davis and Abby Rosenquist

So, if you’re not at JFL Montreal to see all of them together, look them up.

Dana Gould Will Give This Year’s JFL Montreal Keynote Address

June 29, 2015

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comedy festival, dana gould, just for laughs, keynote address, montreal

Dana Gould is known for his unflinching comedic brilliance whether it be on The Simpsons or his own stand-up and a speech on the state of comedy will undoubtedly be another showcase of that.

Following the likes of Patton Oswalt and Marc Maron in recent years, Dana Gould will be giving the big keynote address at The Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy & Arts Festival. Gould’s comedy expertly dissects anything and everything, especially when it comes to the darker and more taboo side of comedy and we can’t wait to see what he has to say about the comedy landscape as it is currently.

If you happen to be attending JFL Montreal, catch Dana giving his Keynote Address at the Grand Salon Opera in the Hyatt Regency Montreal on July 23rd at 1PM.

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