The 11 Just for Laughs Shows You Absolutely Can’t Miss in Montreal This Week
The Just for Laughs Comedy Festival is the Godfather of comedy festivals. Not only is it biggest festival in North America, it’s also the most attended by industry types, has the largest roster of comics, the most shows, and after 35 years, it’s also got history on its side. On any given day during the festival, there will be between 60 and 100 shows to check out, so how the #&$@^*% can you figure out what to see? How do you go beyond the comfort of the comedians you already know without worrying that you’re missing out on something even more exciting? It’s almost impossible to pick a bad show, but there are definitely some must-see events that should top your list. To kick off our JFL coverage, here are our top ten picks for the shows you absolutely can’t miss, plus a few other recommendations to help you make some difficult choices.
For links to all tickets go to hahaha.com.
1. Ari Shaffir’s Renamed Storytelling Show
Tuesday, 11:59pm.
On Tuesday July 25, kick off your festival plans by checking out Ari Shaffir‘s Renamed Storytelling show. Shaffir put his heart and soul into his live show turned Comedy Central hit series “This is Not Happening,” but after some ripples in his relationship with Comedy Central caused Shaffir to leave the show behind, TiNH is being hosted by someone else. But Shaffir and Storytelling have become synonymous, and Ari and his comedy friends have become a beloved part of the festival circuit. The bad news is- TiNH is no longer a show Ari can bring to festivals. The good news is, that hasn’t stopped Ari from bringing storytelling to Just For Laughs- just with a different name. This is one night only and there’s only one chance to see the show. Head over to the MainLine Theater on Tuesday July 25 at Midnight. Line up TBA.
2. The Nasty Show
Every night at 9:30pm.
The Nasty Show is one of JFL’s greatest traditions and its one of the longest running shows at the fest. Not only has it been part of the fest for at least two decades (we’re not sure exactly when it began), but it also runs for nearly two weeks every year in front of a giant packed house. This year, the lineup is strong with Ari Shaffir hosting, along with Jimmy Carr, Godfrey, Robert Kelly, Yamaneika Saunders and Big Jay Oakerson. It’s where you can go and feel safe in the knowledge that you or at least those around you will be probably be offended at some point in the night. Politeness is out the window. Shows go on every night at 9:30 through the end of the fest on Saturday, July 29 at Club Metropolis.
3. New Faces/New Faces Unrepped
Wednesday, Thursday various times.
One of the best reasons to attend the Montreal Just for Laughs festival, is to get the chance to see the New Faces perform. Every year JFL goes on an exhaustive nationwide audition and callback tour, checking out all of the young comedians who are getting ready to break out. 21 young comics with management are selected, and another 11 who are unrepresented, and all of them will get the chance to show the all of the comedy industry insiders who flock to town why they are ready to hit the next level and get a high paying gig on television, or a late night set, or an hour or half hour special. Attending the New Faces Shows are great fun, because you’re seeing the future, and you’re seeing them have a moment they won’t likely have again. Because the New Faces shows are notoriously difficult to get tickets to, you might try your luck at the Off-JFL New Faces shows, where the NF’s perform their NF sets in a club environment. July 26 at Monument National, Ludger-Duvernay Theatre. Two shows: Group 1 at 7:00pm and Group 2 at 9:30pm. Get tickets to Monument National. If you can’t make it Wednesday night- for example if you’re going to the Che/Jost gala, you can catch all the new faces performing at OFF-JFL on Friday night at Katacombes– two shows, again, 7 and 9:30. Get tickets to the Off-JFL shows.
4. See a Gala: Colin Jost and Michael Che
Wednesday at 9:45 pm.
The Galas are the glamour of the festival, and even though we tend to veer toward the club shows, you don’t want to go to JFL without checking out at least one gala. It’s essentially a showcase show, but in a much bigger venue and with a range of performers that includes some big celebrities, some major headliners, and some fast rising younger comics. Laverne Cox, Joel McHale, David Spade, Sugar Sammy, Jane Krakowski, Howie Mandel, and more are hosting Galas, and they’re all great, so you choose based on your schedule, but the one we’re recommending is being helmed by SNL’s Weekend Update team of Colin Jost and Michael Che. Joining them on stage will be a superb lineup that includes Jim Norton, Lil Rel Howery, Steve Byrne, Sarah Millican, Ivan Decker, Phil Hanley, and David Baddiel. Wednesday, July 26 at 9:45 PM and at Place des Arts, Wilfrid Pelletier.
5. Jeff Ross & Dave Attell: Bumping Mics
All week at 11:59
Full disclosure, we have no idea what this show is going to be about. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. You have Roastmaster General Jeff Ross on stage, always fun, and the legend– the consummate comedian’s comedian– one of the funniest to ever take a stage anywhere– Dave Attell sharing the stage as co-headliners of their show Bumping Mics. Is it a showcase show with Dave and Jeff’s friends that they’re hosting? Is it just two headliners performing? Is it something else? Who knows, who cares. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night at midnight. We’re picking Wednesday night as the night to check it out. Get tickets.
6. Big Jay Oakerson’s What’s Your F@#king Deal
Every night, 11:59
Big Jay Oakerson’s all crowd work show is more than just a comedy show- it’s an experience. There’s no hiding in the back here- everyone in the audience is in the front row as Big Jay and a line up of some of the best comics at the fest work the room, talk to everyone and make you laugh for a straight hour (or more). WYFD is one of the most in demand shows at festivals across the country, it has some of the best booking of any show we’ve seen. It’s so good, it became a tv show, and let’s face it, you’d show up to see Big Jay Oakerson no matter what the show was. But what makes this show really different is that everyone is interacting. Jay and his comedy buddies get to work together, the audience is hearing from everyone in the room- it’s a perfect way to end the night before heading out to the nightly parties. Every night is a great show. We’re picking Thursday as our recommended night. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 11:59. Get tickets.
7. Andy Kindler’s State of the Industry
Friday at 1:45pm.
If you could only do one thing at Just for Laughs and you wanted to have a uniquely JFL experience, there is nothing you can attend that would be more perfect than Andy Kindler‘s State of the Industry Address. Since 1996, Kindler has been the unofficial headliner of the festival, delivering his highly anticipated State of the Industry address, skewering comedy every summer. Beyond the roast idea- Kindler goes on a crusade tipping over sacred cows, taking shots at the powers that be, and pointing out both the obvious and the subtle hypocrisies in the biz, all with a wink, and smile or at least a good laugh. It’s one of the most highly attended events of the festival, and without a doubt the most written about event of the year. Every year, comedians, members of the comedy industry and fans cram into every corner of the biggest conference room at the Hyatt to find out- who is going to be on the receiving end of Kindler’s comedy spear each year. Kindler has no fear of reprisals and each year pisses off huge numbers of people for saying out loud some of the things that nobody is willing to say in public. It’s part of the Just for Laughs Pro conference, and if you’re in the biz, you’ll want to get a Pro pass. Friday, July 28th, at 1:45pm, get there early! Details here.
Don’t stop there. Andy Kindler’s hosting The Alternative Show every single night at 11:59pm. There is no one like Kindler- get your ass out and see every show you can.
8. Russell Peters Old School Mixtape Live
Thursday at 9:15
Russell Peters and his special guests will deliver an epic party full of standup comedy and 80’s & 90’s dance & hip hop on JFL’s outdoor stage. There will be performances by hip hop greats Naughty By Nature, the legendary MC, Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, freestyle icon Lisa Lisa of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, and Russell’s own DJ’s, New York City’s DJ Spinbad and Toronto’s DJ Starting From Scratch, as well as some other special Just For Laughs comedians’! This is going to be madness. This epic party is hitting the Scène Vidéotron on July 27th at 9:15pm – oh, and by the way, it’s FREE! How much frigging fun is this going to be!?!?!?
9. The Interrobang Presents: Comedy 101
Friday at 11:30 pm.
What? Our show? Made the top 10? Yes, and not just for favoritism reasons. Even if this wasn’t our show, it would be on our list. Comedy 101 puts the youngest rookies- Open Mic’ers- up on stage in front of a panel of the sharpest, funniest and most brutal headliners who each have a bell and instructions to stop the rookies at any time and “mentor” them. That is if eviscerating them, roasting them, and crushing their dreams is considered “mentoring.” It’s “tell a joke or be a joke” and it’s brutally funny and guaranteed to be full of moments that make you want to hide behind your hands. Our rookies are all Montreal open mic comics, and they’ll be facing three killers– Jim Norton, Dan Soder and Jimmy Shubert. Ron Bennington and Gail Bennington are hosting. Anything can happen and it all goes down at the MainLine Theater on Friday night at 11:30pm. Get tickets.
10. HomeGrown Comics
Friday at 7 pm
You hauled your ass all the way to Montreal to see some comedy- don’t leave without seeing some of the best Canadian comedians. It’s a celebration of the future of Canadian comedy in a showcase of the best talent, hand-picked from across The Great White North. It’s the 19th edition of Homegrown Comics, with special guest, comedian K. Trevor Wilson, presented by Sirius XM. If you aren’t familiar with K. Trevor Wilson, then you must be from the US and unable to watch Canada’s funniest tv series- Letterkenny. K. Trevor not only is hilarious on the series, he killed at Roast Battle last summer and he’s also a killer stand up. And he’s just getting started. HomeGrown comics is a great chance to see Wilson along with some other comedians we’re really excited about- Marito Lopez, Sam Burns, Courtney Gilmour, D.J. Mausner, Ross Dauk, Brittany Lyseng, Ryan Long, Adrian Cronk, Joe Vu, and Foad HP. You don’t know their names yet- but this show is going to be phenomenal. Friday, July 28 at 7:00 pm at Ludger-Duvernay Theatre at Monument National. Get tickets and info.
11. Goddamn Comedy Jam Outdoors at the Plaza
Saturday at 9:15 pm
Last year we ended the seeing the Goddamn Comedy Jam rock the fuck out of a beautiful church in Montreal. It was an unforgettable night. We called Josh Adam Meyers a mad scientist for bringing rock and roll and stand up comedy together with electric results. If you’ve only seen the Comedy Jam on television, you are missing the best part of the experience. This is a show you can come to every night- we don’t want you to miss the chance to catch the other midnight shows- pick one night to see this one straight through, but show up after your other shows end every other night, because the party will probably still be going on. This show is the most fun you’ll have all week. But beyond the midnight shows- the one you absolutely can’t afford to miss is taking place Saturday evening, out in the plaza and its going to be unforgettable. We can’t wait to hear the band, Elemenopy, fill the streets of Montreal with the sounds of comedians rocking. It is an unprecedented opportunity to shine as both a comedic star and rock God in the electrified atmosphere that can only be found at The Goddamn Comedy Jam. Saturday at 9:15 pm, it’s a totally free event. Get there early! Here’s more info. And get tix to the nightly midnight shows here.
DON’T STOP AT TEN!
We forced ourselves (for no apparent reason) to pick the ten absolute must see shows of the festival, but the truth is there are far more than ten amazing fantastic terrific shows you absolutely have to see. Here are a few more to add to your list.
HEADLINERS: There are some tremendous headliners and younger comics who are doing hours at the festival. Jim Norton is doing his new hour at the Gesu Theater– three nights this week, Ali Wong is performing her follow up to her breakthrough hour special Thursday night at Place Des Arts, Tom Segura is in town just for one night as part of his No Teeth, No Entry Tour- that’s Wednesday at L’Olympia, and Judd Apatow is taping his Netflix special at the fest with five tapings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Place des Arts.
Jerry Seinfeld is teaming up with the French Jerry Seinfeld- Gad Elmaleh on Wednesday at the Bell Center, for a show that should have everyone talking, and if you want to see some incredible younger talent- do yourself a favor and save some time to see Deb DiGiovanni, she is going to be one of your new favorites, and we’re also big big fans of DeAnne Smith. Deb is performing nightly at SALLE CLAUDE-LÉVEILLÉE at 7pm and DeAnne is at La Chappelle at 8:30 every night.
SKETCH: In a category all by themselves, those of you up in Montreal early in the week need to carve out time to check out Aunty Donna. This Austrialian sketch group just absolutely blew away audiences on their first US tour- and had such a great run, New York asked them to come back just a month later. Everyone’s raving- see them at JFL before they leave North America to crush it in London and Eidenburgh. They’re at the MainLine Theater Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and you can also catch them on All Access Live and they may be popping up in a few other places.
TV PANELS: There are some gigantic television panels this year. Ron Bennington is hosting an hour with HBO’s Vice Principals cast and creators on Saturday at 5:30, The casts of The Mick and Superior Donuts also will be on stage on Saturday at 1:30pm and 3:15 respectively. All three panels will take place in the Grand Salon Opera. If you’re a fan of Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, plan to be at Maison Symphonique at 9:30pm on Thursday night for a big event.
SHOWCASES: Every night there is a choice of showcase shows to check out with very strong lineups. Todd Barry is hosting the Masters series nightly, Hosts with the Mosts has a different host every night- all amazing including our buddy Dan Soder on Thursday night, and the aforementioned K. Trevor Wilson on Tuesday night. And SiriusXM’s Top Comics is a killer Canadian showcase hosted by SiriusXM’s Ben Miner.
TV TAPINGS: More showcases- and these are for television! All Access Live is taping two shows a night all week long with ridiculous lineups. Each night a different host- Birbiglia on Wednesday, Moshe Kasher Thursday, Natasha Leggero on Friday and Wyatt Cenac on Saturday. Kevin Hart‘s LOL network is running LOL Live Wednesday through Saturday- two shows a night, with James Mattern hosting, and an unbelievable list of young comics performing.
PODCASTS AND RADIO: These shows are thankfully happening all day, so its the one time you won’t have to make a Sophie’s choice about what to check out. Robert Kelly’s YKWD tapes on Thursday at 4:30pm, Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank will tape on Saturday at 3pm, both in the Ovation Room at the Hyatt Regency. The Bonfire with Dan Soder and Big Jay Oakerson will tape an episode on Wednesday night at 6pm. Jim Norton and Sam Robert’s Jim and Sam Show will be live from 8am till 11. And later in the day you can catch Ward & Al Live at 1pm and Todd Shapiro Show at 4pm. All three shows run live, both Thursday and Friday, at the Hyatt in the Soprano C room. And you can go to the Inspiration Room in the lobby of the Hyatt to hear the Guys We Fucked girls tape a podcast episode at 5:15 on Friday.
Also, it doesn’t fit into the categories above, but Paul Provenza’s Green Room is a great pick, Saturday July 29 at 9:30PM at Maison Theatre. Provenza puts on a tremendous roundtable show that gives you the feeling that you’re backstage, with the comics, in the green room, being a part of their conversations. Provenza shows you what you’re missing before and after the shows. No lineup scheduled yet…but it will be nothing short of a home run if past Green Room shows are any indication.
Everything listed here would be a festival in its own right, but we have only skimmed the surface, covering a fraction of the shows at Just for Laughs this year. Please take the time to check out the schedule at hahaha.com and keep supporting live comedy!
