Toronto Festival

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

JUST FOR LAUGHS WRAPS THE 2ND EDITION OF THE TORONTO FESTIVAL WITH MORE A-LIST PERFORMANCES AND MORE STUNNING STREET SPECTACLES

Toronto, Monday, July 28, 2008 – As July comes to a close, Just For Laughs wraps another successful Festival in Toronto, this time with bigger stars and more hilarious programming including six prestigious Galas, a new club series, a sketch show, a national comedy showcase, two ethnic themed super shows, a very special concert event, numerous sell-outs, a TV taping and loads of free outdoor programming, all taking place in the heart of downtown Toronto including Yonge-Dundas Square. The second annual Just For Laughs Toronto Festival presented by WestJet from July 23 to July 27 attracted 153,000 comedy fans to a wide variety of spectacular outdoor events and star-studded indoor shows.

Just For Laughs WestJet Galas presented in association with Jacob’s Creek®
This year Just For Laughs brought in more star power to host six impressive Gala shows at Toronto’s Massey Hall. Thursday’s Gala kicked off with host and award-winning entertainer, Martin Short who slipped effortlessly into several different characters including his most famous: Ed Grimley and movie critic Jiminy Glick. “…The man is a legend for a reason…” raved the Toronto Star, referring to Short’s hilarious portrayal of Glick while interviewing surprise guests: Football legend Damon Allen and Seinfeld star Jason Alexander. Backing up Short was a super line-up of stand-ups including stand-outs Adam Hills of Australia and American comedian Elon Gold.

Friday’s Gala host Jason Alexander of Seinfeld, won over audiences with his killer stand-up and hilarious broadway medley as well as his declaration of love for all things Canadian. Special guest Robert Schimmel as well as Kevin Hart and the Roastmaster Jeff Ross gave outstanding performances culminating in a standing ovation.

Future Late Night on NBC host Jimmy Fallon took on Saturday’s Gala and won over locals with his entertaining jabs at Toronto including the naming of Bloor Street and over 20 impressions of famous JFL alumni including: Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman ("I’m f*cking Canadian), Chris Rock and Robin Williams. Other memorable performances included stand-out sets by Craig Robinson (The Office) and Mike Birbiglia.

Concert Event
Master ventriloquist Jeff Dunham showed why he is one of North America’s biggest concert draws, in a sold-out concert event at Massey Hall. Dunham, who recently had one of the highest rated stand-up specials on both Comedy Central and the Comedy Network, had audiences in hysterics as he interacted with his subversive puppets Walter, Ahmed the Dead Terrorist, Peanut, Jose the Jalapeno on a Stick and accompanist Guitar Guy - Brian Haner. Crowd favourite puppet Bubba J made a special appearance in Toronto inspiring audience members to call out his punchlines.

Ethnic Series presented by Casino Lac Leamy in association with Via Rail
As a special treat on Wednesday night, George Stroumboulopoulos of CBC’s Gemini Award winning late night talk show The Hour, hosted a special CBC filming of Just For Laughs Toronto-The All-Star Ethnic Show at the Winter Garden Theatre. Strombo got back to his Greek roots alongside an incredible line-up of talent including: Jo Koy, Sugar Sammy and Gina Yashere. The special will air this fall on CBC and will also be distributed to countries around the world.

The ever popular Asian Invasion show, hosted by Canadian stand-up sensation Sugar Sammy, tore up the Winter Garden Theatre with gut-busting sets by Jo Koy and KT Tatara. Meanwhile, in the same theatre, the Wiseguys had audiences in hysterics as hosts The Doo Wops performed their new tune Mangia Cake Girl and stand-out Joey Kola ranted about accumulating hair in the strangest places.

New Club Series
This year, Just For Laughs teamed up with the city’s hottest venues for the fest’s new Club Series. Mark Breslin’s Yuk Yuks hosted Headliners featuring exceptional extended sets by 12 Just For Laughs favourites. When asked about the Fest, Breslin commented “the Fest was great for Yuk Yuk’s. It put more people in the seats during a slow season and allowed Toronto audiences to get an extended look at comics they may not have been able to see any other time”. Over at Absolute Comedy, host Debra DiGiovanni and Tyler Hawkins gave killer performances at The Best of Homegrown Comic Competition 2008 presented by XM Satellite Radio and Canadian Sketch troupe, The Imponderables brought down the house at The Sketch Show, hosted by Office star Craig Robinson and presented at The Second City Toronto.

Street Theatre
This summer’s free outdoor spectacle, featured troupes from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands as well as a very special free concert on the WestJet Stage featuring Canadian superstar Shaun Majumder and friends: Derek Edwards, Greg Morton and beatbox master Charlypop. Fans packed Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday night as the streets were invaded by: Catalonia’s CLAK! who performed tunes from the hit films Across the Universe, Pulp Fiction and Star Wars; giant Antelopes and giraffes from Italy’s Teatro Pavana and England’s Plungeboom who traveled through the streets melting hearts as they encouraged festivalgoers to hold and cuddle their newborn vegetable babies. Street attendees were especially taken aback by the incredible aerial routines of France’s Transe Express who performed stunning drum beats suspended high above the city streets joined by the award-winning Burlington Teen Tour Band. The spectacular show ended with the sights and sounds of fireworks and the cheers from crowds of dazzled spectators.

Media
More than 70 media outlets reached out to cover the 2nd edition of the Toronto Festival including: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where Jay himself urged viewers on Tuesday night’s show to check out the Fest for great comedy, CBS’s coverage of the Canadian Open; all major local media; national outlets such as: the Globe & Mail, the National Post, Etalk, ET Canada, Maclean’s, CP, CBC, CTV, Global, XM Radio, MTV Canada, Much Music, Inside Entertainment, E!News and Canada AM; U.S trades: The Hollywood Reporter and Variety plus Toronto French media: Radio-Canada and L’Express.

Another summer and not one but two great Festivals have kept comedy fans laughing throughout the month of July. You’ll miss us but there’s more great comedy coming your way, including the Just For Laughs Comedy Tour this fall. So be sure to keep up to date on all things funny by visiting us year round at hahaha.com.