'Hybrid' Just For Laughs festival will honour Dave Chappelle, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and Bowen Yang
The Just For Laughs festival in Montreal is just around the corner and this year, organizers are presenting what they call a "hybrid" festival, blending live shows both online and in-person from Montreal, New York City and Los Angeles.
Officials state this decision was made "to adhere to travel restrictions" due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, "without compromising the quality of Just For Laughs’ world-class programming."
Just For Laughs will once again be partnering with actor Kevin Hart's comedy company, Laugh Out Loud (LOL), featuring appearances and performances by numerous stars including Dave Chappelle, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and more.
"We’re starting to come out of what was a really hard time for our comedy community,” said Bruce Hills, Just For Laughs president. “We’re honouring comedy storytellers who entertained and inspired us.”
This year, the Just For Laughs Awards Show will be aired online and available to stream for free.
"Don't miss this unfiltered appreciation of the people who shone brightest this year, honoured by the people who know them best … their friends, colleagues, fellow comics and some special surprise guests," the festival teases. "In a year that saw many hardships, JFL and friends pay tribute to these very deserving honorees who made a significant impact in the world of comedy."
Among this year's award recipients are Dave Chappelle (Comedy Person of the Year), Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (Comedy Writers of the Year), Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis on behalf of the team behind Ted Lasso (Comedy Series of the Year) and Bowen Yang (Breakout Comedy Star of the Year).
Fan-favourites are also still on the agenda, including The Nasty Show, The Alternative Show and Comedy Night in Canada.
The event will also feature webcast stand-up shows, the New Faces series, Bell Media TV tapings, JFL Originals tapings, Variety's 10 Comics to Watch, Eat My Shorts, Stand Up & Pitch and more.
Free outdoor festivities are planned in the heart of downtown Montreal at the Quartier des spectacles.
"As indicated by public health, it is necessary to reserve a ticket to attend outdoor shows in order to ensure a safe experience for all festivalgoers," organizers state.
The Just for Laughs festival is running from July 26 to 31. For the full schedule, go to hahaha.com
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Anne Hathaway reveals she's now five years sober
Anne Hathaway first shared she lost interest in drinking after a bad hangover in 2018. She’s now five years sober.