The New Wave of Standup
A dozen of Canada’s hottest new comics gathered for one hilarious night of standup as part of the Just For Laughs VANCOUVER Festival. These rising stars each headline their own 10-minute episode exclusively for CBC Gem.
Seasons
1. Cassie Cao
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Cassie Cao is a Canadian Comedy Award-winning comedian based in Toronto whose comedy has been featured on the CBC, Sirius XM, and Just for Laughs. Cassie was formerly an economist, and has years of experience telling jokes to very serious Canadian policy makers.
2. Jacob Samuel
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Jacob Samuel is a stand-up comic, cartoonist, and writer known for his clever and insightful comedy. Jacob has taped multiple national TV performances for the CBC, The Comedy Network, and Crave.
3. Al Val
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Al Val may be a genderfluid millennial in a perpetual state of mid-life crisis, but you can guarantee that their identities are charmingly hilarious.
4. Yumi Nagashima
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Yumi Nagashima’s career has seen a meteoric rise in the past two years: a popular YouTube channel, her debut album “My Name Is Yumi,” a Comedy Central Asia special, and appearances at top comedy festivals.
5. Aaron Read
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Aaron is a Vancouver comedian who likes to tell silly jokes about worms, werewolves, and stuff like that. He loves standing on stage with a mic, looking out at people and saying, "How y'all doing?"
6. Salma Hindy
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Salma enjoys listening to politicians debate what she can and can't wear on the radio as she ties her hijab in the morning. The only terrorism she partakes in is shooting down stereotypes on stage.
7. Kyle Brownrigg
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Kyle Brownrigg won Best Breakout Artist at The Canadian Comedy Awards in 2019. He has been featured on The Debaters, Halifax Comedy Festival, Laugh Out Loud, SiriusXM Top Comic, and Just for Laughs.
9. Paul Rabliauskas
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Paul Rabliauskas hails from Poplar River First Nation, MB. Paul's charming, brash, and boisterous style makes him a fan favorite of so many across Canada.
10. Brittany Lyseng
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Born and raised in Calgary, Brittany Lyseng is a nationally touring comedian. Her humble beginnings as a tradesperson are apparent in her unique delivery and one-of-a-kind view of the world.
11. Ola Dada
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Ola Dada is a Nigerian-Canadian raised in Fort McMurray, Alberta, who now lives in Vancouver. Ola was most recently a runner-up in Canada’s largest comedy competition: the 2019 SiriusXM Top Comic
12. Matty Vu
Air Date: 2020-07-17
Matty Vu is the bad boy of Vancouver’s comedy scene, pushing the limits of audiences all over. OK, he's just a nice boy who does comedy. He's also a 30-something man who still calls himself a boy.
1. Andrea Jin
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Andrea Jin is a Shanghai born stand-up and writer who was recently selected as a New Face at Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL
2. Hisham Kelati
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Hisham Kelati's debut comedy album Tigre King was nominated for a 2022 Juno for Comedy Album of the Year.
3. Allie Pearse
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Allie Pearse is a writer on the award winning show Letterkenny, and the 2021 winner of JFL’s Standup & Pitch competition.
4. Nick Nemeroff
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Nick Nemeroff appeared on TBS’ Conan, and his debut comedy album, The Pursuit of Comedy Has Ruined My Life, was nominated for a 2021 JUNO Award for Comedy Album of the Year
5. Abdul Aziz
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Abdul Aziz is a comedian and producer who has a critically acclaimed D&D Improv-Fantasy podcast, Spout Lore.
6. Tin Lorica
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Comedian and writer Tin Lorica is co-host of Millennial Live, a live comedy and poetry series.
7. Juliana Rodrigues
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Juliana Rodrigues began performing stand-up at the age of fifteen, and has gone on to make quite the name for herself, selected as 2021 Just For Laughs New Face.
8. Maddy Kelly
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Actress and writer Maddy Kelly is best known for her work on CBC Podcasts’ Let's Make A Sci-Fi, and her performance on The Standup Show with Jon Dore.
9. Hoodo Hersi
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Hoodo Hersi is a comedian currently writing on A24/Amazon’s untitled Ramy Youssef animated show.
10. Steev Letts
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Steev Letts has performed at Just for Laughs VANCOUVER, and the Grindstone Comedy Festival, his debut album Burger Queen is available online.
11. Janelle Niles
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Janelle Niles is a Black - Mi’kmaq comedian whose indigenous comedy show Got Land? aims to communicate solidarity through humour and laughter.
12. Marito Lopez
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Marito Lopez is a Latinx comedian who has made explosive performances on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, CBC Gem, and MTV Canada.
13. Ajihanis Charley
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Ajihanis Charley is a Black non-binary comedy writer, whose show THOTS AND PRAYERS won Producer’s Pick Award at the 2020 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.
14. Jarrett Campbell
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Jarrett Campbell has been featured on MTV, The Comedy Network, CBC, SiriusXM, and his debut comedy album "Straight White Fail" was nominated for Comedy Album of the Year at the 2020 Junos.
1. Malik Elassal
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Malik Elassal is a standup comedian, actor, and writer from Northeast Calgary. He has performed in clubs across Canada and at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
2. Courtney Gilmour
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Courtney Gilmour was named by NOW magazine as one of the top ten stage artists to watch. Her debut standup album Let Me Hold Your Baby was nominated for a 2023 Juno Award.
3. Travis Lindsay
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Travis Lindsay has made multiple appearances at the Halifax Comedy Festival and his debut album The Kid is Alright topped the iTunes Comedy Charts.
4. Heidi Brander
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Heidi Brander is an award-winning writer for some of CBC's most popular comedy series: Son of a Critch, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Still Standing, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
5. Seán Devlin
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Seán Devlin's stand-up album AIRPORTS, ANIMALS was nominated for a 2022 Juno Award. He wrote and directed the feature film When the Storm Fades.
6. Rachel Schaefer
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Rachel Schaefer has been featured on CBC Radio's Laugh Out Loud, and the JFL Original's album Stand-Up BC: Yee-Haw Hell Yeah.
7. Dino Archie
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Dino Archie has released four comedy albums. He made his American network late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and has appeared on Comedy Central.
8. Mike Green
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Mike Green has appeared at Just For Laughs Montreal as part of the New Faces of Comedy showcase. In Winnipeg he produces local standup shows like the Secret Standup Series.
9. Brendan D'Souza
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Brendan D'Souza was featured in OUTtv's Out For Laughs Live, and was nominated for the I Heart Jokes Award for Newcomer Comic of the Year.
10. Jacob Balshin
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Jacob Balshin was the winner of I Heart Jokes Awards Newcomer of the Year in Toronto, and was later nominated for Breakout Comic of the Year.
11. Laura Leibow
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Laura Leibow has performed in legendary clubs like the Improv in Los Angeles, and Gotham & Broadway Comedy Club in New York.
12. Charles Haycock
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Charles Haycock's comedy is subtle, yet uproariously funny. He also happens to be a world-class yo-yo performer.
13. Jackie Pirico
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Named by Exclaim! magazine as a rising force in comedy, Pirico's comedy album Splash Pad received a 2023 Juno Award nomination.
14. Bobby Warrener
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Bobby Warrener has performed at multiple festivals and made national TV appearances. With his rapid-fire joke style and laid-back demeanour he has become a crowd favourite.
1. Alannah Brittany
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Alannah Brittany has graced major venues and festivals nationwide, including Just for Laughs Vancouver and Big Laughs Comedy Fest.
2. Mikey Dubs
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Mikey is from Vancouver Island and has performed on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, JFL Originals, and at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
3. Ryan Williams
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Ryan Williams' energetic performances, coupled with his sharp material and class observations, have been featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Just For Laughs.
4. Zabrina Douglas
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Zabrina Douglas draws from her experience as a nurse, a mother, and being raised by Jamaican parents. Her work can be seen on the Comedy Network and CBC.
5. Brandon Ash-Mohammed
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Brandon Ash-Mohammed has appeared on TallBoyz, Kids in the Hall, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Last One Laughing. He won a CSA for Best Writing: Variety Series for RuPaul’s Drag Race: Canada.
6. Mayce Galoni
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Mayce Galoni has appeared at Just for Laughs, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, MTV, and has released two albums that are regularly heard on SiriusXM.
7. Dakota Ray Hebert
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Dakota Ray Hebert has appeared on Comedy Night with Rick Mercer, Run The Burbs, and Roast Battle Canada. Her debut comedy album “I’ll Give You An Indian Act” is available now.
8. Clare Belford
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Clare Belford was selected for Just For Laughs' New Faces Canada in 2022, and her debut album "The Entire Cabbage" was one of NPR's "Best of 2021."
9. Chad Anderson
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Chad’s comedy reflects on his own personal experiences including fatherhood and tragedy. His debut album "Live at Wee Johnny's" can be heard on SiriusXM.
10. Daniel Woodrow
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Daniel Woodrow received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program for Roast Battle Canada.
11. Sophia Johnson
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Sophia Johnson is an actor/comedian from New Zealand who has performed at three New Zealand International Comedy Festivals, including her sold-out show "50 Minutes Plus Laughs."
12. Ben Sosa-Wright
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Ben Sosa-Wright is a pretty, queer, and Latinx stand-up comedian, writer, and improviser from Toronto. In 2022 he was selected for Just For Laughs' New Faces of Canada.
13. Natasha Lyn Myles
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Natasha Lyn Myles has been featured at The Grindstone Comedy Festival in Edmonton, and at Re-Set Festival where she hosted a series of shows called "Black Laughs Matter."
1. Myles Anderson
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Myles Anderson is a regular performer on Laugh Out Loud and The Debaters on CBC Radio.
2. Faris Hytiaa
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Known for his relaxed delivery and quick wit, Faris Hytiaa was selected for New Faces of Comedy at JFL in 2023.
3. Rebecca Reeds
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Rebecca Reeds is known for her appearances on Sirius XM, and CBC Radio's Laugh Out Loud and The Debaters. She co-hosts the award-winning podcast The Villain Was Right.
4. Alistair Ogden
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Alistair Ogden won CBC's Next Up competition in 2019. Since then, he's appeared at the Halifax Comedy Festival and garnered over eight-million views across Instagram and TikTok.
5. Tamara Shevon
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Tamara Shevon is a Toronto-based comic who has performed at Just For Laughs, CBC Accent on Toronto and the Comedy is Art Festival.
6. Sam Sferrazza
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Sam Sferrazza appeared on JFL's New Faces of Canada in 2023. His trademark wit, political satire and relatable rants have earned him recognition from Time Magazine, Narcity, and Thrillist.
7. Jordanne Brown
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Jordanne Brown is a standup, writer and performer from Saskatchewan based in Toronto. She has been featured on CBC's TallBoyz, Toronto Sketch Fest and Just For Laughs Originals.
8. Spencer Adamus
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Spencer Adamus is a comedian and actor from Winnipeg who appeared on JFL's New Faces of Canada in 2023. He co-created the sketch group Family Dinner.
9. Eva Alexopoulos
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As producer of The Kickback MTL, Eva Alexopoulos has made waves in Montreal's comedy scene and beyond.
10. Ahren Belisle
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Ahren Belisle is a nonverbal comedian who skyrocketed to fame as a finalist on America's Got Talent.
11. Rachel Manson
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Rachel Manson is a Toronto based stand-up who has performed at numerous comedy festivals across Canada and the U.S.
12. Cassidy Anhorn
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A comedic performer and writer from Vancouver, Cassidy Anhorn produces her comedy show Big Queer Party Mix, and improvises on QueerProv.
1. Wassim El-Mounzer
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Wassim was named by the Montreal Gazette as one of the artists to watch. In 2022 he was part of the Canadian New Faces of Comedy at Just for Laughs, and his debut album “You Can English” drops soon.
2. Isabel Zaw-Tun
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Now based in Toronto, Isabel has performed at The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, The Debaters and Zoofest. Isabel’s jokes have been featured in Huffpost, Buzzfeed, Funny or Die, and The Chicago Tribune.
3. Callum O'Neil
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Callum started comedy at 18, and has been making audiences laugh ever since with his sharply written observational material. He made his television debut on CBC Gem for The Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
4. K.C. Novak
Air Date: 2025-08-29
K.C. has performed at Seattle International Comedy Competition and Toronto’s SheDot Festival. Tracks from her debut album, “Burger, She Wrote,” can be heard on SiriusXM.
5. Randee Neumeyer
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Randee is known for her subversively creative jokes, where her setups are as surprising as her punchlines. Performances include CBC Laugh Out Loud, Just for Laughs and debut comedy album, “Bad Baby.”
6. Alain Williams
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Alain is a frequent performer on comedy shows all around Vancouver. He’s been featured at Just for Laughs Vancouver and also opened for comedian/rapper Zach Fox and Big Fun Vancouver.
7. Olivia Stadler
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Olivia is best known for her work on the award-winning Crave original series, Letterkenny, and also appeared in three seasons of Roast Battle Canada
8. Bree Parsons
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Bree may be recognized from her performances at JFL New Faces, The Debaters, Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Just for Laughs Toronto, or from being the regular at the nearest dive bar.
9. Nathan Hare
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Nathan currently based in Toronto is a comedian, writer and actor. His comedy sketches and videos have received millions of views and has been featured in Vulture’s funniest videos of the month.
10. Adrienne Fish
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Adrienne’s performances have been showcased on national television including Homegrown Comics and Roast Battle Canada, and she is regularly featured across North America on SiriusXM.
11. Raajiee Chelliah
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Raajiee has performed at Just for Laughs Montreal and Zoofest, and opened for Dane Cook at Comediha X JFL in 2024.
12. Tim Blair
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Tim is a founding member of comedy troupe TallBoyz II Men, co-creator of Canadian Screen Award winning sketch show TallBoyz, and alumnus of Second City’s House Co.
13. Henry Sir
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Henry is a basketball player turned comedian and writer. He’s been featured on Comedy Central, Just for Laughs Montreal New Faces, Don’t Tell Comedy, CBC as well as his 2025 album, “Mr. Sir.”
14. Hassan Phills
Air Date: 2025-08-29
Hassan is a star on the stage and screen. He was recently featured in The Office Movers, and continues to solidify his place in Canadian entertainment as a dynamic and influential figure.
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Rating
0.0/10
Release Date
2020-07-17
Episodes
78 (6 seasons)
Status
Returning Series