THIS WEEK

I'm working with Scott Faulconbridge and On the Spot doing a triple headline weekend:

Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 9:00 pm; Comedyworks; 1238 Bishop St., Montreal (514-398-9661) hosted by Joey Elias.

Friday, July 28, 2006 at 9:00 and 11:15 pm; Comedyworks; 1238 Bishop St., Montreal (514-398-9661) hosted by Joey Elias.

Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 9:00 and 11:15 pm; Comedyworks; 1238 Bishop St., Montreal (514-398-9661) hosted by Sugar Sammy.

Should be swell.

FEST DONE

I had a very fun Just for Laughs this year, both performing and especially watching some really great shows.

I was most inspired by the writing of Demetri Martin.
I was most entertained by the songs of Tim Minchin.
I was most fascinated by the stand-up of Stewart Lee. I don't think I've ever seen anyone manipulate tension in a room like that before. Real impressive.
I was most mesmerized by Billy the Mime, who was an incredible storyteller without saying a word (go figure).

And my favorite joke of the festival was told by one Howard Kramer at the always-excellent alternative show. Musing on how rappers like to shoot each other, he applies the same scenario to his favorite band growing up: "This just in, KISS has been assassinated by a rival group of Jews dressed as monsters."

What a wonderful sentence.

FESTIVAL BREW-HAHA

After several warm-up type shows I finally did one of my "official" ones, kicking off Comedy Night in Canada last night. It was fun, and the other comics on the show are nice folks to hang with (Ryan, Alan, Kristeen, Mike, Angelo and Mark).

Of course, the main event was the inevitable delta shmooze, which in my case means "find people you know and chill". I did do a quick hit for XM radio as well as a brief interview on CHOM with Sharon Hyland, and then some banter with Al and Era on CJAD. On air with me were Scottish comic Fred MacAulay and Irish comic Ed Byrne. It's both intimidating and educational to do the banter thing with such seasoned pros, as they are definitely hard to keep up with as far as being relentlessly quick and funny. It was fun to do and at least I got a couple of lines in there, so what the hey.

Other celebrities of note included Colin Ferguson, but I have to say my personal favorite double-take of the night was seeing Michael Cera, the actor who plays young George Michael on Arrested Development, followed by Stephen Colbert's black friend, Alan.

Tonight I'm checking out some one-man shows, then back on stage Friday and Saturday.

FESTIVAL SHOWS (UPDATED)

Sunday, July 16, 2006; Comedyworks; 1238 Bishop, Montreal; 514-398-9601; 9:00 pm

Tuesday, July 18, 2006; Ernie Butler's Comedynest; Pepsi Forum, Montreal; 514-932-NEST; 8:30 pm

COMEDY NIGHT IN CANADA SERIES:

Wednesday, July 19, 2006; Ernie Butler's Comedynest; Pepsi Forum, Montreal; 514-932-NEST; 8:30 pm

Friday, July 21, 2006; Ernie Butler's Comedynest; Pepsi Forum, Montreal; 514-932-NEST; 9:00 pm

Saturday, July 22, 2006; Ernie Butler's Comedynest; Pepsi Forum, Montreal; 514-932-NEST; 11:15 pm