JFL HAS ITS BEST LINEUP IN TWENTY NINE YEARS!

The San Francisco Chronicle uses rather clever images to rank theatre in the city, and when I was thinking how to rank the Just For Laughs 2011 Festival, only one image came to mind. The highest rank that the Chronicle gives is the above image of a guy jumping on a chair and clapping. In it’s 29^th year, Just For Laughs really did deliver! This year, the Festival got a facelift with its new hub at Place des Spectacles, new venues, new shows, big stars, and world-class emerging talent. A perfect combination! 

There was something for everyone at this year's festival; from 9 blockbuster Galas to the underground Zoofest Comedy shows produced by Just For Laughs, the programming team ensured that all comedy palates were pleased. One night I was watching mega-sitcom star Eric Stonestreet and then later on I was in this intimate theatre watching DeAnne Smith who for me, was a standout comedian at this year’s festival.

Some of my other favs included: Adam Hills, Danny Bhoy, Jimmy Carr, Jeffrey Ross, Modi, Tim Minchin, Garfunkel and Oates, and Bo Burnham.

The Just For Laughs Festival put on more than 1,762 English and French shows during its extended 3-week Festival, hosting more than 3,695 artists and participants, close to 1,000 entertainment industry professionals, over 300 local, national and foreign media, received 2.9 million page views on hahaha.com in July alone, and over 20 countries represented. Many changes were brought forth for this edition that were welcomed with huge success; three weeks of programming, themed galas, venues within walking distance, and creative outdoor programming. Impressive numbers!

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Just For Laughs Festival

• This year, the most tickets in Festival history were sold for the prestigious Gala series, including four sold-out shows (over 10,000 tickets sold) hosted by international superstar Russell Peters at Just For Laughs’ new home at Place des Arts.
• A Tribute to Nerds hosted by The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg (filmed for The Comedy Network), and Decline of the American Empire hosted by John Oliver (filmed for CBC), were among the new concepts and Gala highlights that appealed to a new, younger demographic.
• Louis CK, "JFL Comedy Person of the Year," performed the show of the Festival. And topped things off by sharing his wisdom in an “In Conversation” in front of a capacity crowd at the Comedy Conference.
• Daniel Tosh (star of Tosh.0) sold out his much anticipated first concert in Montreal.
• Amp’d (Hosted by Weird Al and filmed for The Comedy Network) was a Festival highlight and featured an all star musical comedy lineup including: Bo Burnham, Reggie Watts, Tim Minchin, Garfunkel & Oates, and Tom Green (with Organized Rhyme).
• The Ethnic Show and The Nasty Show sold over 10,000 tickets in the first two weeks. Hosted by Comedy Central Roastmaster Jeffrey Ross (The Nasty Show) and Maz Jobrani (The Ethnic Show), both shows had standout performances by Jay Oakerson and Sebastian Maniscalco respectively.
• Just For Laughs exploded with over 20 intimate 100-seater shows as part of "Zoofest" with an insanely popular and strong lineup. Led by Hannibal Burress, John Mulaney, Paul F. Tompkins, Eugene Mirman, DeAnne Smith, Maria Bamford and concepts like CHEAT starring Bill Burr, Robert Kelly and Joe Derosa and Ari Shaffir’s So I’m F***ing This Girl.
• Hot roster of international stars including Eddie Izzard (performed in English and French), Jimmy Carr, Tim Minchin, Danny Bhoy (sold out run with added shows), Beardyman and Russell Howard.
• The Insider Series, now in its second year, featured tons of cool shows including Kenny Hotz’s Triumph of the Will, The Comedy Network’s Picnicface, Funny or Die’s What’s Going On? with Mike Mitchell, My Damn Channel’s Wainy Days, and Colin Quinn’s Broadway show Long Story Short which was a hit with audiences.
• Podcasts made their first appearance ever at the Festival and were an instant hit:
• Chris Hardwick, Matt Mira and Jonah Ray recorded their popular podcast The Nerdist in front of a capacity crowd.
• Marc Maron’s popular WTF podcast recorded in front of a sold-out crowd.
• Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier received a standing ovation from a full house as they stepped on stage to record an episode of SModcast.
• Adam Hills along with DeAnne Smith, Jimmy Carr, and David O'Doherty visited Hope & Cope’s Wellness Center / Lou’s House to put on a free performance for more than 75 cancer fighters and survivors. Laughter is indeed the best medicine!

Comedy Conference

• More than 400 of the biggest players in the industry, including high-level executives from the worlds of feature film, television, digital media and live entertainment attended the Just For Laughs Comedy Conference and close to 1,000 industry people total attended the Festival. High profile companies and representatives, and shows such as Adult Swim, My Damn Channel, Funny or Die, The Onion, Cracked.com, CollegeHumor, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons, 30 Rock, YouTube, Blip.tv, IFC, The Comedy Network, BBC America, Comedy Central, FOX, CBC, CTV, CBS, Disney, FX Network, HBO and much more.
• The Podcasts panel featured some of the best podcasters in the business, including Greg Proops (The Smartest Man in the World), Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist), Marc Maron (WTF), Paul F. Tompkins (The Pod F. Tompkast) and Scott Mosier (SModcast).
• Bridesmaids’ director, producer and JFL “Comedy Director of the Year”, Paul Feig, participated in a Q&A Master Class.
• The industries best showrunners – including  David Mirkin (The Simpsons), Michael Reiss (The Simpsons), Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation), Robert Carlock (30 Rock), Steven Levitan (Modern Family) – gathered together, in “Showrunners: The Kingpins of TV.”

Just For Laughs Awards Luncheon

• Garry Shandling received the Just For Laughs Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Steven Levitan (Modern Family) was presented the “Comedy Writer of the Year” award by Eric Stonestreet.
• Ken Jeong (The Hangover 2, Transformers 3, The Zookeeper and Community) was presented the “Breakout Comedy Star of the Year” award by David Wain.
• Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) was presented the “Director of the Year” by Richard Crouse.
• Louis C.K. was presented the “Comedy Person of the Year” award by Tom Green.

Ground central for all things JFL: Place des Spectacles at night!

JFL featured on NBC's Today Show while being shot in MTL.

Pinkarnaval! Awesome free original outdoor programming.

Tom Green on the street! 

Tom Green and AMP'd being featured on ET Canada.

Modern Love hosted by Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet.

Adam Hills performs at Hope & Copes Wellness Center / Lou's House.

DeAnne Smith performs at Hope & Copes Wellness Center / Lou's House.

David O'Doherty performs at Hope & Copes Wellness Center / Lou's House.

Jimmy Carr performs at Hope & Copes Wellness Center / Lou's House.

What an amazing Festival. Looking forward to JFL 3.0 in 2012.

Don't KISS and tell...

Okay. I am! Yesterday, I was invited to see KISS perform at the closing of Heavy MTL. It was a little bit of a departure from what I am used to in terms of concerts and multimedia spectacles, but in my quest to showcase the best in arts and entertainment, I immediately jumped onboard.

Upon arrival onsite, you could just tell this was a hardcore festival and no ballet. So maybe I should have gotten a tattoo, worn black, and gotten some chains, but there I was and ready to dive in. I was wearing a navy polo but I was the only person on site wearing a polo t-shirt; one in-a-series of wardrobe misses.

My sidekick for my night out at Heavy MTL was Donnie Whalberg’s future wife, a music industry professional who has worked with KISS a number of times in the past year.

We arrived early to take in everything that the backstage had to offer. Little did we know that celebrity chef Chuck Hughes (Garde Manger & Chuck's Day Off) did all the catering. I was once told the importance of good food on tour (good food = happy artists). Chuck has been everywhere these days: sitting next to a good friend en route from Toronto to Montreal, NBC’s Today Show in MTL, and now Heavy MTL.

Although I was a bit skeptical to try his food for the very first time where he had to cook for so many people, I did anyway because I was hungry (and I also felt I needed to bulk up for the evening). It was amazing: lentil salad, a mini meatball sub and poutine! Delicious! After chatting with Chuck my sidekick and I were ready for the main stage.


Thousands were in attendance and some people even brought their children. Special shout out to the people at St John Ambulance who were on hand inside the first aid tent! Having friends inside this tent somehow made me feel safe. For example, if I got hurt in the mosh pit, I knew exactly where to go (if I could get out). Luckily, our all access pass enabled us to watch the show from a great location away from the massive crowd.


KISS was amazing (complete with fireworks, lots of pyro, and of course their over-the-top costumes) but this night was all about the experience. Memorable indeed!

Celebrity chef Chuck Hughes and Donnie Whalberg's future wife (or should I say Chuck Hughes future wife)

KISS...

I'd like to end this post with Amy Winehouse. A true talent and the kind of voice that you rarely come across. The definition of a star. She was unique and it's a tragedy that she left this world at only 27. RIP Amy. 

Weekend Picks: All About Laughs!!!!!!!!!!!

Just For Laughs kicked off its English programming on Thursday night with the Nasty Show hosted by  Jeffrey Ross: The Roastmaster General from the Comedy Central Roasts. HSP was in attendance for both shows and it was a solid comedy show filled with lots of laughing. It's a staple at the fest and a must see this year.  Limited tickets are still available for shows tonight. Check hahaha.com for ticket availabilities. If you cannot attend tonight, JFL just added two new shows on July 29 at 8pm and 10:30pm. 

Jeffrey Ross makes an appearance on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda to promote Just For Laughs. He returns again to host the July 29 Nasty Show's as well.

I love Montreal for so many reasons but my absolute favourite thing about Montreal is the CREATIVITY! When I heard about the Pinkarnaval as part of Just For Laughs street festivities, I knew right away it will be awesome. 

Inspired by fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier's humour in his designs, Pinkarnaval will host two events on Saturday and Sunday night. Tonight kicks off with a parade paying tribute to Jean Paul Gaultier. In collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, more than 1,600 volunteers will take part in this parade that starts at 7:30pm. Costumes inspired by Gaultier's looks and giant 20-foot inflatable puppets (the first of their kind) will light up the streets of Montreal where Gaultier will be in attendance.

On Sunday, at Place des Festivals, a staged outdoor version of the parade will be presented.

Jean Paul Gaultier's iconic stripes have been taking over the city. Even on a taxi!

One final note, don't forget that the Ethnic Show begins next Thursday. hahaha.com for ticket info.

NBC Today Show Showcases Montreal's Best (Moves)!

NBC’s Today Show has been the go-to for all things morning news for more than 6 decades (the show first aired in 1952). For the first time ever, NBC’s final hour of its four-hour Today Show stepped out of its Rockefeller Center studios to broadcast LIVE from Montreal. More than 1,000 people were in attendance for the live taping. Tourism Montreal spearheaded this initiative and it has been estimated that NBC's visit to Montreal was worth more than 13 million dollars in media value. 

Two shows showcased Montreal with one of them being LIVE. I was privileged to work on two stories with the gang at the Today Show: choreographer Debra Brown and a piece on Just For Laughs. What a memorable morning!

In addition to showcasing Debra Brown and Just For Laughs, celebrity chef Chuck Hughes prepared drinks for Kathie Lee and Hoda (these ladies do love their cocktails), and the Barenaked Ladies and Cirque du Soleil performed for Kathie Lee, Hoda and the crowd. 

Kathie Lee and Hoda's big entrance: A horse-drawn carriage (wasn't the biggest fan of this - it was hot outside) and a Montreal Police officer. 

A few seconds into Thursday's live broadcast. You could see the excitment on both Kathie Lee's and Hoda's faces. There is no doubt they were happy to be in Montreal.

Debra Brown kicked off the show by adding some moves to iHoda's playlist, a weekly segment where Hoda surprises Kathie Lee with a song.

Debra Brown, Emmy winning choreographer of 11 Cirque du Soleil shows and has also worked with such international superstars including: Aerosmith, Celine Dion, Madonna and Shakira.

Debra brought some help to get the crowd going. Jeff Mortensen was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Canada and is now currently working on Snow White with Julia Roberts. 

Debra with agent extraordinaire Barry Garber. 

Fans couldn't get enough of Kathie Lee and Hoda. The pair signed autographs and posed for pictures with the crowd during commercial breaks. 

Jeff, Debra and myself pose for a photo.

Kathie Lee and Hoda take a few seconds to pose for a photo with me. 

MERCI FRANCE (ROUEN TO BE EXACT)!

What a "European" weekend it was and I didn’t even have to get on a plane – not that I am boycotting them or anything. With the world’s favourite newlyweds in town on Saturday (still upset of the type of welcome that Montreal gave them) and French singer Amaury Vassili’s concert last night, my weekend was filled with some awesome memories. After a relaxing day spent in the country celebrating my 30th birthday (doesn’t get any better than this), HSP was invited by the folks at IMC to see Amaury Vassili close the 7th annual Mondial Choral in Laval.

At 22, Vassili is the youngest tenor in the world. Needless to say his voice did not disappoint. Think Josh Groban meets Il Divo with a charming French accent. Vassili was accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra and a choir. The staging was dazzling with stellar projections and lighting. I was extremely impressed. Even though the concert was in Laval, I felt as though I was watching a performance at an established outdoor concert hall. Congratulations to the team of organizers of this particular festival.

To add some drama and effect to Vassili's overall performance, it started to rain during the finale. Believe me, I am used to the whole touring outdoors thing, but I never had to use a garbage bag to keep me dry. On tour, I was always prepared with billy boots and rain jacket. I guess there is a first time for everything. 

On Vassili's third visit to Montreal, he wowed the crowd with renditions of Con te partiro (Andrea Bocelli), Who Wants to Live Forever (Queen), Leonard Cohen’s classic Hallelujah, and songs from his two albums Vincero (2009) and Cantero (2010). This was Vassili’s first time performing with a live orchestra and choir at the same time. It defintely suited him. Management should take note. Everything set the mood for a memorable night highlighting a young, fresh, and talented young man with a bright future ahead of him.

Born and raised in Rouen, France, it was at age nine when he discovered his passion for singing. In 2011, Vassili was a finalist at the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest. Celine Dion won this  competition back in 1988.

Vassili is on his way to becoming a household name here in Canada. What a treat it was to see him perform live. 

A Royal Visit.

After some serious “Where’s Waldo” or should I say where’s Will and Kate, I was able to locate the newlyweds on some photos I took on my iPhone. It would have been nicer to see Will and Kate up close, but given the fact that there were some protestors, security wasn’t taking any chances.

Aside from the negativity surrounding the visit, it was refreshing to be standing next to so many supporters who were cheering “Will and Kate.” One woman I met arrived at noon from Burlington, Ontario. While she was there with her children, they were more concerned with the guy selling ice cream on the street.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge where only in Montreal for a few hours and in this short time, I wished we could have shown them how wonderful Montrealers are without the whole protesting thing.

This is one press tour that I would love to be a part of.

Tonight, it’s off to Laval to see French tenor Amaury Vassili (youngest professional tenor in the world) perform at Le Mondial Choral Loto-Québec.

Prince is King!

My very first concert that I ever saw was Celine Dion’s Falling Into You World Tour at the Montréal Forum. I will never forget the feeling that I got witnessing the power of music in a crowded arena full of screaming fans. In recent years, I have had the chance to see some memorable shows that include: Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics World Tour (also saw her perform in South Africa), Madonna’s Confessions World Tour, Britney Spears’ Circus World Tour (always be a favorite of mine), Elton John, Stephane Moccio, Florence K, and U2. Events that I will soon never forget and served as a way to take in first hand, my passion: entertainment marketing.

When Prince announced a few weeks ago that he would be coming to Montréal to perform two concerts at Metropolis as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, I knew that I couldn’t miss out. Tickets sold out quickly but HSP was able to secure two seats to an epic evening starring Prince on Friday, June 24, 2011.

Debra Brown, renowned for her work with Cirque du Soleil and international artists (Shakira, Madonna, and Celine Dion to name a few) was my date. Having the chance to see an iconic singer with Debra Brown, an icon in the world of dance, acrobatics, and movement, is an unbeatable formula for a fun night out on the town. Debra’s comments and inside scoop into the world of show creation is something that I value so much. I can’t get enough.

Even before Prince took the stage, I knew the night would be unforgettable. Given Prince’s previous track record, Debra and I didn’t rush for the 11:30 pm start time because we figured he would be on later. We were wrong! Prince started at 11:30 pm as stated on our tickets. The 7-time Grammy winner did not disappoint. More than two hours into the concert, I couldn’t believe that he was still playing. Two hours turned into three hours and after almost four hours of music, the concert came to an end. His six or so encores included all his hits.

I must make a special mention about Prince’s band. One word: WOW! His eight-piece band included five awesome women and legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker. There was no shortage of talent on stage! I could have listened to Parker alone all night!

Also spotted at the concert was Director & Choreographer extraordinaire Jamie King. I’m a huge fan of all his work!

What a way to kick off the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal! Our city comes alive with world-class festivals during the summer and Prince is one example of how awesome and creative Montréal is! Can’t wait for the Just For Laughs Festival, which kicks off on July 11, 2011.