After a year-long hiatus, the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival made a triumphant return to Montreal with a spectacular lineup of some of the biggest names in comedy. On July 24, Variety hosted their annual 10 Comics To Watch event at a cocktail party sponsored by Cohen Gardner Law, a longstanding partner of Variety in presenting this prestigious honor. All 10 comics who made the list were present at the event, including recent Emmy nominee Robby Hoffman from “Hacks,” breakout star Mary Beth Barone from “Overcompensating,” and social media sensation Dyon ‘Mojo’ Brooks. The talented lineup also included Joe Dombrowski, Nate Jackson, Morgan Jay, Gianmarco Soresi, Jiaoying Summers, Steph Tolev, and Tacarra Williams.
Jeff B. Cohen, a partner at Cohen Gardner, expressed his pride in sponsoring the 10 Comics To Watch event with Variety for nearly two decades. He commended Variety for their knack in identifying future comedy stars through this list and also lauded Just For Laughs for bringing back the renowned Montreal Comedy Festival, jokingly mentioning that it was his annual opportunity to indulge in some poutine.
The festivities continued on July 25 with a showcase event where the comics performed to a packed and enthusiastic audience. Earlier that day, Just For Laughs hosted their annual Awards show, honoring some of the comedy industry’s brightest talents. Ryan Reynolds had the honor of presenting the Generation Award to his colleague Rob Mac, praising not only Mac’s talent but also his genuine personality. Reynolds quipped about Mac’s work on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” highlighting the actor’s dedication to his craft and his colleagues.
The awards show, hosted by stand-up comic Matthew Broussard, also recognized George Wallace with a lifetime achievement award, presented by Roy Wood Jr., a previous 10 Comics To Watch honoree. Other past honorees who were celebrated included Benito Skinner, named breakout comedy star of the year; Hannah Berner, recognized as rising comedy star of the year; and Fortune Feimster, who shared the podcast of the year award with her “Handsome” cohosts Mae Martin and Tig Notaro.
The event was captured in a stunning image of Ryan Reynolds presenting the award, showcasing the excitement and camaraderie of the evening. Overall, the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival proved to be a resounding success, bringing together top comedic talent and industry professionals for a memorable celebration of laughter and entertainment.
