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No joke: Comedy fest plans birthday in Toronto
BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette
Published: Saturday, January 20, 2007
Just for Laughs would like to launch a giggles festival in Toronto. But this is no laughing matter for those who fear such an event could eventually eclipse festivities - primarily on the anglo side - in Montreal.
Although no deal has been signed, Just for Laughs boss Bruce Hills is optimistic about a Toronto festival taking place this summer to help mark the 25th anniversary of the Montreal event. That strikes some as a funny - funny odd, that is - way to celebrate a birthday here.
"We are only negotiating," Hills said yesterday.
"We would like to do a three-day event of outdoor galas in Toronto, around the time of the Montreal festival, in order to use some of the same talent. I am hopeful, but nothing is confirmed yet."
Hills did allow, though, that Just for Laughs is looking at a long-term deal in Toronto.
"If it goes well and if it doesn't affect Montreal, we are interested in doing this annually. But we have a long way to go. And it won't be at the expense of Montreal."
"There is nothing for Montrealers to get alarmed about," Hills said.
Still, my inner Oliver Stone - famed conspiracy theorist - worries such a development could eventually blow out the candles here for good. Given a choice of showcasing in Toronto instead of Montreal, I fret that the big-name U.S. and English comedians just might opt for the anglo environs of the former burgh despite the far looser atmosphere of the latter.
The medium might be different, and so, too, might the organizers, but the Montreal World Film Festival can't hold - while on the birthday cake theme - a candle to the Toronto International Film Festival when it comes to luring the big U.S. and English stars and directors. Those with long memories, though, will recall the Montreal film fest was once No. 1
Bad enough that Montrealers have to deal with being second-class citizens on the hockey front, when it comes to CBC-TV English broadcasts of the Canadiens. But to take a back seat to Hogtown on the humour front would be unthinkable.
Torontonians can afford to pay for the bigger ticket events and, consequently, Toronto can draw the bigger-name performers.
Then again, some might argue that a laugh festival would never work there, because Hogtown doesn't have a sense of humour.
Nearly 2 million people took part in July's Just for Laughs festival, the largest comedy event in the world. Over the years, the festival has drawn such wits as Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, Ray Romano, Dave Chappelle, Tim Allen, Jon Stewart, Tina Fey and Rick Mercer, as well as the giants of the French comedy scene.
But what people sometimes lose sight of is that Just for Laughs is as much an industry event as it is an entertainment attraction for the paying public. There is no question the U.S. film and TV producers and scouts who flock here annually in search of talent have played a huge role in drawing comics, especially anglos. What if these industry types - like their film counterparts - expressed an interest in going to a more comfortable anglo milieu like Toronto?
Hills has no desire to export that component to Toronto.
"We are not interested in creating another industry event in Toronto. That industry component in Montreal is what we are all about. We're still intent on finding the next Dave Chappelle or Ray Romano in Montreal. We are mostly just interested in creating two separate events with two separate mandates."
Humour doesn't come cheap here. Just for Laughs operated on a budget of $33.5 million last year. The Toronto facsimile would have to make do with substantially less - about $3 million. Hills hopes some of that sum - $500,000 - would come from Toronto's tourism event development loan program. That's all that appears to be holding up the official announcement.
If anything, Hills says, the Montreal fest will benefit from the arrival of one in Toronto.
"This will give us a chance to throw much more money to big talent here. If anything, I believe this will strengthen the Montreal festival. There are plenty of other jazz festivals in the world, but they don't affect Montreal."
Bobby Slayton, the perennial host of Just for Laughs' popular Nasty Show, doesn't mince words talking about Montreal. The New York native is not called the pit bull of comedy for nothing.
"I love Montreal. There is no place outside New York I'd rather play. I'm in no hurry to play Toronto. The other American comics feel the same way.
"When you think Montreal, you think international flavour, great cuisine and beautiful women," added Slayton, who appears in the film Dreamgirls. "When you think Toronto, you think the bloody Blue Jays. The town has as much cachet as Detroit."
Joey Elias, this city's top comic, is not overly concerned, either.
"At first, I thought it was just a rumour coming from the same city that plans a Stanley Cup parade every time the Leafs win a game," he cracked. "But Just for Laughs is an institution in Montreal, and there's little anyone can do to change that. But if worse ever comes to worst for me, then I'll just have to play at the Toronto festival."
Of one thing we can always be certain: If comics want to get an easy laugh from a Montreal audience, all they have to do is bash Toronto. The reverse, however, has never held true.
My inner Ollie Stone is starting to feel a little better now.
bbrownst@thegazette.canwest.com
BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette
Published: Saturday, January 20, 2007
Just for Laughs would like to launch a giggles festival in Toronto. But this is no laughing matter for those who fear such an event could eventually eclipse festivities - primarily on the anglo side - in Montreal.
Although no deal has been signed, Just for Laughs boss Bruce Hills is optimistic about a Toronto festival taking place this summer to help mark the 25th anniversary of the Montreal event. That strikes some as a funny - funny odd, that is - way to celebrate a birthday here.
"We are only negotiating," Hills said yesterday.
"We would like to do a three-day event of outdoor galas in Toronto, around the time of the Montreal festival, in order to use some of the same talent. I am hopeful, but nothing is confirmed yet."
Hills did allow, though, that Just for Laughs is looking at a long-term deal in Toronto.
"If it goes well and if it doesn't affect Montreal, we are interested in doing this annually. But we have a long way to go. And it won't be at the expense of Montreal."
"There is nothing for Montrealers to get alarmed about," Hills said.
Still, my inner Oliver Stone - famed conspiracy theorist - worries such a development could eventually blow out the candles here for good. Given a choice of showcasing in Toronto instead of Montreal, I fret that the big-name U.S. and English comedians just might opt for the anglo environs of the former burgh despite the far looser atmosphere of the latter.
The medium might be different, and so, too, might the organizers, but the Montreal World Film Festival can't hold - while on the birthday cake theme - a candle to the Toronto International Film Festival when it comes to luring the big U.S. and English stars and directors. Those with long memories, though, will recall the Montreal film fest was once No. 1
Bad enough that Montrealers have to deal with being second-class citizens on the hockey front, when it comes to CBC-TV English broadcasts of the Canadiens. But to take a back seat to Hogtown on the humour front would be unthinkable.
Torontonians can afford to pay for the bigger ticket events and, consequently, Toronto can draw the bigger-name performers.
Then again, some might argue that a laugh festival would never work there, because Hogtown doesn't have a sense of humour.
Nearly 2 million people took part in July's Just for Laughs festival, the largest comedy event in the world. Over the years, the festival has drawn such wits as Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, Ray Romano, Dave Chappelle, Tim Allen, Jon Stewart, Tina Fey and Rick Mercer, as well as the giants of the French comedy scene.
But what people sometimes lose sight of is that Just for Laughs is as much an industry event as it is an entertainment attraction for the paying public. There is no question the U.S. film and TV producers and scouts who flock here annually in search of talent have played a huge role in drawing comics, especially anglos. What if these industry types - like their film counterparts - expressed an interest in going to a more comfortable anglo milieu like Toronto?
Hills has no desire to export that component to Toronto.
"We are not interested in creating another industry event in Toronto. That industry component in Montreal is what we are all about. We're still intent on finding the next Dave Chappelle or Ray Romano in Montreal. We are mostly just interested in creating two separate events with two separate mandates."
Humour doesn't come cheap here. Just for Laughs operated on a budget of $33.5 million last year. The Toronto facsimile would have to make do with substantially less - about $3 million. Hills hopes some of that sum - $500,000 - would come from Toronto's tourism event development loan program. That's all that appears to be holding up the official announcement.
If anything, Hills says, the Montreal fest will benefit from the arrival of one in Toronto.
"This will give us a chance to throw much more money to big talent here. If anything, I believe this will strengthen the Montreal festival. There are plenty of other jazz festivals in the world, but they don't affect Montreal."
Bobby Slayton, the perennial host of Just for Laughs' popular Nasty Show, doesn't mince words talking about Montreal. The New York native is not called the pit bull of comedy for nothing.
"I love Montreal. There is no place outside New York I'd rather play. I'm in no hurry to play Toronto. The other American comics feel the same way.
"When you think Montreal, you think international flavour, great cuisine and beautiful women," added Slayton, who appears in the film Dreamgirls. "When you think Toronto, you think the bloody Blue Jays. The town has as much cachet as Detroit."
Joey Elias, this city's top comic, is not overly concerned, either.
"At first, I thought it was just a rumour coming from the same city that plans a Stanley Cup parade every time the Leafs win a game," he cracked. "But Just for Laughs is an institution in Montreal, and there's little anyone can do to change that. But if worse ever comes to worst for me, then I'll just have to play at the Toronto festival."
Of one thing we can always be certain: If comics want to get an easy laugh from a Montreal audience, all they have to do is bash Toronto. The reverse, however, has never held true.
My inner Ollie Stone is starting to feel a little better now.
bbrownst@thegazette.canwest.com