Early this afternoon, as crews were dismantling all the sets, stages and decor around the Place des Arts complex and the Place des Festivales, the Just For Laughs/Juste pour rire brain trust (pictured below) held a subdued, final press conference at a tent in front of Salle Wilfird-Pelletier to announce the final results of JFL 30.
And the final numbers are quite impressive. Almost 2 million people attended a record 250 shows that were performed by over 4000 artists, with over 300,000 tickets sold for its French and English shows.
To give a different approach to the press conference, instead of rattling off a list of numerous festival highlights, each of the five festival executives onstage decided to give their respective top five highlights. For the record, JFL prez Andy Nulman chose (in order): the Muppets gala, the Howie Mandel gala (including the salute to Mike MacDonald), the Bill Hader gala, Tommy Tiernan's killer set at both John Pinnette galas, and the song that was sung by Ben Folds and a teenage choir that climaxed the Bob Saget XXX gala. JFL COO Bruce Hills and chief programmer Robbie Praw's list of highlights were the sold out Kevin Hart shows at Metropolis, Aziz Ansari's show (also at Metropolis), Patton Oswalt's solo show (which took place at -- you guessed it -- the Metropolis), Neil Brennan's Midnight Surprise show, and Jim Jeffries solo show (he had to cancel the final two nights because he had to fly to California to promote his upcoming FX TV series).
With that in mind, I decided to wrap up my coverage of JFL 30 on my blog with my own list of top five favorite highlights (in order).
1) The Muppets Gala. This is the gold standard that future JFL galas will have to go by. The audiences that packed Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for the two once-in-a-lifetime galas were indeed privileged to be treated for a rare live show by Jim Henson's legendary puppet creations in their fuzzy glory. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Rowf and so many more characters certainly did not disappoint, as Muppet fans of all ages (many of them wearing Muppet t-shirtd and hats, with younger fans clutching stuffed Kermit dolls) greeted the appearance of every Muppet character with loud, deafening ovations. The sketches were classic Muppets, including Gonzo and his chickens doing a "Cirque du Poulet" routine, Miss Piggy and Kermit singing a duet (that was topped with a typical Miss Piggy karate chop to poor Kermy), and the loveable Swedish chef cooking up his version of Poutine (pronounced "pew-tine"), in which audience members sitting in the front rows (myself included) were pelted with cheese curds and the Swedish Chef getting a heart attack after sampling his pew-tine (and later being zapped back to life several times). By the time the gala ended with the entire Muppet cast singing "Rainbow Connection" the audience joined along (many of them with tears in their eyes) to this fitting ending to this Muppet love-in. This was Just For Laughs' most memorable gala that will have everyone talking for many years to come.
2) Mario Cantone. When I caught the premiere performance of his solo show at the Gesu (which he plans to bring to Broadway in the near future), I didn't know what to expect from this flamboyant comic whom I have heard about before, but I have never seen him perform. However, this bundle of nervous energy provided one of the most non-stop entertaining two hours that I have experienced in a solo show in a very long time. Cantone had his audience eating out of his hand with his whirlwind display of song, explosive rants and dead-on celebrity impersonations (including my favorites: the three stages of Bette Davis and Bob Dylan's Christmas album). Once this show makes it way to New York, it will definitely become the new toast of Broadway.
3) Amy Schumer's Slaughterhouse. One of my favorite shows from the impressive line-up that was offered by Zoofest. Schumer (pictured below), who burst onto the scene in a big way with her cutting remarks at the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen earlier this year, took no prisoners with her hilarious raunchy hour -long set (one of my favorite lines was about how she recently slept with her high school crush. "I'm expected to go to his prom; I don't know where I'll be in three years."). And what makes it so significant is that Schumer has such a sweet-looking face, you get shocked at the vitriol that she spews out. Also, as a special bonus, Schumer gave us a special sneak preview of what she plans to say when she appears at the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr next month. All I have to say is that Jane Lynch, Sharon Stone, Jeffrey Ross and Roseanne, you better watch out, because Amy has her cleaver sharpened and ready to go.
4) JFL Late Night with Leon Black. Comedian JB Smoove took the late night talk show to a whole new level in the guise of his fast-talking character that is seen on the popular HBO comedy series "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Smoove/Black had three different guests every night who performed a part of their stand-up sets before joining Smoove/Black on the couch for some free-flowing colorful banter. When I was there, he entertained Hannibal Buress, Allie Wong and Godfrey (I also heard that on the final night, Larry David surprised the audience with a special appearance by phone). Smoove/Black also likes the unconventional and spontaneous, which was exemplified when he asked his three guests to join him for champagne and croissants (actually it was croissants with champagne poured into them).
5) Daniel Sloss and James Adomian. Every year, I have the privilege to catch a great deal of up-and-coming comics who are making the festival debuts, whether they are performing their own solo show or featured in the line-up of a showcase type of show. The ones who have impressed me the most with their unique brand of comic talent I deem as my "discovery of the festival". This year I have two "discoveries". First of all, there's 21-year-old Scottish comic Daniel Sloss, who played a series of Zoofest solos shows at the Salle Auteuil of the Gesu Theatre. A comic since he was 16, Sloss entertained the capacity crowd with his take on everything from his parents planning their first trip without the kids, to the double entendres created when he was taught how to shave for the first time ... while he was simultaneously thinking about sex, to his condensed description of the Twilight movies (and says that Robert Pattinson has the emotional range of Keanu Reeves after a stroke). Sloss maybe quite young for a comic veteran, but based on his performance, he will emerge as one of the finest comic talents to emerge from the UK.
I first saw Adomian perform as part of the line up of "Paul F. Tompkins and the Hilarious Trinity (Plus One)". What I liked about his set was his ability to impersonate a certain group of people, which was hilariously exemplified with his impressions of New York airport employees and NYPD cops (when I ended up laughing so hard that my perennial sides hurt and I slap my hand on my seat's armrest until it turns red, then that's an indication from me that a comic is on his game big time). However, he put himself over the top when he introduced Andy Kindler before his annual "State of the Industry Address". Only this time, he did it imitating Kindler; and Adomian got every nuance of Kindler down pat: clothes, hairdo, glasses, voice, mannerisms and "Kindlerisms". If Adomian needs a side career to supplement his stand-up comedy, he could do it as a "faux" Andy Kindler. This is a talent to watch out for.
The festival officially ended for me around 4 a.m. last night/early this morning, as the Hyatt Hotel personnel shooed us out of the hotel bar so that it could be cleaned up. While the artists and industry people went up to their rooms to pack and take the airport shuttles for their respective flights back home, I encountered an image outside the Hyatt that really concluded my JFL 30 experience on a high note.
As I was exiting the hotel with a group of friends, I spotted two people sitting outside the hotel main entrance on Jeanne Mance Street. It was two well known Canadian comics. First there was gravelly-voiced Mike Wilmot, who was happily puffing away on a huge cigar after performing in 18 Nasty Shows, as well as the Bob Saget XXX gala and the WTF podcast taping ("Did you enjoy how I dished out the filth?" he asked me, which I replied with an enthusiastic "yes").
Sitting next to Wilmot was a familiar face whom I haven't seen in three years. It was comedian Mike Macdonald, who was enjoying the pleasant late summer evening with Wilmot. Macdonald is a longtime veteran comic who carved out a reputation as the "Ironman of Just For Laughs", due to the fact that from 1985 until 2009, he appeared in every festival without fail. He was scheduled to perform at this year's festival; however, earlier this year, he was struck with Hepatitis C and became gravely ill. He was confined to his mother's home in his native Ottawa and had to cancel. Macdonald is seeking an organ transplant to ensure his survival, and until that compatible organ is found, he has to take some very expensive anti-rejection drugs, which have sapped his savings. Just For Laughs and the comedy community have banded together to help out Macdonald in his time of need. A benefit fundraising show was held recently at a major L.A. comedy club. And Just For Laughs pitched in by donating $4 for every ticket that was sold for the Howie Mandel gala to benefit Macdonald's medical and living expenses. And at the Mandel gala, he made a surprise guest appearance during a special salute that was the emotional highlight of the evening (which was tinged with a bit of laughter when Macdonald was about to deliver a couple of jokes, but had the microphone snatched away from him by Mandel before he uttered a word).
When I saw Macdonald sitting outside the Hyatt with Wilmot, I noticed that his hair was greyer, he lost a tremendous of weight, and his voice was reduced to an inaudible whisper. However, the big smile on his face and the sparkle in his eyes because he was in a familiar place conveyed a poignant message to me: "I'm happy to be back here again."
Mike, I wish you a speedy recovery and hope that you will soon be returning to the Just For Laughs stage triumphantly to continue your reign as the festival's ironman. Take it easy.
See you next year at JFL 31.
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