While comedy isn’t traditionally something considered “geeky,” I am definitely a passionate comedy geek. And over the weekend, fans of Canadian comedy were dealt a devastating blow.
Rumours of the end of Canada Laughs as we know it took over social media in the wake of a deal between Just for Laughs (JFL) and SiriusXM Canada. If these rumours turn out to be true (which, let’s be honest, they probably are), it could change the face of Canadian comedy, and not in a good “oh Chris Evans got a beard” kind of way.
Wait, Isn’t Just for Laughs Canadian?
Very valid question. It was! From its inception in 1983 (a very good year, might I add) by Gilbert Rozon until 2018, the Montreal-based festival was 100 percent Canadian owned. Lasting the entire month of July each year, Just for Laughs attracts performers and spectators from across the globe, with splinter projects in Toronto, Chicago, and London among other cities. Channeling Ryan Reynolds, JFL enjoyed international fame while still staying true to its Canadian roots. For a time.
Okay, So What Happened?
Well, to be blunt, a man thought sexually assaulting women was a perfectly fine thing to do. Allegations of sexual misconduct were first raised publicly against Rozon in 2017. A Facebook post written by Guillaume Wagner cited rumours he had heard over the years. In the wake of this post, 20 women came forward, including Rozon’s sister-in-law, as victims. They have filed a suit in civil court. In December of last year, Rozon was charged with rape and indecent assault relating to an incident in 1979 (the charges are based on the laws that were on the book at the time).
Rozon resigned shortly after the first allegation was made and later decided to sell the festival. After government agencies refused their right of first refusal, the festival was sold to a US-based talent agency and Howie Mandel (yes, the comedian).
What Does This Have to Do with Canadian Comedy?
Long story short: JFL and SiriusXM Canada made an apparently sneaky and secretive deal, giving JFL control over the Canada Laughs channel. This means they can brand it however they please and can play whatever programming they want. Rumour has it, the focus will be on JFL’s existing catalog (i.e. that bit from 2008 we’ve all seen a bazillion times), not on Canadian comedians or current material.
Canada Laughs is the only streaming channel devoted to Canadian comedians. Listeners from across the country can enjoy sketch comedy, stand-up acts, musical works, and improv. While the channel does showcase top names in comedy, there is a huge focus on emerging talent from across the country. There is honestly no other channel like it.
Being featured on Canada Laughs gave comedians much more than just exposure; it helped support their livelihood. Canada Laughs was a major source of income for many comics, giving them an opportunity to reach a wide audience while also receiving some form of payment for their work. If (when) JFL removes the catalog of Canadian content and starts to replace Canadian material with old acts, royalties will stop. I am not being my typical melodramatic self when I say that this could be the end of a ton of comedy careers. With Canada Laughs being the only channel showcasing Canadian talent, there isn’t really anywhere else to go.
Where Can I Read More?
Unfortunately, as of now, there is no response from Just for Laughs or SiriusXM, though there has been a ton of backlash on social media. Comedians are, quite justifiably, concerned about their futures, which makes the deafening silence from both companies infuriating.
OK, This Sucks. What Can I Do?
As proud geeks, we are used to having some recourse, some action we can take to fix things or stop the bad thing from happening. TV geeks saved Brooklyn Nine-Nine; sci-fi geeks ensured Firefly lived on as a comic book. Surely there is something us comedy geeks can do to save Canada Laughs, right?
The short answer is: I really don’t know. Without any comment from the people involved in the deal, there is no way of knowing what, if anything, can be done. I guess the best thing to is to be heard. Reach out to SiriusXM and JFL (respectfully, of course) and voice your concerns. Encourage JFL to keep the channel devoted to Canadian comedy. Make it clear that you love Canadian comedy and are going to support it no matter what. Reach out to your comedian friends and ask them how you can help – a lot of them are smarter than me and might have an answer. Consider buying tickets to upcoming shows and sharing the shit out of their material on social media too. Not only does this help them reach more people, but it might help offer a small measure of comfort on a weekend filled with pretty upsetting news.
In an industry saturated with American comics and “for exposure only” work, Canada Laughs gave our comedians a chance to be heard, to reach a wider audience, and to get paid. Fundamentally changing how this platform operates is doing a huge disservice to comics and comedy lovers. Instead of hearing fresh comedy from someone you may not have had a chance to enjoy before, you are probably going to hear the same John Mulaney Law and Order bit again. And don’t get me wrong, that bit is really good, but the dude’s got three Netflix specials and four comedy albums already – I want to hear something new from someone equally as hilarious, don’t you?
Watch the Good Place in 2 days totally loved it! The new Doctor Who also