Comedians in Canada find success as stand-up sees resurgence

Stand-up comedy is seeing a massive resurgence in Canada’s entertainment industry, with a record number of comedy specials on streamers, live tours, and podcasts.

Jackie Pirico, a stand-up comedian from Toronto, had her latest comedy album “Splash Pad” nominated at The JUNO Awards for Comedy Album of the Year.

She says there’s a lot of amazing talent coming out of Canada right now, but it takes hard work.

“We really have to work hard to be noticed, especially, existing in the shadow of [the] mega entertainment system of the United States. So, we’re really working hard up here, and there’s a lot of spaces that are fostering our art form,” she said.

Pirico says stand-up comedy is one of the most “vulnerable and difficult art forms.”

“You’re really putting yourself out there in such a raw, emotional way. There’s nothing between you and the audience. It’s just you, the ideas that formed out of the nothingness of your brain. There’s no instrument so it’s so raw and I think the key recipe ingredient to get this far is encouragement.”

She adds that Canadians have always been funny, saying “we’ve got such a rich history of amazing talent.”

“I know when you go to the States, it’s hard to get on stage, especially in Los Angeles. Stage time is fewer and far between,” Pirico said.

“Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Winnipeg, people are going and honing their craft like crazy.”

Related articles:

• Vancouver sketch-comedy duo sells out Just For Laughs show

• Comedian, activist, Margaret Cho kicks off tour in Vancouver

Canada is known for producing some of the funniest comedians – from John Candy and Eugene Levy, to Catherine O’Hara and comedy legend Gilda Radner.

Radner, an American artist, got her professional start as an actor in Toronto and eventually joined the infamous Second City comedy troupe, before being the first cast member to be hired for Saturday Night Live.

Like Radner, Dino Archie is also an American comedian, he says he moved to Vancouver to find success in the Canadian stand-up landscape and carve out a name for himself. He made his network late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and was featured on Comedy Central’s Adam Devine’s House Party.

Archie says there has always been a thriving comedy scene in Vancouver and Toronto.

“Canada produces some of the best talent in the world. You match that with the work ethic of being in a country where you got to be great to get to somewhere else, and that’s going to be a combination for that produces really good comedians,” he said.

With aspirations of being like other Canadian comedy greats like Phil Hartman, and Mike Myers, Archie says being an American in Canada, and knowing about Canadian culture, gives him a leg up.

Both Pirico and Archie are featured in the new season of CBC’s “New Wave of Comedy”, profiling 14 rising Canadian comedians in the comedy industry. It’s premiering on March 24 on CBC Gem.