The 35th edition of the Just for Laughs comedy festival, in Montreal, kicks off today with some of the biggest names in comedy sharing the stage with rising up and comers. Highlights from the 2017 lineup include Jerry Seinfeld in his first appearance at the festival since 1989. 

In the comedy world this is a big deal. It’s like the Olympics of Laugher and the launching pad for comedians like Kevin Hart, Judd Apatow, and Dave Chappelle, to name a few.

JFL’s tradition continues with The Ethnic Show, returning for its 9th Edition presented as part of the Jack Astor’s Club Series. This cultural melting pot for comedy features today’s buzz worthy comics, hosted by outspoken comedian Iranian-American Maz Jobrani. Maz is best known for numerous appearances on the late night talk show circuit, many movies and television appearances. Joining Maz, sharing the humorous side of their diverse backgrounds, Jewish-American Jessica Kirson returning after highly praised performances in 2016; international comedian and one of the most sought-after performers, Korean Irish-American Steve Byrne; their return to the Festival, audience favourite Italian-Canadians The Doo Wops, comprised of John Catucci and David Mesiano; rising star Portuguese-Canadian Mike Rita; and staple of the New York comedy scene Dominican-American Vlad Caamaño. We’re tearing down barriers to speak forthright while laughing at our differences and similarities

Here is what some of the funniest folks on the planet performing as part of the The Ethnic Show had to say about humor in 2017.

The Doo Wops (they’re a duo)

David Mesiano

What's funny to me?  

Self-deprecating humour, as long as I'm the one telling the story. 

Where do I see ethnic humour going? 

I see it evolving at an even pace with the respective ethnic group. There are certain stereotypes that are timeless; there are those that are outdated. But as a culture grows, I believe so do the opportunities to be made fun of!  

John Catucci

What's funny to me?  

Awkward silences

Where do I see ethnic humour going? 

Mike Rita

What’s funny to me? 

The unspoken truths of the world, the stuff that people say inside their brains while the world happens around them and i love when crazy people scare really soft humans. I always thought it was funny when a person who lives in a little bubble has it burst by someone whipping out their penis. 

Where do I think ethnic comedy is going? 

I think it’s going main stream more than ever but i can't tell if it’s for the correct reasons like pure talent. I feel at times people love to cash in on markets that haven't been tapped and thou ethnic comedy has always existed, it’s now marketable so it’s about to blow up.

Maz Jobrani

What’s funny to you?

Most anything that comes out of the mouth of my 6 year old daughter.

Where do you see ethnic comedy going? (with diverse ethnic groups being more outspoken)

I think that what we are seeing are comedians who just happen to be from different ethnicities. It takes immigrant cultures some time to get past the basic lawyer, doctor, engineer careers and get into the actor, comedian, rock star careers. But it’s been a few generations where Indians, Iranians, Arabs and others have been coming to the West and we’re seeing more and more comedians from diverse backgrounds talking about their experiences. It will be similar to what happened for Jews, blacks and Hispanics in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Comedy, will hopefully help these other ethnic communities break into the mainstream. It is a positive thing for diversity.

Jessica Kirson

What’s funny to you?

I laugh at real, vulnerable comedians. I love when someone is very dry in their delivery and really owns it. That makes me laugh out loud. I laugh at anything silly. I laugh when people fall (and don't get hurt). I love physical humor.

Where do you see ethnic comedy going? (with diverse ethnic groups being more outspoken)

I think we will see more and more ethnic humor. The world is so diverse and it's important to see all of it. Every group has their own culture, habits, funny things to make fun of. It's great to see how different we all are through humor.

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