How would you describe your comedy style?

Slice of life, health & romance… I’m just trying to find a way to laugh as my body changes, my parents grow older! I’m generally a family-friendly comedian, but I can add a little sass to things, too.

Who are some of your influences?

Rita Rudner, Wendy Liebman, Jerry Seinfeld & Norm MacDonald are some of my absolute favourite stand-ups. I appreciate the dry wit, the honesty, strong writing and word play. But I’m also equally influenced by humorists like Calvin Trillin and Erma Bombeck, too.

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

Humorist Erma Bombeck was my favourite comedian growing up. I was introduced to her writing by my parents. She wrote a successful newspaper column (& a number of books) about being a housewife in middle America, which is kinda of funny that I gravitated to her when I was like 10 years old. But I just thought what she wrote was so funny! I have a distinct memory of bringing in her book The Ties That Bind… And Gag! into my Grade 5 homeroom class and laughing my ass off. I was TEN!! It’s ridiculous, but even then, I knew it was good stuff.

Who is your favourite comedian now?

Wendy Liebman is still atop my list, and I feel very lucky that life has connected us and that she’s done online shows of mine. She’s one of the funniest, smartest and nicest comedians you’ll meet. But gosh, I also adore SO many comedians out there: Jason Salmon, Tracy Hamilton, Adam Gabel, Desiree Walsh, Charles McBee, Erin McGuire, Arthur Simeon, Mary Kennedy, Brian Kiley, Josh Johnson… seriously, we could be here for HOURS.

What is your pre-show ritual?

Three things: I eat, light stuff, but I have to eat on account of my being “very very anemic” (an actual quote from my doctor). I also write keywords on my set on a piece of paper, and hold it for a few minutes before putting it in a pocket or (if need be) my shoe. I’m bemused by the fact that I have to hold the paper for a minute or two… do I think it will be absorbed into my bloodstream? And finally… I work on calming my breathing. I’d rather be grounded than amped up before a set.

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

Oh, that’s a good question… There could be various answers to this one, like any fully accessible venue because comedy shouldn’t be only for those who can walk up & down stairs… but I think the (and this will be ironic given what I just said) but the 3rd floor stage at the Social Capital Theatre in Toronto. It’s my fave because it’s where I did my very first set in January of 2016. So it just has a special spot in my heart. I’ve been in the Toronto comedy community since the early 1990s, when I did tech for shows & clubs as a teen… but it took a personal loss to push me to try things I’d long dreamed of, like doing stand-up to actually give it a go.

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

One of the earliest jokes I ever wrote, about handing off my nephew to my brother after a visit… giving him a squeeze and saying I love you, is easily a favourite of mine. I don’t dive too deep into the dynamics with my siblings, but I’m a proud aunt, and that joke just has a punch that just makes it funnier as they get older. Because I cap it with “Aunty Kelly, put me down, I’m 32!” And as he gets older, the age just is more ridiculous. And that joke is on my first album, Sugar n’ Spice & Smirnoff Ice, which just makes me beam. It was literally one of the first jokes I ever wrote.

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

Life! The medium of life. That’s a very general answer, but Instagram/YouTube, or in-person at a mic or a show online, I’m just keeping my eyes open. I produce shows, too, so I want to make sure I’m using whatever platform I have to give a good show and give stage time to those you don’t see enough. And Toronto has a bounty of amazing voices, some of whom use wheelchairs or walkers, so that’s why I need to put in the work to make sure I produce shows in spaces where they can be heard. John Mandrow is an incredible comic, who uses a wheelchair, isn’t seen nearly enough, and Rosani Christy and Desiree Walsh should be headlining across the country because they’re very very funny folks. But wheelchairs and stairs… well… yeah. That’s why I love the virtual medium… it really opened my eyes to who else is in the community with me. And I gotta do better so more people know they’re there.

Tell us a joke about your city.

“Living in Toronto is like living in a live-action game of Tetris… we’re gonna stuff a building there, and, there… is that a tiny empty square of land? Let’s put a condo there…”

Do you have anything to promote right now?

My latest album, Lady Comic! And I’ll produce shows in Toronto that any BODY can come to, walk or wheel on it. You can find it all on my website.

Where can we follow you? 

Instagram | YouTube

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

Rob Ito is one of my favourites, a nice guy and just so funny!!

Rosani Christy is an absolute killer who doesn’t let MS slow down her brilliant mind. I love her.

And really, what can you say about Desiree Walsh? She’s incredible, and I’m grateful to call her a friend and share the stage with her.

The post Tragedy Plus Time: Comedian Kelly Zemnickis appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

How would you describe your comedy style?

Real, Honest and Irish

Who are some of your influences?

Billy Connolly, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Tommy Tiernan, Kathy Griffin, Rosie O’Donnell

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

Billy Connolly

Who is your favourite comedian now?

Tommy Tiernan

What is your pre-show ritual?

I write out my set during the day and perform it for my dog. Once I get to the gig, I will write it out again before show, just one keyword to remind me of the joke; this could also be due to my memory being fried from perimenopause.

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

Newfoundland is fantastic, like Ireland on Steroids, and they are so up for the craic

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

My absolute favourite joke I wrote is about period products now vs when I was a teenager, and we had to use Single Ikea Mattresses. I love it because as soon as I mention the word “Period,” everyone tenses up, and then I have to win them over. It’s a lovely feeling when all the older women and men start hitting each other and laughing because they can relate to the struggle we all had.

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

Usually, Instagram and YouTube or seeing a newer comic at a gig, there are so many great comics in Canada.

Tell us a joke about your city.

Do you know how to spot a real Irish person on St Patrick’s Day in Toronto?

We are the ones wearing NOTHING from Dollarama

Do you have anything to promote right now?

Yes, my latest album “FIONA 51” on Spotify and Apple; thanks to Cottage Comedy for helping me.

Where can we follow you?

All my links to my social media are on the website. Please follow me. Thanks very much.

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

Eric Andrews is a joy to watch on stage, makes me really laugh every time. Also, John Mostyn, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, living in Toronto now, is hilarious.

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How would you describe your comedy style?

This is painful for me to answer but deadpan, literal, honest, and surreal.

Who are some of your influences?

The movie Muriel’s Wedding, Lisa Kudrow, David Lynch, the band The Knife, my mom, my friends, and people who are making interesting and genuine work!

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

I was always obsessed with anything Molly Shannon and Maria Bamford was my first favourite stand-up comedian.

Who is your favourite comedian now?

I love the Nymphowars podcast, Richard Perez, and Jackie Pirico!

What is your pre-show ritual?

I look myself in the mirror and ask, “Is this really the right form of expression for me?”

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

For me, performances are always extremely dictated by my mood, vibe, comfortability etc so I never really know if a show is going to feel good. Would love to figure that out one day…But for ease let’s say the Comedy Bar Cabaret space in Toronto!

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

It’s a bit about when I was a little girl and I asked my mom to marry me and she said she couldn’t be with me because she was already with my dad. Not because I was her daughter, or that we share the same blood, or that it’s illegal etc, it was simply the fact she was already taken.

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

Podcasts, television/film, real-life.

Tell us a joke about your city.

That is private information.

Do you have anything to promote right now?

Keep your eyes open for Ryan Steel’s Telefilm Talent To Watch feature film MEAT. I got to play a deranged She-EO and it was so incredibly fun. I’m also releasing my first short film called Ends Meat. Big meat year for me!

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | Website

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

Isabella Campbell and Harrison Weinreb

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How would you describe your comedy style?

My comedic style is very off the cuff and sometimes very tongue-in-cheek. I lighten my show by not taking it too seriously and allow a lot of audience play to create a fun environment and welcoming atmosphere while still performing some impossible psychological feats. It’s important to create laughter as it brings a room together

Who are some of your influences?

My influences are across many genres. The Amazing Kreskin was always on television as a child, as was Doug Henning, although he was known for Grand Illusion. His relaxed style was always welcoming. As for characters, I am a huge fan of classic wrestling with some of the bombastic ones heavily influencing my nuances and even look over the years.

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

Red Foxx is the GOAT, and his ability to adapt to both the mainstream and Chitlin circuit is unmatchable. His albums were so important for their time, and Sanford and Son was one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. That being said, I never work “blue” but understand the importance of knowing your audience.

Who is your favourite comedian now?

Jimmy Carr and Jim Jeffries are a tie. I also enjoy the comedy of Canadian improv genius Ken Hall of the two-man no show, as well as many other award-winning live shows.

What is your pre-show ritual?

Usually, I don’t have much time for a ritual, but if anything, I often will listen to a few music tracks on my Spotify and envision the success of the night.

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

The Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA, it is the world’s most prestigious venue for magicians, and had having the opportunity to work there over 100 shows was my dream come true.

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

I enjoy what’s known as a book test, where a guest thinks of a word in a book, and I am able to know it. I created my own version of this effect, and it’s so strong and personal and can play for an entire 15 minutes with layers and even turns the audience member into a thought reader. I’m proud of the amount of thinking that went into it and the results it’s had with me and other mentalists using it in their show.

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

Going to clubs, watching and meeting them. I have a fun act named Kali Williams on my next public show as an opener, who I met at a venue I work at monthly, and they killed it. Online is fine, but seeing the acts and the audience reaction is key.

Tell us a joke about your city.

The Transit System. It is so delayed whenever I use it that it’s not uncommon I start performing for patrons to elevate the mood and kill time. Then I’m asked, “Why are you on the TTC?” To me, usually replying “why are you?”

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

Kali Williams

The post Tragedy Plus Time: Comedian Mysterion the Mind Reader appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

How would you describe your comedy style?

In my head, I’m a middle-aged Jewish and/or Italian man, so a lot of my jokes start out as grumpy observations. Outside of my head, where all of you are, I’m a Zillenial musical theatre girly with a high-pitched voice, so my cadence ends up more sassy. I talk a lot about being queer, and I try to do it in a whimsical, hyperbolic way. As a solo sketch performer, I gravitate towards characters that are unself-aware and overly emotional. As a girl, in that world, I have been socialized to fear being perceived as unrefined, chaotic or, god-forbid, needy. So I like to create characters that are all of those things. Comedy is a place for me to take my own neurosis and turn it into a weapon of mass seduction… and also into jokes. I do stand-up, sketch, musical comedy (to the audience’s chagrin), and improv. In each form, I explore different sides of myself. Ideally, only the hot sides.

Who are some of your influences?

John Early and Kate Berlant built me. When I saw the Late Night bit they did in 2017, where the entire set was just them fighting over who was gonna start the set and then realizing they were running out of time and finally apologizing to the communities they had let down, I was hooked. It might have been the first time I’d seen sincerity parodied like that. They are such good actors first and foremost. Edgy in a theatrical way that both includes and mocks queerness. Bo Burnam, Rachel Bloom and Cat Cohen are huge for me for musical comedy. All of my influences are people who blend hyper-sincerity and cutting self-deprecation. They’re all theatre kids making fun of their own sensitivity. Also, Anna Faris and the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

Growing up, I loved John Mulaney. “New In Town” was probably the first special I memorized. I also loved the SNL Weekend Update character Stefan, which John Mulaney co-wrote. It was the bit that my classmates and I would imitate the most, and I didn’t even know he had written it until years later, when I was old enough to understand that that was a character and not just a very whimsical person.

Who is your favourite comedian now?

Lisa Gilroy.

What is your pre-show ritual?

Gym, tan, laundry and matcha! I don’t drink alcohol or carbonated beverages (can’t wait to look back at that sentence and laugh when it’s not true anymore), so really the only way for me to get loose or lock in is with sugar and breathing exercises. I’m kind of avoidant, so unless it’s a showcase or a particularly important set, I don’t decide what I’m going to say until an hour before. Then, right before the show starts, I repeat the mantra: I love the audience. I’m so grateful to be here. I’m so excited that I get to do what I love in front of these people. If they don’t laugh, I will NOT turn on them and start frantically repeating “ so you guys hate this, eh?”.

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

I spent a magical summer in New York training and working at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. A year later, I went back and performed my solo show Child Star on the mainstage there, with Montessori Boy opening and hosted by Rachel Coster. The skills I learned at BCC and the way that environment encourages you to be the freakiest version of yourself is what gave me the courage to write and perform a show like that. Doing it there in front of the community that had been so welcoming to me was a total full-circle moment.

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

I have a joke about Steve Jobs (super timely, I know) where I basically say that people made such a big deal about how he wore the same thing every day to maximize productivity, but “what was he wearing before that was so distracting?” It was kind of the first joke I wrote that people would consistently compliment, and it was also the first time I took a joke from one punch-line to a 4-minute bit. Writing that joke felt like I was finally starting to fill out my comedy training bra.

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

YouTube Shorts is kind of fire for finding new people. It’s the only algorithm left that isn’t completely cursed for me. My whole recommended is just Ruby Setnick, Jeff Arcuri and cookie-decorating.

Tell us a joke about your city.

Toronto is full of hypocrites. People complain about safe-injection sites ruining their neighborhood but they’re totally fine with “Fancy Induced Burger.” The real threat to the resale value of your home is a syringe… full of cheese. <3

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Threads

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

Callum O’Neil makes me laugh endlessly. Both on and off-stage. It’s been said before, but he’s one of the best joke writers in Toronto.

Lily Langen and I do a podcast called Amateurs The Pod. She’s such a hilarious shining star. Her jokes are so raunchy, but she delivers them in such a sweet, cartoonish way that is so endearing.

Sarah Bennett is a refreshing, unique voice in both sketch and standup. She’s mastered an off-kilter, alternative style that a lot of guys in the city try to do, but with half the charm.

Have to shout out my faves in the sketch scene: 24 Double B, Small Friend Tall Friend and Gabe Meacher and Taylor Hreljac, who are putting the whole sketch scene on their backs with Toronto Sketch Comedy.

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