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Boston’s Tom Dustin takes comedy gold - first US comic to win Laugh Off

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. No wait, the show’s over and the 2010 Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Off winner is Canadian comic…

What? Just a minute. Is that right? OK then, this year, for the first time in the competition’s history, the winner is an American, Boston funnyman Tom Dustin, who was almost speechless by his win.

 

Confetti flies as Mark Breslin announces Tom Dustin as winner of the 2010 Laugh Off

Confetti flies as Mark Breslin announces Tom Dustin as winner of the 2010 Laugh Off

David Baker and Martha Chaves look on as Mark Breslin brings a speechless Tom Dustin to the mic

David Baker and Martha Chaves look on as Mark Breslin brings a speechless Tom Dustin to the mic

2010 Laugh Off winner Tom Dustin is all smiles with his $25,000 grand prize cheque

2010 Laugh Off winner Tom Dustin is all smiles with his $25,000 grand prize cheque

Yuk Yuk’s Mark Breslin, the evening’s stellar host said, ‘I think this shows that Americans, when they apply themselves, can be just as funny as Canadians. We expect to see a lot more international contestants in the years to come.’ 

Another record was broken with a tie for second place. Ottawa’s Martha Chaves and England’s David Baker split the prize of a year’s worth of roach traps, the ultimate in comedy home decor. 

Special thanks to the judges: Ashley Olivia, booker for Conan O’Brien; Bruce Hills, COO of Just for Laughs; Late Show with David Letterman’s Eddie Brill and Michelle Daly from The Comedy Network. With tonight’s high calibre talent, they had their work cut out for them. And thanks to warm-up man, the always warm, Lawrence Morgenstern.

And with that, another Laugh Off comes to a close. Thanks for joining us!

On with the show…this is it!

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

What a week it’s been: 64 comedians jousting with jocularity. But only the eight most talented were able to joke their way to the top.

Tonight, they’ll be competing in the Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Off finals and a chance to win the grand prize of $25,000.

Please welcome:  Patrick Haye, L.A. King, Tim Gilbert, Darcy Michael, Martha Chaves, David Baker, Tom Dustin and Landry.

MC for tonight is Yuk Yuk’s founder and CEO, Mark Breslin.

Celebrity judges:

- Eddie Bill, Comedy Booker for The Late Show with David Letterman
- Michelle Daly, Director of Content forThe Comedy Network
- Ashley Olivia, Comedy Booker for Conan O’Brien
- Bruce Hills, Chief Operating Officer of Just for Laughs

The show begins at 8 PM at Yuk Yuk’s, 224 Richmond Street West - west of University Ave between Simcoe & Duncan.  For reservations call 416-967-6425 or visit the online reservations desk.

And don’t forget to watch for the Comedy Network special.

Are you comic enough to win the $25,000 grand prize at the 2010 Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Off?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

The Yuk Yuk’s Great Canadian Laugh Off is back! And if you think you have an award-winning punch (line, that is), now’s the time to enter for a chance to be named Laugh Off Champion and win a $25,000 giant cheque (and one you can take to the bank, too).

And even if you don’t make it to the winning spot, all eight finalists will face off in the final show as stars of the Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Off TV Special, to be aired on the Comedy Network later in the year.

How to enter online

Click here and prove your comical genius in one of the following categories: Canadian Amateur, Canadian Professional, American Amateur, American Professional, International Amateur or International Professional.

But hurry – registration closes on February 21st, 2010! For more information on the contest, including complete contest rules, check out the Contest Page.

If you’ve got the talent and timing to keep them rolling in the aisles, don’t pass up this opportunity to take home the ultimate comedy cash and crown.

Starting on Friday, March 19th, 64 comedians will come to Toronto to compete on the big stage. Forty-eight performers will be selected by random computer draw, while the remaining 16 will be selected by winning local Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Offs.  Eight contestants will perform daily, with two winners being selected from each show to go to the semifinals.

The hilarious semifinals will be held at Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto March 26th & 27th, 2010, with the finals being held on March 28th. For reservations, please call, 416-967-6425 or visit yukyukslaughoff.com.

Joke your way into the finals and perform for the distinguished panel of celebrity judges. The judges for this year’s final will be:
• Eddie Bill, Comedy Booker for The Late Show with David Letterman
• Michelle Daly, Director of Content for The Comedy Network
• Ashley Olivia, Comedy Booker for Conan O’Brien
• Bruce Hills, Chief Operating Officer of Just for Laughs

Watch Mark Little’s winning performance below and see what it takes to impress the judges and claim the $25,000 grand prize.

 

Follow us here and on Twitter for more updates and the latest news, including contest announcements, a list of comedians competing in the semifinals, profiles of the judges, sponsors, show info and special offers. And check out videos of last year’s finalists to see if you have what it takes.

For more information, please contact Andre Marthaler.

Battle of the Marks; and one emerges as the $25K winner

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

It was a battle of the Marks at the 2009 Yuk Yuk’s Laugh Off and in the end… Mark won.

Mark Little, that is, a geeky comic who now has a good reason for dropping out of grad school. In a close race, he won $25,000 and a chance at comedy stardom with his outstanding and risky set.

Runner up and winner of a year’s supply of mac and cheese went to Mark Forward, who had the audience in stitches with his off kilter routine about hampsters and reincarnation.

Yuk Yuk’s founder and CEO Mark Breslin kicked off the show with his darkly humourous intros, always original and edgy. He kept it moving as he introduced the top comics in the contest - all of whom had breakthrough sets.

“For the fourth year running, we have a Canadian winner,” Breslin said. “It goes to show how much comedy talent we have in this country and why I believe it’s the export that will get us out of the recession.  In terms of talent, my money was on one of the Marks to win.”

Mark Breslin and Yuk Yuk's Laugh Off winner Mark Little

Mark Breslin and Yuk Yuk's Laugh Off winner Mark Little (photo: Marko Shark)

We also want to give a special shout-out to our judges for this evening: Ashley Olivia, talent coordinator for The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien; Celia Joseph, researcher and comedy booker for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; Bruce Hills, chief operating officer for Just for Laughs; and Michelle Daly, director of content for The Comedy Network.

Another great Laugh Off is over. Til next year, good night everyone and keep those laughs rolling!

Finals judge profile: Bruce Hills

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Bruce Hills is CEO of Just For Laughs: The Montreal International Comedy Festival. Considered the world’s largest and most prestigious comedy event, stars such as Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Dane Cook and Adam Sandler have graced its stage.

As CEO, Bruce has been the festival’s driving force for over 20 years. He’s responsible for all festival activities including original television programming seen in 125 countries and on networks such as HBO, Showtime, BBC, The Comedy Network and CBC.

He also oversees critically-acclaimed theatrical productions including the off-Broadway hit Evil Dead: The Musical and Family Guy Live in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

A veteran of the world of live comedy, Bruce was called the “most important man in international comedy” by the UK edition of GQ magazine in July 2008.

Bruce was also recognized by Variety magazine as one of the 50 individuals who impacted Comedy in 2006, alongside names such as Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen.

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