Thursday, August 27th @ 7:30pm

Tune-in and see some of the funniest amateur comics in our (Virtually) A Comedian Amateur Contest and our All-Star cast of judges will critique them.

Admission $5

You must be 19+ to watch.

Event Summary

• Host Jim Kelly from FM96’s TAZ & JIM introduces himself and our panel of judges
• Featuring celebrity judge & Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin
• Our 3rd Judge is Clint Couchie, a professional standup comic that frequently hosts Yuk Yuk’s Amateur Nights
• Jim will introduce our amateur comics
• Each amateur comic will do 5 minutes of original comedy followed by our judges’ feedback
• There are 6 amateur comics total
• Fans can vote for their favourite amateur comedian

Amateur Comic for August 27th

Bryan Johnston

I did my first stand-up set at The Making-Box in Guelph in January 2019. Since then, I’ve performed all over southern Ontario such as The Making-Box and Jimmy Jazz in Guelph, Blackball Comedy in Kitchener, Absolute Comedy and The Cameron House in Toronto, Rhythm & Brews in Cambridge, The Winking Judge in Hamilton, and The Poacher’s Arms in London, amongst others. I’m a ghostwriter by day, and a member of The Making-Box Battalion (an improv group). I grew up in Muskoka, spent twelve years living overseas in China and Dubai, and currently live in Guelph.

Xulf Ali

Xulf Ali brings a huge range of experiences in his comedy, from his single clubbing days to him having culture shock moving to Canada from Dubai and him mixing cultures with his canadian born kids. Xulf f started his career performing Improv in Dubai, at Dubomedy Comedy School. His passion and wit got him to the mainstage in a short time and he toured around United Arab Emirates with the mainstage crew performing Improv and providing his spin on comedy. Moving to Canada was initially a hurdle, till Xulf discovered The Second City in Toronto. There he studied Improvisation all over again but enjoyed every moment. After conquering the course & performing on the mainstage, he needed a new challenge and what better than Stand-up Comedy; where you are in charge of your success or failures.

Evelyn Viernes

My name is Evelyn Viernes and I’m a writer, comedian, philosopher and 4th degree black belt. I’m 25 and have been living in Canada for the past 6 months with plans to move here permanently. I’m from Maine. I’ve done stand-up at Empire Comedy Club in Portland, and I’ve done a mini-show at Stockhouse Bar & Restaurant in Westbrook as part of a “birthday roast”. In Canada, I’ve done open mic nights at Poacher’s Arms and Fox & Fiddle. I was ready to do more until COVID hit. I’ve always seen things differently, and I used to go to great lengths to hide it. In the past couple of years, I released my book “Mass Of Contradictions”, started my own website, began pursuing stand-up and moved here to Canada. I am ready to share my voice with the world!

Mitch Gladney

If I need a comedian to vouch for me I choose the local staple of London comedy, Pat Tiffin.

Sean Sitlington

I have actually never performed stand up before… something I’ve always wanted to do! I currently live outside Forest Ontario, I am an HVAC tech, a volunteer fireman, father of 2 kids… I recently had some life-changing events that prompted me to reach out to the contest. I am very country, not hillbilly, although somehow I’ve developed a southern drawl, not sure where it came from, but it suits me, hahaha. Most of what my 5 minutes will be about is country related, family stories, etc. I really appreciate you taking the time to even consider me.

Teddy Robitaille

For years I have liked comedy. I wrote and collected my jokes and believed I could do comedy stand up. My motivation was to do a great job with my speech at my daughter’s wedding and at my mother’s celebration of life. It all went great. Since then I have written more material and enjoy getting laughs from my many jokes and stories. I’ve never planned to make a carrier out of comedy. I just like the reaction I get sharing my material. It’s now been just over four years and I still love doing stand up comedy whenever I get the chance. I will always continue to write new jokes and put them out there. We all need a good laugh.

Our Panel of Judges

Jim Kelly (Host & Judge)

Jim Kelly is the second half of the FM96 London and Y108 Morning Show –“Taz & Jim”. In addition to being part of the #1 Morning Radio Show in the city, Jim is also a founding member of Shut the Front Door Improv and you can catch his own comedy with his sketch project “Seriously JK”.

 

Mark Breslin (Celebrity Judge)

Founder of Yuk Yuk’s 

In 1976, Breslin opened the first Yuk Yuk’s, in the basement of Toronto’s Church Street Community Centre. Four years and many sweaty shows later, the Yuk Yuk’s flag ship was moved to 1280 Bay Street in the trendy Yorkville district. Over the next decade, Yuk Yuk’s would expand to its present reach with over 15 clubs across Canada.

Breslin has written four books so far – Zen and Now (Somerville House), a popular Brian Mulroney joke book Son of a Meech (Random House), and an autobiographical novel, Control Freaked (Insomniac Press). Mark also wrote and narrated two 5CD audio book, published by Harper Collins, titled “Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-Up” and “Rarities and Road Warriors”. Add to this innumerable book reviews for The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star and The Quill and Quire, and his monthly comedy column, now in its seventh year, for the Village PostMagazine.

Breslin has produced such television programs as Late Night with Joan Rivers for Fox Broadcasting, Yuk Yuk’s – the TV show for CBC TV and Mondo Taboo, two pay-per-view specials for The Movie Network and The Yuk Yuk’s Great Canadian Laugh Off annual TV special for The Comedy Network., which he also hosts. He was executive producer on Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui for CBC TV and Yuk Yuk’s 25th Anniversary Special for the Comedy Network. Currently, Breslin was a story consultant for the first two seasons of Kenny vs Spenny for CBC TV and Showcase and an associate producer of Petal Pushers on HGTV.

In addition to television, Breslin has also worked in radio, developing Live from Yuk Yuk’s, a daily radio show syndicated by the Telemedia Radio Network on over 80 stations coast to coast. He was also the program director for Laugh Attack, on XM Canada, Canada’s only 24-hour Canadian comedy channel.

In 1990, Breslin created the first annual Search for Canada’s Funniest New Comic, a national contest for developing new talent; that same year, he organized and hosted the first Toronto Comedy Festival, which ran for nine years under various iterations.

In 1998, he was chosen Artistic Director for the Humber College Comedy Program and currently sits as advisory board chairman and producer in residence.  He is a founding board member of the Canadian Comedy Awards, and was a comedy mentor for the B.C. Festival of the Arts

Breslin has been a broadcaster, having hosted call-in shows on Q107 and CFRB and having appeared as a featured panelist on multiple episodes of ROB TV’s The ArtS Panel and Global Television’s Grumps.

Breslin is also a much sought-after public speaker. Selected speaking engagements have included the American Comedy Institute in NYC, the Big Bear Comedy Workshop in L.A., Association for Campus Entrepreneurs (Toronto keynote address), York University Cultural Studies Program, York University Department of Philosophy, Toronto Jewish Film Society, Variety Club of Toronto, MENSA Society of Canada, Glendon College Alumni Association, among others.

Clint Couchie – Judge

Stand-up Comic and Creator of the North Bay Comedy Festival 

Clint hails from Nipissing First Nation and has performed at the Sudbury and Timmins comedy festivals. He is the creator of the North Bay comedy festival and is a frequent host of Yuk Yuk’s Amateur Nights. His comedy is a mix of silliness and self-deprecating humour.

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DISCLAIMER 

• Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Shows are UNCENSORED & UNCUT and therefore you must be 19 + to attend.
• Yuk Yuk’s comedy may contain adult language and subject matter as a means of entertainment is not intended to offend or demean our guests.
• We ask customers to please consider this in advance before purchasing a ticket and attending a comedy show.
• The opinions and mature subject matter expressed by some comedians DOES NOT express the views of Western Fair District management and staff.

 

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Want to Sign-Up as an Amateur Comic?

To sign up contact yukyuks@westernfairdistrict.com

 

Be prepared to do 5 minutes of ORIGINAL material.