Review: The New Wave of Standup, CBC Gem - Part 1
Comedian Yumi Nagashima. Courtesy of CBC.
CBC’s The New Wave of Standup showcases a variety of acts in the Canadian comedy scene. The venue is intimate with low ceilings, perfect for voices to carry and laughter to bounce around. The crowd is hot and the feeling is right.
The Brain
Jacob Samuel is an expert overthinker. He knows exactly who he is and what his strong suits are. He walks the line between relatable dude and neurotic nerd, making him the modern everyman.
The Sneak Attack
Yumi Nagashima plays into your expectations, then destroys them. She’s methodical, knowing when to go from biting commentary to a sweet smile. With punchy pop culture references woven throughout, it’s a perfect introduction to this rising star.
The Wild Card
Aaron Read bursts onto the stage with unhinged uncle energy you won’t soon forget. He uses his voice as an instrument, accentuating silly punchlines and absurd premises. He’s the alt-comedy of the early 2000s for today’s quick thinking comedy nerds.
The Edge
Brett Forte calls out his generation with act outs and snide punchlines. Longing for a dad-bod and a Jeep, he connects well with a crowd member who has both. Personally, I found him problematic. But then, as a liberal snowflake, that’s exactly how he wants me to feel.
The Funny Best Friend
Brittany Lyseng has not been given preferential hot girl treatment. And thank goodness, because she has a lot of funny stuff to say about it. Immediately likable, she builds to big laughs in an affable way.
The Entertainer
Ola Dada would be fun at a party. He’s got a grab bag of animated stories and delivers them with infectious energy. He burns through surprising premises at breakneck speeds. How much does he love corn, you ask? You’ll have to watch to find out.
The Cute One
Matty Vu said “cum” more than any of the other acts, but he’s still the one you’d introduce to your Mother. He seems a little nervous at first, but warms up into some belly laughs. His little-known fact about Michaels is a giggle, and just plain good advice. With a killer one-liner call back at the end, he made me want to see more.
There are so many amazing acts all over Canada. If you never found a reason to support your local comedy scene, CBC has given you 12 with The New Wave of Standup.
The New Wave of Standup premiered July 17, 2020 on CBC Gem.
A dozen of Canada's hottest new comics gather for one hilarious night of standup as part of JFL NorthWest.
