Top 8 Finalists Revealed in XM Canada's Second Annual Search for Canada's
Next Top Comic
Voting opens today at www.CanadasNextTopComic.com for the best of the bunch
TORONTO, Aug. 16 /CNW/ - What do a mouthy dad from Abbotsford, a ginger-haired ranter from Toronto, and a cheeky guy from Halifax have in common? They've all cracked the Top 8 as finalists in XM Canada™'s second annual search for Canada's Next Top Comic. XM Canada, the country's leading audio entertainment company, proudly presents these emerging comedians as part of its ongoing commitment to support and encourage Canadian talent.
Narrowed down to the final eight from an extensive number of audio and video entries, an XM panel of comedy experts has discovered some of the funniest emerging talents this country has to offer. Each entry, no longer than five minutes in length, showcases the comedian's best material and demonstrates whether they have what it takes to be named Canada's Next Top Comic. Now, the final decision rests in the hands of the Canadian public.
Today at 10 a.m. EST (replayed at 10 p.m. EST), the comedians will battle it out on Laugh Attack XM 153, as part of the Canada's Next Top Comic Finalist Special airing on the 24-hour all-Canadian comedy channel - the comedy channel ranked most popular by XM Canada listeners.
The finalists are vying for the exclusive opportunity to perform live at Global ComedyFest Vancouver on Wednesday, September 22nd and to take home CAD $2,000 cash as well as a professionally recorded and mixed CD of their material.
To view and listen to the Top 8 submissions visit www.CanadasNextTopComic.com.
Here's a look at the Top 8 Finalists:
Jeff Elliott - Toronto, Ontario
John Hastings - Toronto, ON
Matt O'Brien - Toronto, Ontario
Geoff MacKay - Ottawa, Ontario
Danny Mendlow - Vancouver, BC
Julie Webster - Vancouver, BC
Leland Klassen - Abbotsford, BC
Pardis Parker - Halifax, NS
To be named winner of XM Canada's Next Top Comic contest, one of these Top 8 Finalists must win the hearts of Canadians who will submit their votes online starting Monday, August 16th through to Sunday, August 29th via www.CanadasNextTopComic.com. On Wednesday, September 1st, the Canadian listening audience will have spoken and Canada's Next Top Comic will be announced.
"We received double the submissions over last year's contest which demonstrates a strong interest in comedy in Canada, with the finalists resembling the growth of unique comedic talent from coast to coast," said Joe Thistel, Director of Programming, Sports & Talk, XM Canada. "As a Canadian media company, XM Canada is dedicated to helping elevate natural talent into a national success and delivering this new content for our dedicated listeners."
Best Jab at Canada!
Everyone loves to laugh, and Canada's Next Top Comic presented yet another opportunity for Canadians to showcase their distinctive skills with the addition of a new category this year - "Best Jab at Canada." The category was open to all contestants who incorporated a joke into their material that had a Canadian focus and/or represented a variety of Canadian ideas/demographics/icons/issues. This year's winner, Torontonian Christina Walkinshaw, wins a cash prize of CAD$500 for her joke about the struggles of Toronto's local sports teams. Walkinshaw's Canadian joke can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW2L6s3bSjA.
If you haven't already watched last year's winner Brian Stollery's personal views about becoming Canada's Next Top Comic in 2009, visit YouTube for some side-splitting Canadian humour.
XM Canada™ is the nation's premier destination for comedy entertainment with six dedicated channels delivering a number of comedic styles to listeners including Blue Collar Radio, The Foxxhole, featuring comedy by actor Jamie Foxx and friends, Raw Dog Comedy and The Virus, offering listeners uncensored comedy at its best. Laugh Attack, the nation's only all-Canadian and highest rated comedy channel, and Laugh USA, showcase a rich pool of extraordinary comedic talent from Canada and the United States.
XM is a proud supporter of emerging Canadian talent and reaches out across the country to sponsor and support Canadian musicians, performers, songwriters and comedians through festivals, live performances, awards shows, financial support, promotions and exposure. From Laugh Attack, Air Musique, Radio Parallèle, and Sur La Route to The Verge, Canada's only 24-hour platform for Canadian independent music, XM Canada™ is committed to delivering high quality, original Canadian programming to its listeners.
For more contest details please visit: www.CanadasNextTopComic.com.
About Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR) operates as XM Canada and is Canada's premium digital audio entertainment and information company with the best signal coverage across the country. With 130 digital channels of choice, XM Canada offers Canadian listeners the most unique and original Canadian and international programming, including commercial-free music channels, exclusive live concerts and sports coverage, and the best in talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming. A free 14-day trial of XM Radio is available at http://www.xmradio.ca/freetrial/. Visit www.xmradio.ca for programming and subscription information.
XM Canada is the satellite entertainment leader in the Canadian automotive market with long-term factory installation agreements with manufacturers that own close to 50 per cent share of the domestic vehicle market. XM's industry-leading products are available at shop.xmradio.ca, and at retailers nationwide.
XM programming is available by subscribing directly through XM Canada and is also available as streams of commercial-free XM music channels on TELUS Mobile Radio and Rogers Wireless Radio on Demand. XM Canada is the exclusive music channel provider on Air Canada's flights.
To find out more about Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR), visit our website at www.xmradio.ca/about/.
About Global Comedyfest
The Vancouver Global ComedyFest is in its 7th year of bringing contemporary, some say "alternative", we simply say funny comedy to the coolest city in Canada - Vancouver. From September 16th - 26th Vancouver will celebrate comedy at various venues throughout the city. Global ComedyFest Vancouver is an internationally-recognized event and has become a prime destination for all forms of funny from stand-up comedy to sketch comedy to musical comedy. Past performers include Steve Martin, Martin Short, David Cross, Flight of the Conchords, Zach Galifianakis and the legendary Carol Burnett, to name a few.
For further information:
Jill Yetman
Environics Communications, Inc.
416-969-2722 | [email protected]
Kristen Marano
Environics Communications, Inc.
416-969-2730 | [email protected]
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