SiriusXM Canada crowns Top Comic winner

Chris Robinson has the last laugh after going mic-to-mic with crème de la crème of Canada's comedic talent, nabbing $25,000

Homegrown comedy icon Tom Green headlined last night's Finale in Toronto

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2016 /CNW/ - SiriusXM Canada (TSX: XSR), the country's leading audio entertainment company, crowned Chris Robinson of Toronto winner of the seventh annual SiriusXM's Top Comic competition last night at the Finale held at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, as part of JFL42. Robinson took home the competition's biggest grand prize yet ‑ $25,000 ‑ and guaranteed spots at three of Canada's biggest comedy festivals in 2017 ‑ JFL42 in Toronto, JFL NorthWest in Vancouver and the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. In addition, they will be included in a televised JFL: All Access special airing on The Comedy Network.

SiriusXM's Top Comic Finale, which was broadcast live on SiriusXM's Canada Laughs (ch. 168), featured eight finalists who went mic-to-mic in front of a panel of judges including comedian Ron Funches, plus industry experts Aaron Hodges (SiriusXM's Raw Dog Comedy), Zoe Rabnett (JFL), Rachel Goldstein-Couto (Bell Media) and a Canada-wide text-to-vote. 

Runners-up, Sophie Buddle of Vancouver and Che Durena of Toronto will receive TV spots at the 2017 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, as well as a double-threat show at JFL42 2017.

Canadian comic Tom Green, MTV personality, star of the films Road Trip and Freddy Got Fingered, and current host of the widely popular internet talk show Tom Green's House Tonight and the Tom Green Radio podcast, closed out last night's Top Comic Finale to a standing ovation from the exuberant packed house. Ben Miner, Canadian comic and host of SiriusXM's Canada Laughs hosted the night.

"It's an absolute honour to win the Top Comic title as it's the biggest competition in Canadian comedy," said Robinson. "The judges are some of the top names in the industry and to perform for them alongside the other incredibly talented finalists has been an unforgettable experience."

"Top Comic continues to draw the best comedic talent in Canada and Robinson is no exception — He had the crowd howling with an incredible set," said Ben Miner. "We had a great group of finalists this year and are thrilled to award Robinson the biggest grand prize of the competition yet."

The Finale capped off a nearly five-month journey for Robinson. After hundreds of comics from across Canada registered for the competition in the spring, 72 contestants were selected to compete at the Toronto and Vancouver auditions over six nights in June. Judges then selected 18 semi-finalists to participate in a Canada-wide online vote, and the eight comics with the most votes advanced to last night's finale.

Top Comic is part of SiriusXM Canada's ongoing initiatives to provide exposure to Canadian talent. Last year, Montreal's Derek Seguin took home the title and grand prize, with Matt Billon of Vancouver and Jordan Welwood of Winnipeg placing as runners-up. Previous winners include Faisal Butt, Pete Zedlacher, Eric Andrews, Matt O'Brien and Brian Stollery.

Canada Laughs (ch. 168) features uncensored Canadian comedy 24/7 including stand-up, sketch and more, putting the spotlight on the rich pool of extraordinary talent from Canada. Canada Laughs is available to all SiriusXM subscribers in Canada and across the U.S. and joins SiriusXM's hilarious comedy lineup, including Comedy Central Radio, Raw Dog Comedy, The Foxxhole, Jeff and Larry's Comedy Roundup, Laugh USA and more.

About SiriusXM Canada

Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR) operates as SiriusXM Canada. SiriusXM Canada, with more than 2.8 million subscribers, is the country's leading audio entertainment company and broadcasts more than 130 satellite radio channels featuring premier sports, news, talk, entertainment and commercial-free music. SiriusXM Canada offers an array of content from the most recognized news, entertainment and major sports brands including the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, CNN, CBC, FOX, BBC, Howard Stern, Disney, Comedy Central and more.

SiriusXM programming is available on a variety of devices including pre-installed and after-market radios in cars, trucks and boats, smartphones and mobile devices, and consumer electronics products for homes and offices. SiriusXM programming is also available online at www.siriusxm.ca and on Apple and Android-powered mobile devices.

SiriusXM Canada has partnerships with every major automaker and its radio products are available at more than 2,500 retail locations nationwide. To find out more about SiriusXM Canada (TSX: XSR), visit our website at www.siriusxm.ca.

SiriusXM Canada has been designated one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies seven years in a row and is currently a Platinum Club Member, in addition to 2013, 2014 and 2015 rankings in PROFIT 500's list of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies.

Join SiriusXM Canada on Facebook at facebook.com/siriusxmcanada, on Twitter at twitter.com/siriusxmcanada and on YouTube at youtube.com/siriusxmcanada.

SOURCE SiriusXM Canada

Image with caption: "SiriusXM Canada crowned Chris Robinson of Toronto winner of the seventh annual SiriusXM's Top Comic competition last night at the finale held at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, as part of JFL42. (CNW Group/SiriusXM Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160930_C3481_PHOTO_EN_785670.jpg

Media contact: Andrea McLoughlin, Holmes PR, 416-628-5609, [email protected]; Vanessa Andres, Holmes PR, 416-628-5612, [email protected]