Lineup additions have been announced for the upcoming 2021 edition of Just for Laughs— a hybrid festival taking place in Montreal, New York City, Los Angeles, and online everywhere from July 26-31, 2021.
Kevin Hart will make an appearance in conversation with Neal Brennan. Also newly announced for the streaming portion of JFL 2021 are actress Jean Smart, who will receive the Comedy Performance of the Year award for her role on HBO Max’s Hacks.
Here’s all the info from the latest press release.
As leaders in comedy, Just For Laughs continues to pride itself as tastemakers in the business, consistently on the cutting edge of what’s next, programming the hottest rising stars and today’s most recognizable names. Here are the additions to this year’s festival, revealed today...
JUST FOR LAUGHS AWARDS SHOW
Jean Smart, an award-winning screen and stage actress with a decorated career that spans decades will be presented with this year’s Comedy Performance of the Year Award for her exceptional performance in the HBO Max Original comedy drama, Hacks, which has garnered her international praise, including with USA Today who coined her “The Queen of HBO”. Smart is a Tony-nominated, and two-time Emmy award winner actor. She has given memorable performances in countless roles including NBC’s Frasier, ABC’s Samantha Who, Disney’s Kim Possible, FX’s Fargo, HBO’s Watchmen, and HBO’s recent hit, Mare of Easttown. For her standout performance this year as an iconic standup comedian with depth, humour, and heart in HBO Max Original hit, Hacks, Smart is this year’s recipient of the Comedy Performance of the Year Award.
Comedian, writer, author and television host, Amber Ruffin will be the master of ceremonies, hosting this year’s virtual Just For Laughs Awards Show. Ruffin is the host of the WGA Award-nominated, The Amber Ruffin Show which airs on Peacock, and is an Emmy and WGA Award-nominated writer and performer for her work on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers. Ruffin was the first African American female to write for a late-night network talk show in the U.S, and has written and performed on Comedy Central’s Detroiters, and was a regular narrator on Drunk History. Ruffin is a New York Times bestselling author and was recently named to the 2021 TIME100 Next List, TIME’s list of the next 100 most influential people in the world.
These additions join the previously announced Dave Chappelle (Comedy Person of the Year), Kristen Wiig + Annie Mumolo (Comedy Writers of the Year), Bowen Yang (Breakout Comedy Star of the Year), and the Cast and Creators of Ted Lasso featuring Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence (Comedy Series of the Year).
Hold on, that’s not all!
Tune in to see who the very special guests will be, making appearances in this year’s awards show to pay tribute to these incredible honorees. For the very first time in JFL history, the prestigious gathering will be open to the public, free to watch online.
The JFL Awards Show will air online for free at hahaha.com on Wednesday, July 28 from
7:00-8:30 pm ET (4:00-5:30 pm PT).
LAUGH OUT LOUD (LOL!)
Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart
Dive into the minds of some of the world’s funniest people with Kevin Hart in his show, Comedy Gold Minds. In this special episode, Hart will be joined by comedian, writer, producer, director and podcaster, Neal Brennan, known for co-creating and co-writing Comedy Central’s Chappelle's Show with Dave Chappelle. In 2017, Brennan’s Netflix original comedy special, 3 Mics, received wide critical acclaim. His podcast, How Neal Feel, co-hosted by actress Bianca Siavoshy, has received popular reviews, having interviewed Jimmy Carr, Blake Griffin, Adam Levine and Chris Rock, to name a few.
Join Kevin Hart as he sits down with Neal Brennan in this free show, streamed online at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
Date Night with Chris & Vanessa
Date Night with Chris & Vanessa invites couples (and sometimes single folks) on a fun date to unpack issues everyone faces in relationships and family life. In this special edition, Chris and Vanessa will be sitting down with Will Packer and wife, Heather Hayslett. Packer, named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful People in Comedy for films under his helm with Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media has produced 28+ comedy films, including Girls Trip, Ride Along and Think Like A Man. Packer credits his wife, Heather Hayslett for much of his success.
The couple will sit down to chat about their relationship in this special episode of Date Night with Chris and Vanessa, airing online for free at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
Quake’s House with Earthquake
Quake's House features legendary stand-up comedian, Earthquake, at his most authentic with recurring segments, celebrity guests, and some of the funniest emerging comics around. In this episode, Earthquake is joined by actor, stand-up comedian and game show host, Cedric the Entertainer. Host of BET’s ComicView and Def Comedy Jam in the 90s, Cedric the Entertainer is best known for co-starring in The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and for his starring role in 20th Century Fox’s comedy film, Barbershop. In 2019, Cedric The Entertainer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This show will air online for free at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
The Ladies Room with Jazzy
Throughout each episode, online sensation Jasmin “Jazzy” Brown and four of her favorite (and most hilarious) girlfriends — Natalie Friedman, Briana Lawrence, Renita Woodland, and Kiya Roberts — gather to spill tea, kiki, and disagree about every issue under the sun from a fully female perspective where no topic is off-limits and nothing is censored. In this episode, the ladies are joined by British comedian, television writer and presenter, London Hughes, who wrote and starred in BBC’s Laughter Shock, was featured in BBC’s comedy entertainment show Life: An Idiot’s Guide and the satirical sketch show Newsjack. Hughes is scheduled to star in the upcoming Perfect Strangers reboot for HBO Max.
This show will air online for free at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
JUST FOR LAUGHS LIVE IN MONTRÉAL
Presented by SiriusXM Canada in collaboration with Tangerine
Just For Laughs is live in Montréal, hosted by Canadian writer, actor, and comedian, Jon Dore. Joining the previously announced Jen Grant, Nigel Grinstead, Cassie Cao, Marito Lopez, and Rodney Ramsey on this lineup, is comedian, Dino Archie.
This show will be performed in front of a live audience in Montreal on Wednesday, July 28 at 7:00 pm ET at Club Soda, and then aired for free online at hahaha.com as of Friday, July 30.
JUST FOR LAUGHS LIVE IN L.A.
Just For Laughs is live in Los Angeles with host Sabrina Jalees, alongside an all-star lineup of festival favourites, featuring Maz Jobrani, Gina Yashere, Alonzo Bodden, Jeremy Hotz, Liza Treyger, and Rachel Feinstein!
This show will be performed in front of a live audience in L.A. on Tuesday, July 27 at 7:00 pm PT at Dynasty Typewriter, and then aired for free online at hahaha.com as of Thursday, July 29.
JUST FOR LAUGHS LIVE IN N.Y.
Just For Laughs is live in New York with host Dulcé Sloan. Joining the previously announced Todd Barry, Michael Kosta, and Marina Franklin on this lineup are comedians Josh Johnson, Emma Willmann and Jessica Kirson.
This show will be performed in front of a live audience in N.Y. on Monday, July 26 at 7:00 pm ET at The Stand, and then aired for free online at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
THE NASTY SHOW
The Nasty Show is back and will hands-down be the filthiest, most shocking and taboo show of the festival. Prepare yourself for a special edition of one of the festival’s longest-running shows, shot live from New York! Hosted by Big Jay Oakerson, joining the previously announced Donnell Rawlings, Rosebud Baker, Robert Kelly, Yamaneika Saunders and Paris Sashay, is comedian Ari Shaffir.
This show will be performed in front of a live audience in N.Y. on Monday, July 26 at 10:00 pm ET at The Stand, and then aired for free online at hahaha.com as of Wednesday, July 28.
THE ALTERNATIVE SHOW
The quintessential comic’s comic takes you off the beaten path of mainstream comedy and into the chaotic wilderness. Hosted by Andy Kindler, joining the previously announced Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Laurie Kilmartin, and Patton Oswalt, and Solomon Georgio.
This show will be performed in front of a live audience in L.A. on Tuesday, July 27 at 10:00 pm PT at Dynasty Typewriter, and then aired for free online at hahaha.com as of Thursday, July 29.
For more information, please refer to the Just For Laughs website.
