Just for Laughs reveals 2017 lineup (Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, Ali Wong, David Spade and dozens more)

Just for Laughs has just unveiled their slate for this summer’s edition, and it’s a doozy. Headliners include Jerry Seinfeld and Gad Elmaleh, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, Ali Wong, David Spade, Howie Mandel, and many, many more. Below you’ll find a breakdown of today’s announcements. More acts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Big One

The biggest show of the year is undoubtedly the double hitter of Jerry Seinfeld and Gad Elmaleh at Bell Centre, Wednesday, July 26, at 8:00 pm.

Headliner Solo Shows

The Daily Show host Trevor Noah will pull double duty at this year’s festival with two performances Friday, July 28 at Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm. He will then participate in In Conversation with Trevor Noah as part of JFL ComedyPRO, Saturday, July 29 at 12:00 pm at the Grand Salon Opera, Level 4, Hyatt Regency Montreal.

Famed writer/director Judd Apatow, who popped up throughout last year’s JFL will return to tape his upcoming special here in Montreal. Apatow will perform four shows, on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at the 5ieme Salle at Place des Arts.

Ali Wong has become a comedy superstar since releasing her special Baby Cobra last year, and her appearance Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts  is sure to be one of the hottest tickets of this year’s fest.

John Mulaney was at JFL last year as part of the hilarious Oh Hello show with Nick Kroll, and returns this year with his new show, John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous, Saturday, July 29, 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at L’Olympia.

Chris D’Elia of NBC’s Undateable returns to the fest for one show, Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 pm at L’Olympia.

Tom Segura, fresh off the release of his Netflix special, Mostly Stories, performs Wednesday, July 26 at 7:00 pm at L’Olympia.

Galas

Homegrown comedy superstar Sugar Sammy finally gets to host his own Gala, featuring a cadre of international performers, each a superstar in their own country. Sugar Sammy’s International Videotron Gala takes place Friday, July 28 at 9:45 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

David Spade, the sardonic former SNL member and star of Tommy Boy and Black Sheep makes a rare festival stop to host a Gala Wednesday July 26 at 7:00 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Laverne Cox, of Netflix’s smash Orange is the New Black, heads up a Gala of her own, Saturday, July 29, 9:45 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Canadian TV staple Rick Mercer (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) will bring his satirist skills to his own Gala, Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Finally, famed comedian / TV host Howie Mandel returns to Gala hosting duties at JFL, Saturday, July 29 at 6:30 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Solo Club Series

Unrestrained comedian Jim Norton returns to the fest for a pair of shows, Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 at 9:30 pm at Gesù.

All Access Live, the multi-performer live tapings, return to Club Soda with a slew of great hosts, including Mike Birbiglia on July 26, Moshe Kasher on July 27 and Natasha Leggero on July 28. There are two tapings per night, with different performers on each. Shows run at 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm each night.

Mike Birbiglia will also bring his new show, appropriately titled The New One, to Gesù from July 24-25, and July 27-29 at 7:00 each night.

Elon Gold makes his his 11^th appearance at the festival with his new show, Elon Gold: Pro-Semite, Monday, July 24 through to Thursday, July 27,  7:00 pm nightly at Maison Theatre.

OFF-JFL & ZOOFEST

The most exciting (and cost efficient) shows at JFL always fall under the OFF-JFL / ZOOFEST banner, and this year’s initial lineup is already impressive. Arj Barker, The Lucas Bros, Ron Funches, Sabrina Jalees, Katherine Ryan, Jen Kirkman, W. Kamau Bell and Bryan Callen all get their own club shows at this year’s festival. 

Of course, comedian of comedians Andy Kindler returns to host The Alternative Show for 5 late-night shows.

Themed Shows 

The Ethnic Show

One of the most popular shows at JFL returns with Iranian-American host Maz Jobrani, along with performers Jessica Kirson, Steve Byrne, The Doo Wops (John Catucci and David Mesiano), Mike Rita and Vlad Caamaño. The show runs for a massive 19 performances, July 12 through Thursday, July 27 at Club Soda and Metropolis.

The Nasty Show

What better person to host The Nasty Show than the reigning insult king, Jimmy Carr? Other performers so far include Godfrey, Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly. Prepare your angry tweet storm now. The Nasty Show runs for 10 performances, from Wednesday, July 19 through Friday, July 28 at Métropolis.

Brit(ish)

This year’s Brit(ish) show is hosted by Gina Yashere, and includes appearances from starring Aisling Bea, Joe Lycett, James Acaster, Seann Walsh and Sarah Millican. The shows run Wednesday, July 26 at 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 pm, and Friday, July 28 at 7:00 pm, at L’Astral.

Podcasts

A number of live podcast tapings have been announced, including:

The Fighter & the Kid: LIVE, starring former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub and actor/comedian Bryan Callen, Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 pm at Maison Theatre.

If I Were You, the advice podcast hosted by Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, gets a live recording Tuesday, July 25 at 9:30 pm at Maison Theatre.

Hurwitz and Blumenfeld also founded the HeadGum network, and three of those podcasts will also get their own live tapings at JFL: High and Mighty with Jon Gabrus, Twinnovation with Jeff Rosenberg, Dave Rosenberg and Mike Karnell, and Black Men Can’t Jump with Jerah Milligan, Jon Braylock, and James III on Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30 pm at Maison Theatre.

JFL ComedyPRO

The star-studded cast of HBO’s Vice Principals (Danny McBride, Jody Hill, Walton Goggins, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Georgia King and Edi Patterson will discuss their demented show Friday, July 28 at 1:00 pm at the Grand Salon Opera, Level 4, Hyatt Regency Montreal.

Kevin Hart took submissions for his new LOL Network during a JFL ComedyPRO session last summer, and will be on-hand for a screening of his new collaboration between LOL and JFL, Eat My Shorts, where 20 shorts will be shown and voted on by the audience, followed by a Q&A with Hart. The whole thing goes down Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at the Imperial.

CNN’s The History of Comedy episode “Spark of Madness” gets a screening and Q&A with executive producers Mark Herzog and Todd Milliner and comedian W. Kamau Bell on Thursday, July 27 at 4:00 pm at Grand Salon Opera, Level 4, Hyatt Regency Montreal.

Come check out the future comedy stars of tomorrow at the annual New Faces of Comedy, New Faces: Characters, and New Faces: Unrepped showcases, Wednesday, July 26, and Thursday July 27 at Ludger-Duvernay at Monument National. JFL is also launching New Faces: Creators this year, Thursday, July 27 at 1:45 pm at the Hyatt Grand Salon Opera, Level 4.

Mark Critch of This Hour Has 22 Minutes will host a showcase of Canada’s best comedic talent at this year’s Homegrown Comics, with special guest, comedian K. Trevor Wilson, Friday, July 28 at 7:00 pm at Ludger-Duvernay at Monument National.

Finally, the popular industry showcase Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” unveils their 2017 list on Friday, July 28, 9:30 pm, at Ludger-Duvernay at Monument National.

Just for Laughs runs from July 12 – 31. Tickets are on-sale today at hahaha.com.