SiriusXM Canada revealed the 18 semi-finalists for the 9th annual SiriusXM Top Comic competition, a nationwide search for Canada’s best in comedy. Canadians will hold the fate of the semi-finalists in their hands by choosing which comics will move on in the competition, where they’ll battle it out joke-for-joke live on stage at the SiriusXM Top Comic Finale. The Finale, featuring headlining comedian Nikki Glaser, takes place September 27, 2018 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre as part of JFL42 in association with SiriusXM Canada in Toronto.
Beginning at 10 am ET today through 11:59 pm ET on August 17, Canadians can view the audition videos of the 18 semi-finalists and vote daily for the funniest comics at siriusxm.ca/topcomic. The six comics who receive the greatest number of public votes – and laughs – will advance to the Finale, along with two additional comics selected by an esteemed panel of industry judges to compete live on stage for the coveted title of SiriusXM’s Top Comic, a grand prize of $25,000 and more.
The 2018 SiriusXM Top Comic semi-finalists are:
Kyle Brownrigg (Hometown—Ottawa, ON)
Sophie Buddle (Hometown—Ottawa, ON)
Cara Connors (Hometown—Toronto, ON)
Mark DeBonis (Hometown— Scarborough, ON)
Dave Harris (Hometown—New Westminster, BC)
Gilson Lubin (Hometown—Toronto, ON)
Brittany Lyseng (Hometown—Calgary, AB)
Roman Mancini (Hometown—Ottawa, ON)
Chanty Marostica (Hometown—Winnipeg, MB)
Ashley Moffatt (Hometown—Hamilton, ON)
Myles Morrison (Hometown—Saskatoon, SK)
Efthimios Nasiopoulos (Hometown—Toronto, ON)
Tim Nutt (Hometown—Vancouver, BC)
Alex Pavone (Hometown—Woodbridge, ON)
Keith Pedro (Hometown—Toronto, ON)
Nick Reynoldson (Hometown—Scarborough, ON)
Shirley Whalen (Hometown—Fort McMurray, AB)
Ryan Williams (Hometown—Kamloops, BC)
Finalists will be announced later this summer.
SiriusXM recently selected 60 of the nation’s best comics to take part in public auditions held over six nights in Toronto and Calgary. The comics each had six minutes to impress the crowd and a panel of industry judges, who chose three comics from each night to continue on in the competition as semi-finalists.
For the first time in the competition’s history, the two runners-up will each receive cash prizes of $2,500. In addition to $25,000, the grand prize winner will receive international exposure with a guaranteed spot to perform at JFL Sydney (Australia), as well as at JFL42 (Toronto), JFL NorthWest (Vancouver), and at Just For Laughs Montreal on a JFL TV taping airing on a Bell property in their 2019/20 broadcast season. Tickets for the Finale are on sale now at jfl42.com/act/siriusxm-top-comic.
Top Comic is part of SiriusXM Canada’s ongoing initiatives to provide exposure to Canadian talent. Last year, Gavin Matts of New Westminster, BC took home the title and grand prize, with Sterling Scott of Edmonton, AB and Graham Chittenden of Brantford, ON placing as runners-up. Previous winners include Chris Robinson, 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 Sirius and XM subscribers in Canada and across the U.S. and joins SiriusXM’s hilarious comedy lineup, including Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio, Comedy Central Radio, SiriusXM Comedy Greats, Raw Dog Comedy, Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup, Laugh USA and more.
