Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch Bring Humor and Heart to Just for Laughs Montréal
variety.comJenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Hannah Berner grew up dreaming of being a professional tennis player before becoming a viral sensation with comedy bits like “Han on the Street.” Nimesh Patel turned his experience with being diagnosed with testicular cancer into a heralded comedy special, “Lucky Lefty.” And Kurtis Conner was working at Starbucks when a frequent customer encouraged him to get into comedy.
These were among the hilarious, surprising and touching revelations that emerged when Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch for 2023 were celebrated with a panel discussion and cocktail reception sponsored by Cohen Gardner LLP at last week’s Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival.
The comedians also performed in a packed showcase at the festival. Variety has been presenting the 10 Comics at Just for Laughs since 2000 and over the years the list has included such luminaries as Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Taylor Tomlinson and Quinta Brunson.
Nine of the 10 selected comics were present at the festival and attended the panel discussion. Later in the day, they were feted at the cocktail party that was also attended by such comedy luminaries as Eddie Izzard, Bert Kresicher and 10 Comics to Watch alumni Ronny Chieng and Dulcé Sloan.
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