Episode description

Question: what is Canada's greatest contribution to the world of comedy? Is it Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live, which launched the careers of comedians like Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, and Norm MacDonald? What about Samantha Bee, who broke into the boys club of late night political satire? Nathan Fielder who may have redrawn the lines of reality itself, exposing the absurdity of modern life with his bizarre, intricate pranks? Professor Stephen Leacock, the Mark Twain of Canada?

Or is it a hidden-camera, prank comedy show that has been seen by millions and millions of people from all over the world?

Just For Laughs Gags has been running for almost 25 years, and it had no reason to stop, except that its parent company filed for creditor protection under Canada’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act on March 5, 2024. What was Gags and what will be missed if it never gets produced again?

Today on the show, we hear from the people that made it, and from people that were pranked by them.

To learn more:

• Just for Laughs: Gags – 15 years growing around the world — Radio Canada International
• Just For Laughs Gags YouTube Channel — YouTube
• Joke's on us: Just for Laughs Gags is a heinous Canadian cultural export — National Post
• The cost of cringe: Does Just for Laughs: Gags go too far? — National Post

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Reporter, Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Special thanks: Tamara Wise

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Article, Squarespace, AG1

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.