CBC Gem original comedy series THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP (12x10min) features 12 rising Canadian comics who bring their diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and unique comedy styles to the stage in 10-minute sets, filmed in February for a live audience at this year’s JFL NorthWest in Vancouver.

The up-and-coming comics from across Canada include: Salma Hindy, a Muslim comic from Toronto who also happens to be a biomedical engineer; Yumi Nagashima, who arrived in Vancouver by way of Tokyo; Paul Rabliauskus, from Poplar River First Nation Reserve in Manitoba; Al Val, a bold transgender comic from Toronto; Ola Dada, a Nigerian-Canadian raised in Fort McMurray, Alberta; Toronto’s Cassie Cao, a former economist turned stand-up comedian; Vancouver’s Aaron Read who won JFL NorthWest’s “Breakout Artist of the Year;” and Calgary’s Brett Forte, who is upset with his Millennial generation...and thinks audiences should be too.

Also taking the stage is Matty Vu who produces “Yellow Fever,” Vancouver’s only comedy show by Asians for non-Asians (and also Asians); Calgary’s Brittany Lyseng who swapped her elevator mechanic job for the comedy spotlight; Vancouver standup and cartoonist Jacob Samuel; and Toronto’s Kyle Brownrigg, who was the first gay male to be awarded “Best Breakout Artist” at the Canadian Comedy Awards. 

THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP is executive produced by Bruce Hills and Heather Wallace, produced by Heather Wallace, and directed by Trish Neufield. Supervising Producer is Anton Leo. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Gave Lindo is Executive Director, OTT Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Michelle Daly is Senior Director, Comedy; and Greig Dymond is Executive in Charge of Production.