Roy Wood Jr. and Mikey Day to Host Just For Laughs Galas in Montreal (EXCLUSIVE)

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2025’s Just For Laughs Galas have completed their host roster, adding Roy Wood Jr. and Mikey Day to the list. They will join Michelle Buteau and Fortune Feimster, previously announced hosts, for the key events taking place July 25-26 in Montreal during the festival.

The upcoming event, spanning from the 16th to the 27th of July, is set to highlight individual performances by up-and-coming artists such as Ralph Barbosa, Joe Dombrowski, and Carlos Ballarta. Notably, their show will be a Spanish language production in its entirety.

John Wood Jr., set to host the July 25 Gala, boasts a impressive background in television. Nominated for Emmys and Writers Guild Awards, he served as a correspondent on the Emmy-winning “The Daily Show” for eight years. In 2023, he garnered attention when he guest-hosted the show and hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, achieving the highest ratings since 2017. At present, he is the host of CNN’s “Have I Got News for You,” a U.S. version of the longest-running British comedy series that debuted in September 2024.

On July 26, Day assumes leadership for the Gala, leveraging his experience from “Saturday Night Live.” This Emmy-nominated writer, performer, and humorist joined SNL in 2013, rising to Featured Player in 2016 and a regular cast member in 2018. Apart from his sketch comedy work, Day has featured in Netflix’s “Unfrosted” and films like “Hubie Halloween” and “Little.” Currently, he hosts the popular Netflix show “Is It Cake?” and collaborated with writing partner Streeter Seidell on “Home Sweet Home Alone.

I’m absolutely ecstatic to share the news! Roy Wood Jr. and Mikey Day have been added to our 2025 Gala lineup as hosts, completing an incredible roster of talent. These shows are a significant piece of Just For Laughs Festival history, and I can hardly wait to bring these phenomenal comedians to both our Montreal crowd and viewers nationwide on CBC.”

– A passionate fan of Just For Laughs

The upcoming solo performances at this year’s festival will feature some of comedy’s most promising rising stars. One such artist is Ralph Barbosa, who was chosen as one of the “10 Comics to Watch” by EbMaster in 2024, and he’ll be taking the stage at MTelus on July 25. Known for his Netflix special “Ralph Barbosa: Cowabunga,” which became the third most-watched TV show on Netflix during its debut week, this comedian is also slated to release a second Hulu special in 2025.

Originally from Detroit, Joe Dombrowski – famous for his April Fool’s Day spelling test prank in 2017 that went viral and landed him multiple appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – will take center stage at Club Soda on July 24. Once an elementary school teacher, he has since become a frequent performer at significant comedy festivals and now hosts a monthly show at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

On July 26, the Mexican comedian Carlos Ballarta brings his “Tlatoani en Español” act back to Montreal at MTelus. Born in Mexico City, this comedian with three Netflix specials has prepared a Spanish-only performance for us, featuring fresh content from his globally touring comedy show.

Extra programming offers a lively podcast broadcast from “StanLand,” starring “Saturday Night Live” veteran Bobby Moynihan and writer Mike Sacks. Moreover, there are extended dates for widely appreciated regular shows such as “Dropout Improv,” “The Nasty Show,” and “The Culture Show.

This year, the festival’s “New Faces” spotlight is back, featuring numerous lineups spread across various performance genres. Over the years, this program has propelled the careers of notable comedians such as Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, and more recent sensations like Marcello Hernandez.

The Just For Laughs Galas, which are recorded live at Théâtre Maisonneuve, will be broadcast on CBC and serve as the festival’s main TV shows.

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2025-05-29 18:22