Appreciating Claude Cormier

“Montreal is richer today because of Claude Cormier, who passed away on Sept. 15 at the age of 63. He created whimsy — and over the course of his career helped transform our urban environment in ways that will likely, and hopefully, last for many more years.”

Arthur Simeon told us about the first time he bombed at standup

“I thought, ‘This is it, I’m just going to go walk into traffic right now.’ And then I remember talking to a veteran comic — this had been my 8th or 10th show — and he was like, ‘This was the first time you bombed?’ And he started laughing and said, ‘Oh! There are so many more that are coming!'”

What is the purpose of The Nasty Show in 2023?

“I want a Nasty Show that runs a genuine risk of being hit with public obscenity charges. I want Chris Rock, Bernie Mac and Tracy Morgan in the ’90s levels of nasty. I want ribald, crass and bawdy, but clever. And while there was certainly some of it this year, it was all too often inconsistent.”