The Freedom to Joke: The State of Stand-Up Comedy

Episode 2: Interview with Mark Breslin, CEO and Founder of Yuk Yuk's

Description: In the episode that will most likely cost them their jobs, Ajay and Prakash interview Mark Breslin, CEO and founder of Yuk Yuk's about comedy, its growth in Canada, and how the Internet has impacted the development of comedy.

Recorded: April 9th, 2019.

Location: Yuk Yuk's Head Office.

Timestamps:

  • Intro: 0:00

  • Bio: 2:05

  • How did you get into comedy?: 5:26

  • Did the darkness in your life help you develop your comedy?: 9:31

  • How did Yuk Yuks start?: 10:57

  • Do you see Yuk Yuks as a cause or as a business?: 15:25

  • How did Yuk Yuks grow to become a staple in Canada?: 16:19

  • How has the internet changed comedy?: 22:56

  • Is it harder to shock people with comedy now? Is counterculture comedy the new norm?: 27:03

  • How do you define good comedy nowadays?: 31:06

  • How has stand-up comedy changed since the introduction of smartphones and social media?: 32:27

  • What's the long term vision of Yuk Yuks?: 35:49

  • Are comedians more free or less free in what they can say politically?: 36:36

  • Is comedy more politicized now? 37:58

  • Outro: 42:19

Mark Breslin.jpg

Mark Breslin

-CEO of Yuk Yuks.

Twitter: @markbreslin5

Instagram: @markbreslin1

Mark Breslin is the CEO and founder of Yuk Yuk's comedy clubs - with 15 comedy clubs across Canada, the founder and Artistic Director for the Humber College Comedy Program and a founding member of the Canadian Comedy Awards.

He has acted as producer, executive producer and story consultant for numerous television programs such as Late Night with Joan Rivers, Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui and Kenny vs Spenny among others. He is an author and columnist and also worked in radio as the Program Director for Laugh Attack, on SiriusXM Canada.

Breslin is also a much sought-after public speaker. Selected speaking engagements have included the American Comedy Institute in NYC, the Big Bear Comedy Workshop in L.A., Association for Campus Entrepreneurs, universities, colleges and many more.

In 2014, Breslin was named one of the 180 most influential people ever to be born and raised in Toronto and in 2017, he was awarded the Order of Canada, the second highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations and medals of Canada.

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