Go to main content

FROM THE STAGE TO THE SCREEN, CBC PRESENTS JUST FOR LAUGHS GALAS

Trio of comedy specials featuring Eddie Izzard, Kathy Griffin and Joan Rivers to air Fridays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) August through September on CBC-TV

CBC brings the best in Canadian and international comedy to homes across Canada late this summer with the Just For Laughs Galas, featuring renowned comedians Eddie Izzard, Kathy Griffin and Joan Rivers, along with an impressive lineup of comedians from around the world.

British comedy legend Eddie Izzard presents The United Nations of Comedy, featuring some of the hottest stand-up comedians from around the globe, including American Colin Quinn, Malaysian-Australian Ronny Chieng, South African sensation Trevor Noah, French superstar Gad Elmaleh (performing in English for the first time ever), and Trinidadian-Canadian Jean Paul. The United Nations of Comedy airs Friday, August 22 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT).

*VIDEO: Click here for a sneak peek of The United Nations of Comedy

She’s the diva of the D-list, the she-wolf of show business, and one of the funniest women around. Straight from Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival comes Kathy Griffin and some of her very best frenemies. This one-hour special, airing Friday, August 29 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), features celebrity trash-talk from Kathy herself, with stand-up performances from comedy pros Jon Reep, Sebastian Maniscalco, Alex Nussbaum, Kitty Flanagan and Scottish superstar Danny Bhoy.

A trail-blazer and bridge-burner, the ageless Joan Rivers is sure to deliver the laughs in this one-hour special, airing Friday, September 12 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT). Audiences can look forward to a star-studded line-up of comedians including Tom Papa, Laurie Elliott, Lynne Koplitz and improv superstars Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood.

-30-

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.

For more information, please contact:
Kylie McGregor
Entertainment publicist, CBC
416 205 8638 (office) / 416 948 6181 (mobile)

Related content

just for laughs galas

Discover

June 23rd at 13:20

New to CBC Gem in July 2026

Titles joining CBC Gem in July include the exclusive Canadian premieres of season 2 of UK comedy series Amandaland and new tween series The Next Step: Cheer, plus sci-fi drama The Expanse, award-winning documentary Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, and feature film The Menu starring Ralph Fiennes.
June 10th at 14:00

CBC marks National Indigenous Peoples Day & National Indigenous History Month

As part of CBC’s ongoing commitment to reflect Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast, the public broadcaster is recognizing National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day with programming that showcases First Nations, Inuit, and Métis perspectives and experiences. 
May 26th at 5:50

CBC Unveils New Slate Showcasing Canadian Storytelling and Stars including Samantha Bee, Sarah Podemski and P.K. Subban

From hockey and hospitals to the Wild West and the world of international diplomacy and espionage, CBC’s new original Canadian greenlights include drama series Junior inspired by P.K. Subban's junior hockey experience and comedy The Ambassador starring Samantha Bee.
May 22nd at 12:00

New to CBC Gem in June

In June, new titles join the Indigenous Stories Collection, including documentary Channel Original Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, from Shane Belcourt and Tanya Talaga, and roundtable series Rematriate the Lens; and the Watch With Pride Collection, including CBC Arts' interview series Here & Queer. 
May 13th at 6:55

The Tragically Hip to release live album and CBC to air The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration Concert in full

Relive the night Canada stood still for the live broadcast of The Tragically Hip’s 2016 Man Machine Poem Kingston show, re-broadcasting and streaming commercial-free on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 7 p.m. local time on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC Music’s YouTube page.