Full Breakdown
Soresi and Jurden Roast the Comedy Industry at Just For Laughs
7/31/2026, 12:03:57 PM
The State of the Industry Address – July 23
On July 23, comedians Gianmarco Soresi and Jay Jurden delivered the annual “State of the Industry” address at the Just For Laughs (JFL) festival in Montréal. The two-hour set lampooned the Netflix-aired *Roast of Kevin Hart* and used the occasion to assess the health of the comedy ecosystem. “Kevin Hart produced and starred in the roast of himself, where the most famous people in the world got a chance to make fun of his height,” — Gianmarco Soresi
Tradition and Transition
The address is a JFL staple that began in 1995 and was hosted by veteran curmudgeon Andy Kindler until 2023, when Jessica Kirson briefly took over. Soresi invoked the tradition with a mock “moment of silence for Andy Kindler,” then clarified that the veteran comic “Moment of silence for Andy Kindler,” — Gianmarco Soresi
Industry Commentary from the Stage
Soresi and Jurden framed the comedy landscape as one of “decay.” Both comedians extended their satire to peers, targeting figures such as Shane Gillis, Tony Hinchcliffe, Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Nate Bargatze, Josh Johnson, and the Dropout platform.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Kevin Hart produced and starred in the roast of himself, where the most famous people in the world got a chance to make fun of his height,” — Gianmarco Soresi
- “Moment of silence for Andy Kindler,” — Gianmarco Soresi
The address, captured in a 38-minute video, illustrates how two of today’s most prolific joke writers use JFL’s platform to both entertain and critique the precarious economics and cultural currents shaping modern stand-up comedy.
