Jay McCarrol

Jay McCarrol’s name floats around Canadian comedy like a well-worn hoodie—comfortable, reliable, surprisingly stylish. You might’ve caught his wild, deadpan genius in “Nirvanna the Band the Show,” which snuck onto screens in 2016 and just sort of blew up into this cult sensation. There’s a kind of barely controlled chaos in his work, you know? The show’s basically a love letter to Toronto and low-fi shenanigans, where Jay and Matt Johnson (his partner in crime, literally and figuratively) try—usually in the most ridiculous ways—to score a gig at the Rivoli. It’s this bizarre mix of reality and fiction, with shaky handheld shots one second and totally over-the-top schemes the next. Jay’s comedic timing? Impeccable. Like he’s got this sixth sense for exactly when to let the awkwardness hang. Jump ahead to 2023, and boom, Jay pops up in “BlackBerry.” That’s the movie pulling back the curtain on the tech world, zeroing in on the wild, messy birth and crash of the BlackBerry phone. It’s a whole different vibe—more dramatic, but still shot through with that dark, slightly unhinged humor Jay nails. And if you’re thinking he’s done, nah. “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is lined up for 2025. If the past is anything to go by, expect something that’s part mockumentary, part fever dream, and all heart. Jay McCarrol isn’t just a comedian—he’s a guy who turns confusion into art and always leaves you wanting more.