Kelly Taylor. (Ron Quaroni/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Canada's Top Comic Candidate

‘I’m excited to represent Saskatchewan’: Kelly Taylor earns spot in Toronto

Sep 4, 2019 | 12:53 PM

A Saskatchewan comic has once again earned his shot at Canadian comedy gold.

Prince Albert’s Kelly Taylor will be one of 10 comics from around the country to voted into perform at SiriusXM’s Comedy Gala at Just for Laughs 42 for the title of Top Comic in Canada.

“I’m excited to represent Saskatchewan,” XFM Co-Host Kelly Taylor said. “At the beginning of my comedy career I remember people would look down on you like, ‘If you were any good, you’d move on.’ Now it feels like I’ve been around so long, people see I’ve been making a go of it. I’m proud to be from here.”

Taylor was at work when he officially learned he would partake in this year’s competition.

“I found out just this morning. They called and let me know. It’s good, it’s exciting,” Kelly Taylor told paNOW. “Now I’ll fly to Toronto for JFL 42, and then it will be just one show, seven minutes. There will be a panel of judges who will choose the winner.”

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“It all comes down to that set. It’s kind of anyone’s game. You have to have a good set and then after that it’s [up to the judges]. Comedy is subjective,” Taylor said.

Having competed three times previously, Taylor entered the final round two times. While he knows what to expect, he’s still deciding on what jokes are best for the seven-minute period.

“How do I take a 20-minute chunk and trim that down to seven? Do I take one line from here, one from there? I’m kind of a long joke teller, so it’s not conducive to my style,” he said.

To reach the finals Taylor needed help in the form of online voting. He credits his success getting to the finals from the support he received from his home province.

“Really, the only reason I get through this stage every time, is all the Prince Albert and Saskatchewan [people] as a whole. I appreciate that, thank you very much,” Taylor said. “In Saskatchewan we help each other out; we’re good blue-collar people who help each other out. Instead of just hitting ‘share’ people took the time to vote.”

While the top prize includes $25,000, Taylor said he would love to get the title of Top Comic in Canada and perhaps work at organizing a theatre tour.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni