Just for Laughs

Background

Just For Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1983, it is the largest international comedy festival in the world. It also serves as a television division.

1st Logo (Early 2000's-)

Logo: We start with sped-up footage from the view of a stage of a crowd leaving an amphitheater where a live show (filmed at the Saint-Denis Theatre in Montreal) is being held. Once the theater is almost empty, the Just For Laughs mascot (Victor, a stubby green monster with red horns) runs onto screen, noticing everyone leaving. He gasps and turns a bit, saying "MOMMY, IT'S OOOVER!" in a sad voice as the curtains close on him and the Just For Laughs logo comes in on a spotlight and stops in the middle of the screen. A byline reading "© [YEAR] Juste pour rire Les Gags Inc." (or "© [YEAR] Juste pour rire TV Inc.").

Variants:

• A short version exists, which starts when Victor gasps.
• Depending on the program or language it is in, the words at the end are in French: Juste Pour Rire.
• The URL "justforlaughs.com" can appear below.
• Sometimes the credits for the program play over the first few seconds of the logo when the crowd is vacated.
• Later in 2008, the logo started with a lime green background with Victor popping up as the English and French logos for Just For Laughs pop up next to him. Also seen is the words "FESTIVAL LIVE TELEVISION MUSEUM" being revealed below. The word "TELEVISION" becomes red. The normal logo would play right after. Also, the French version does exist.
  • Since 2011, when the Just for Laughs Museum was closed in the same year, the logo was enhanced with the URL "hahaha.com" is displayed and the words were differently reads "FESTIVAL LIVE SHOWS TELEVISION".
• In 2013, the logo was also enhanced: the crowd leaving is different and more packed (which is now filmed at Place des Arts in Montreal; including the English and French Just For Laughs logos displayed on the floor), and Victor has been re-animated. The logo also ends with different-looking curtains and a zoom out before the spotlight shines with the updated Just For Laughs logo.

FX/SFX: Live-action footage and 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A short piano ditty (which is the first ten notes of Just For Laughs' signature theme by Serge Fiori) that stops when Victor comes on screen, his dialogue, and another ditty as the curtains drop.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• A French version exists, wherein Victor has a much higher voice, and says his dialogue in French (now "MAMAN, C'EST FINIIII!").
• A different version had a pop sound, followed by the clicks and a ding sound when the word "TELEVISION" becomes red.

Availability: Common in Canada, seen on many older shows from the company, like Just For Laughs: Gags and some stand-up comedy shows.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (2010's-)

Logo: In a grayscale city, some green and red streaks fly through a set of skyscrapers. They meet and move into a neon billboard that lights up, containing the Just For Laughs logo in a green box with the horns of Victor from before. A byline reading "© [YEAR] JUSTE POUR RIRE TV INC." may appear below.

Variant:

• A version appears at the start of programs where "Presents" in a white script font appears under the logo.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some whooshes and the sounds of streetcars as the streaks fly, and the buzzing sound of a neon sign lighting with a gong as a crowd laughs.

Availability: Common in Canada, seen on programs like Just For Laughs: All Access.

Editor's Note: None.