Season 2 of Killjoy Comedy subverts the status quo with laughs, starting July 25

Created by Vancouver’s Shana Myara, docuseries available for streaming on OUTtv.com highlights racialized and queer comedians

Killjoy Comedy Season 2 is available for streaming on OUTtv.com starting July 25

WHEN COMEDIAN MARK THOMSON and his husband moved to Vancouver from Toronto, they logged onto Grindr—but not because they were hoping to date other people. It was so they could meet friends to play Settlers of Catan with.

If that gives you a laugh, then we recommend checking out Killjoy Comedy, a docuseries that follows comedians as they reinterpret the meaning of the word “killjoy” as a badge of honour for folks who challenge the status quo. Season 2 of the series will be available for streaming on OUTtv.com from July 25 onward.

Thomson, who is featured in Episode 1, is a philosophy professor by day and artist by night. His career spans acting and writing as well as comedy; in the series, he shares stories about the time he spent as a “queer surf evangelist” while he was closeted. Beyond Killjoy Comedy, he has appeared in Chicago Fire on NBC and is a regular improviser at iO Theater in Chicago.

The other new-gen comedians—who all identify as racialized, queer, or queer allies—that star in the docuseries are Jackie Hoffart, Marito Lopez, Niki Mohrdar, Joanne Tsung, and duo Baby Syrup (Karla Monterrosa and Cassie Barradas). In each episode, a different artist spotlights how they use their platform for change within the comedy world.

Killjoy Comedy was created, produced, and directed by Vancouver’s Shana Myara, a queer artist, filmmaker, and writer of North African descent. The series was inspired by her work with the late Canadian comedian Candy Palmater, who was known for her own series The Candy Show and her role on Trailer Park Boys. Myara’s first documentary, Well Rounded, was named one of 20 queer films to watch in 2020 by Vogue.

Season 1 of Killjoy Comedy was released in 2023. It’s available for streaming across platforms while you wait for Season 2 to drop.

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Emily Lyth

Emily Lyth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who graduated from Langara College’s Journalism program. Her decade of dance training and passion for all things food-related are the foundation of her love for telling arts, culture, and community stories.

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