New | Amir Said | CBC News | Posted: May 5, 2025 11:00 AM | Last Updated: Just now

Comedy Monday Night ends on high note after 20 years

After two decades of hijinks, a staple of Western Canada's comedy scene has come to a close in Calgary.

Open-mic comedy show Comedy Monday Night has welcomed everybody from first-time comics to Hollywood stars since founder James Moore's first show in 2005.

The last of nearly a thousand open-mic nights wrapped last month after a 20th anniversary event, with fans packing the downtown pub Modern Love — longtime home of Comedy Monday Night since it was formerly known as Broken City — to celebrate the show's success.

"It was a perfect ending, because I didn't tell anybody that was the last show, I just told them it was the 20th anniversary," said Moore who was interviewed last week on CBC Radio's the Calgary Eyeopener.

"Everybody showed up here for a celebration, not a funeral. And so at the very end of the show, I thanked everybody, and I pulled the ripcord and I'm now drifting off into the sunset."

Comedy Monday Night played a pivotal role in shaping Calgary's live comedy scene. It's featured the likes of Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk, as well as a surprise show from The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis

When Galifianakis first introduced himself, Moore had no idea who he was.

"I looked at him and he didn't look like Brad from The Hangover," said Moore. "He lost a lot of weight, he cut his beard real close."

After vetting Galifianakis's identity, he welcomed the Between Two Ferns host on stage for what was bound to be the venue's most high-profile show.

"Comedians have been wondering what it takes to get a walk-on spot at Comedy Monday Night, and last night that question was answered: $10 billion box office and three pieces of ID," joked Moore, quoting fellow comedian Chris Griffin.

Comedy Monday Night has also been a place for newbies to hone their craft and in many cases even take the stage for the first time.

"We've been very fortunate on the talent development side, because there was a lot of kids who perceived this as a really good opportunity to get into comedy," said Moore.

Among those success stories is Calgary comedian Spencer Streichert, who has gone on to open for big names in the industry like Jim Jefferies and Kenny Hotz.

"I've learned from the best," said Streichert.

Everyone who stepped on stage at Comedy Monday Night received the same rundown, Streichert said, no matter their experience. New comedians were taguht about how to hold the mic, where to look for the light and stage etiquette.

"[Moore] made sure that everybody that was getting on stage was as professional as possible so that the show, even though it had a lot of amateurs on it, would be a very professional show," said Streichert.

Moore's dedication certainly paid off, as Comedy Monday Night leaves behind a dedicated fanbase and a lasting imprint on Calgary's comedy scene.

"It didn't matter if you were a professional headliner or an open mic-er," said Streichert. "Everybody came here and it was a true testing ground of if you were funny, because the crowd would be hot, but you still had to be funny."