Photo: instagram
He's known for his fast-paced talking.
By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Jan 30, 2019
Comedians of the World on Netflix premiered on January 1st and is receiving rave reviews. The series features 30-minute stand-up acts from 47 different comics, hailing from all over the globe, including India, the Middle East, Australia, France, and the UK. What’s even more unique is that Netflix offers subtitles for all the routines that aren’t in English, giving viewers even more insight into the perspectives of these comics and what life is like in their home countries.
But what specials should you watch first? You may want to start with Louis-José Houde. Known for his fast-paced speech and thought patterns, he’s been described as versatile and charismatic, and is “recognized especially for the precision of his texts and his perfect timing... a master in the art of hilarious metaphor.” As a national treasure of Quebec, we’re curious about the man behind the mic.
So, just who is Louis-José Houde? Here are five things to know about where he’s from, his career so far, and his comedy style.
1. He’s from Canada.
Houde was born in Saint-Apollinaire, Québec, but he speaks French. He graduated from Quebec’s École nationale de l'humour, a school that provides professional training for comedy, in 1998.
2. He’s been on four tours.
He’s been doing stand-up for some time and has had numerous shows across the country. In 2002, he toured his first self-titled show; in 2007, he toured with his second one-man show, Follow the Parade; in 2012, he performed his third show, Les heures verticales; in 2017, he performed his fourth show, Préfère Novembre, at the Montreal Olympia.
It seems he has quite a knack for selling out shows, especially the number of tickets he sold during all four of his one-man routines. He’s also performed at Grand Point-Virgule in Paris many times over the years.
3. He’s appeared on television.
Houde has appeared as a guest on Fun Noir, hosted by Normand Brathwaite, and had roles in Dollaraclip, Bon Cop, Bad Cop, De père en cop, Le sense de l'humor, and De père en flic. He also had his own television show and hosted two TV shows on Radio-Canada: Louis-José Houde: à suivre, and Ici Louis-José Houde. He’s acted as the host of the Gala de l'ADISQ for nine consecutive years.
4. He’s received numerous awards.
In 2003, he won a Felix Award for Comic Show of the Year. And in 2014, he won another Felix Award for Comic Show on DVD of the Year.
5. He’s currently on tour.
Through July, Houde will be touring all over Canada, performing in Montreal, Quebec, Saint-Jérôme, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, Rivière-du-Loup, Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, and Gatineau.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.