#FIRSTLOOK: “HOW DID THIS GET MADE” LIVE AT DEPARTURE FESTIVAL + CONFERENCE 2025

By Justin Waldman

Last night, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the How Did This Get Made? live Podcast recording at Massey Hall, as part of Departure Festival + Conference 2025. The Podcast celebrates bad films and on this episode, they took a look at the absolutely indescribable farce that is Sylvester Stallone’s 1991 film, Oscar. This one of the most bizarre, hellish, insane things I’ve ever seen. The exact opposite of what I’d describe a HDTGM live show though, actually. And for someone who attended their first HDTGM show, I would absolutely return time and again at another opportunity, no matter how unlikely as though one audience member had to call out to June Diane Raphael “Why do you hate Toronto?”.

While Paul Scheer told us a story (we swore not to repeat the story and he made a note to get it edited out of the taping!) about 2017 film Governor Gabbi, the Podcast recording itself was insightful and engaging. They talked for about 45 minutes about the sheer madness of disastrous film Oscar, and a movie Stallone (according to an audience member who researched it) said is the second worst thing he’s done in his career behind 1992’S Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Rounding-out this Podcast trio is Jason Mantzoukas who is as unhinged as he is on all things he’s done and is most likely recognized from. This Fan Q&A and taping truly was a night that never to be forgotten!

Without wanting to ruin the Podcast episode before it airs, we won’t divulge into other information that Paul, June and Jason reveal during the taping. If you have never listened to How Did This Get Made? before, you easily will become a fan. This was truly magical witnessing this live!

#FIRSTLOOK: DEPARTURE FESTIVAL + CONFERENCE 2025 HIGHLIGHTS – MATTY MATHESON, TEGAN AND SARA, DALLAS GREEN, GRACE VANDERWAAL, “HOW DID THIS GET MADE?” AND MORE

The Departure Festival + Conference has officially taken flight in Toronto, running now through May 11, 2025. Having grown alongside Canadian Music Week, this reimagining of that 44-year Festival focuses on not only Music, by Comedy, Entertainment and Technology forming a hub for the likeminded. Based primarily out of Hotel X and venues surrounding the area, this inaugural edition of the Festival is lifted by some major starpower.

The Departure Honours Gala served to celebrate and honour Canadian creatives and Artists who have made significant impact through their work and coming to receive their flowers this year included chef and actor Matty Matheson, Dallas Green (also known as City and Color), along with presenters and performers Tegan and Sara, Jessie Reyez, Jully Black and so much more. Above this, names like Dave Chappelle, Grace VanderWaal, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, June Diane Raphael, and more have shows around town.

Some highlights from the Red Carpet, evening hosted by eTalk‘s Tyrone Edwards and Traci Melchor:

 

 

 

 

 

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Day One of the Festival kicked things off on a high note. Our Justin Waldman and Genevieve Walker sat-in on some fascinating talks with Music icons Bryan Adams and Shaggy as they reflected upon their careers and where they are today. Adams mentioned he’s recording a radio show for IHeart Radio which will be airing soon, setting-up a studio in his hotel suite while he was here. Shaggy who knows Toronto very well, talks about evolution of that Jamaican swag, and being an honourary Canadian having won a JUNO Award for his album HOT SHOT.

 

 

 

 

 

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Day Two was highlighted not only by the first ever DEPARTURE HONOURS Gala, but guests of the Festival got to attend in-conversations with Matty Matheson (treated to free Matty’s Patty‘s burgers, nonetheless), Dallas Green, and also duo Tegan and Sara focused their conversation on their Tegan and Sara Foundation. Later in the evening we were so lucky to catch Grace VanderWaal on her Childstar Tour at Great Hall where she delivered a spellbinding hour-long set, both stylized and polished.

 

 

 

 

 

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Justin Waldman will be checking-out HOW DID THIS GET MADE? Podcast at Massey Hall tomorrow night and we’ll be sure to deliver the highlights from this eagerly-awaited show! Be sure to check back!

(Photo/video credit: Justin Waldman/Genevieve Walker/Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: TORONTO’S JFL42 2019 FESTIVAL LINEUP

Running September 19 through 29, 2019, the right annual JFL42 Festival presented by SiriusXM is about to come to Toronto to lift us from those post-TIFF blues! This year is better than ever with a roster of talent that’s fresh and now including the likes of John Mulaney and Pete Davidson, Jonathan Van Ness, Gabrial Iglesias, Nick Kroll, Marc Maron, Eric Andre, How Did This Get Made and icon Carol Burnett all making their way to the City. The latter, just received earlier this year the inaugural Carol Burnett Award for Achievement in Television at the Golden Globe Awards. Her special event will be known as CAROL BURNETT: AN EVENING OF LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION.

The Festival also will feature In Conversations with the likes of Nick Kroll, Michael Rapaport, Steve-O and Cristela Alonzo, as part of the the Festival’s ComedyCon.

Passes go on sale Friday, June 7, 2019 10 AM and single tickets go on sale June 14 at 10:00 AM at www.jfl42.com.

 

(Photo credit: JFL42)