Not only is Jeremy Friedmann truly hilarious, he also helps us make Funnies for Families better. At the end of every show we have a debrief with our volunteers to check in, Jeremy Friedmann always offers insightful and genuine feedback that we’re happy to put to good use! He makes the kids laugh just as much as the parents and we’re thankful to have him as a volunteer.

Check out our interview with Jeremy Friedmann below!

1. What is your favourite thing about volunteering with Funnies?

I should probably say something about the rewarding experience of bringing laughter to people that might be going through a tough time, but honestly, it’s the chaos. Where else can you be doing improv and have a 5 year old dump out a box of toys right in the middle of the stage? Or have your scene try to compete for attention with the unbridled joy a kid gets just running around the room and jumping onto things? It’s truly the best.

2. What do you do outside of volunteering?

I’m a writer and occasional performer, a partner in a small production company, and a pretty good cook. I also recently took a wedding cake and pastry class even though I don’t really like cake. I’ll take a pie over a cake any day.

3. What is the best thing about the holidays?

Well, not to get stuck on one subject, but I think it’s probably the pies. Thanksgiving and Christmas are obviously big pie holidays, but you can actually celebrate any holiday with a pie. Next Arbour Day don’t just plant a tree, bake a pie.

4. Does your family have any holiday traditions?

My family was never particularly religious, but we were hungry. And so, we tend to celebrate holidays with food. For us, being Jewish and from Montreal, Chanukah meant one thing: smoked meat. We’d buy a whole smoked brisket from Schwartz’s (the famed Montreal Deli). Then we’d steam the brisket at home and eat smoked meat sandwiches with our family and friends. And on the side, or for the vegetarians, we’d also make latkes with applesauce and sour cream. Then for dessert, if we were lucky, my grandmother’s legendary peach pie.

5. Who are your favorite comedians? Let’s say top three. Local or beyond.

This is tough because I love so many people’s comedy that my list would be different every time you ask me… plus it’s going to be hard to bring this question back to pie. But for now, I’ll say Jon Glaser is a guy who makes the best weirdest tv shows that make me laugh the hardest. “Delocated” about a guy in the witness protection program who has his own reality show is maybe my favourite thing ever.

Nicole Byer’s confidence and energy radiate through everything she does, especially on her baking competition show “Nailed It!” where she has to eat bad cakes (and not good pies). Locally, someone who consistently impresses me with her creativity, drive, and commitment to even the silliest bit, is Moniquea Marion, who I’m lucky enough to work with on “Good News, Toronto!” (at Comedy bar the last Friday of every month). In Moniquea’s one woman Fringe show, “Glorious Loser,” she played 25 characters in an hour, including a running character named “the Pie Guy” who talked about pie, which is something I could really relate to.

All pie aside, it’s an honour to be named the volunteer of the month, but really just being a part of Funnies for Families has been so great. You can always tell how happy the families are to have us there, and the shows are just so much fun to do. I love it.

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That’s our interview with Jeremy! To find out how you can join him and volunteer with Funnies for Families, click here.