Debra DiGiovanni
Encyclopedia
Debra DiGiovanni is a Canadian stand-up comedian
of Italian descent originally from Tillsonburg, Ontario
.
Her comedy career began with the help of Humber College's inaugural year of their Comedy Writing and Performance course, in 2000 and has since been nominated for the coveted Tim Sims Comedy Encouragement Award in 2002. In the same year she won the Canadian Comedy Award for the Best Stand-up Newcomer in Stand Up. In 2003, NOW magazine named her headline show as the 3rd Best of the Year. She taped her Comedy Now Special for CTV in the summer of 2004 and in 2005 was nominated for Best Female Stand up. 2005 was her first appearance Just For Laughs Festival where she was invited on a cross Canada tour opening for Russell Peters.
Presently, she is a sought after headliner and accomplished voice performer. Debra can also be heard on CBC radio on The Debaters
as well as being a favourite judge on the popular MuchMusic
show Video on Trial
and its spinoff Stars on Trial
.
She appeared in the fifth season of Last Comic Standing
. By winning an audition in Montreal, she was selected to participate in a semifinal qualifying round in Hollywood, making it to the top 10 finalist. She participated in the show until she was eliminated and placed 8th.
She hosted the 2007 Canadian New Media Awards and the 2007 Canadian Comedy Awards
in 2007, she also won the Best Female Comedian at the Canadian Comedy Awards. In July 2008 she appeared on eTalk
, interviewing contestants on the sixth season
of Canadian Idol
. She also hosted the Genie Awards alongside Sandra Oh
and also hosted one night of the Gemini Award
s in 2008. She recently completed two seasons of the Slice network's Plastic Makes Perfect.
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
of Italian descent originally from Tillsonburg, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Her comedy career began with the help of Humber College's inaugural year of their Comedy Writing and Performance course, in 2000 and has since been nominated for the coveted Tim Sims Comedy Encouragement Award in 2002. In the same year she won the Canadian Comedy Award for the Best Stand-up Newcomer in Stand Up. In 2003, NOW magazine named her headline show as the 3rd Best of the Year. She taped her Comedy Now Special for CTV in the summer of 2004 and in 2005 was nominated for Best Female Stand up. 2005 was her first appearance Just For Laughs Festival where she was invited on a cross Canada tour opening for Russell Peters.
Presently, she is a sought after headliner and accomplished voice performer. Debra can also be heard on CBC radio on The Debaters
The Debaters
The Debaters is a Canadian radio comedy show hosted by Steve Patterson. It airs on CBC Radio One Saturdays at 1:00PM and Wednesdays at 11:30AM ....
as well as being a favourite judge on the popular MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
show Video on Trial
Video On Trial
Video on Trial is a Canadian comedy television program that airs on Canadian television network MuchMusic. The show consists of a panel of musicians, comedians, and entertainment columnists critiquing five different music videos in a courtroom-esque manner. The panel acts as the jurors, poking fun...
and its spinoff Stars on Trial
Stars On Trial
Stars on Trial is a MuchMusic television special based on the MuchMusic television program Video on Trial. It premiered in late December 2005, as part of the network's annual "Holiday Wrap." Stars on Trial uses basically the same concept as Video on Trial...
.
She appeared in the fifth season of Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
. By winning an audition in Montreal, she was selected to participate in a semifinal qualifying round in Hollywood, making it to the top 10 finalist. She participated in the show until she was eliminated and placed 8th.
She hosted the 2007 Canadian New Media Awards and the 2007 Canadian Comedy Awards
Canadian Comedy Awards
The Canadian Comedy Awards, founded by , are an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live, Radio, Film, Television and Internet media over the previous year...
in 2007, she also won the Best Female Comedian at the Canadian Comedy Awards. In July 2008 she appeared on eTalk
ETalk
etalk is a Canadian entertainment news show hosted by Ben Mulroney and Tanya Kim. It airs weekdays weeknights at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, at 1:30 p.m. ET on CTV Two and at 6 p.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET on E!...
, interviewing contestants on the sixth season
Canadian Idol (season 6)
The sixth season of Canadian Idol is the sixth and final installation of the Idol series in Canada and premiered on June 3, 2008, on the CTV Television Network. It is again hosted by Ben Mulroney, with the addition of Jully Black as a special correspondent and general mentor to the contestants....
of Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
. She also hosted the Genie Awards alongside Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh is a Canadian actress. She is best known for the role of Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, for which she has won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. She also played notable roles in the feature films Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways, and had a supporting role on the...
and also hosted one night of the Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
s in 2008. She recently completed two seasons of the Slice network's Plastic Makes Perfect.