Just For Laughs launches a YouTube channel featuring unseen clips of famous comedians

Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival has provided a platform for young comedians to strut their stuff for many years now, and almost all of it is on tape. Inevitably, some of those fresh-faced up-and-comers went on to hit the big time, and thus the folks at JFL have teamed up with Maker Studios to launch a YouTube channel featuring early stand-up performances from some of today’s biggest acts. The clips go as far back as 1987 and feature the likes of Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Mitch Hedberg, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., and more before they were famous.

Starting today, the channel will post videos three times a week, eventually posting more than 500 hours of footage. The channel also plans on expanding to include original material from more current Just For Laughs festivals. Start with a 1998 performance from Mitch Hedberg below, and see more clips on the JFL YouTube channel.