From his base in Ajax comedian Ryan Long was able to look across at the 6ix and see all those quirky Torontonianisms that make Canada’s Big Smoke so smokey hot. Long is the creator of the CBC online show, TORONTOPIA, moving into its third season. Five new episodes come online starting today, Wednesday May 15, 2019 and drop in weekly.

”Toronto has such a specific identity that is like nowhere else in the world. I became hyper aware of this when pitching sketches to the American website ‘Thehardtimes.net’, and sometimes people there wouldn’t really get the jokes that I thought were universal,” says Ryan.

“I would be like ‘you know how the bartenders all post on social media about when they are pouring drinks?’ and they would be like ‘No not really . . .’

And then I would realize ‘oooh this is a Toronto thing’. Toronto and the surrounding area is such a melting pot of cultures like no one else in the world, and I grew up in Ajax with a diverse friend group that all rubbed off on each other.

For example the skateboard kids and band dudes grew up around hip hop kids and everyone rubbed off on each other. This is why Toronto's hip-‐hop culture is very skateboard influenced and Toronto's band dudes are very urban. Even the small town hockey boys grew up listening to hip hop. The melting pot created a very specific culture where everyone grew up around each other and understands each other more than in any other city,” says Long.

From cars to bartenders to celebrities, Toronto has a ton to make fun of he says.

Long is currently the Head of Video at thehardtimes.net and also created and starred in Bite TV’s original TV Series ‘Ryan Long is Challenged’ nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards, and the award nominated TV series ‘Crown the Town with Ryan Long’ on Rogers TV. His pilot 'Blackwater Music' won the 'Fan Choice Award' at the CBC Comedy Coup, and in 2017 he was nominated for 'Director of the Year' at The Notable Awards. He was also the singer in The Johnstones.

Oh yes TO this is you!!