Ismo Leikola


Ismo Leikola, sometimes known just as ISMO, is a Finnish stand-up comedian.

Career

In 2002, Leikola started his comedy career in Finland. He wrote and starred in two seasons of his own sitcom, ISMO. He filmed three DVD specials from 2008 to 2016, and has sold out numerous concert halls and theatres across the UK and Finland. He has been gaining attention at the biggest comedy festivals around the world, including Just for Laughs in Montreal, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. In 2018, he debuted his one-man show "Words Apart" at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Leikola made his US debut in 2014 at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, where he won the title of "The Funniest Person in the World." In 2015, he moved to Los Angeles and performs regularly at the Laugh Factory, the Comedy and Magic Club, the Melrose Improv and the Ice House. He has appeared on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly and became the first Finnish comedian to perform on Conan in 2018. In 2019, he competed in the American reality television comedy competition series Bring the Funny, making it to the second round. Leikola is unique in how he uses his outsider's point of view to find humor in the most ordinary things.
Leikola has written and co-written sketches and jokes for TV, and a play for theatre. Aside from his comedy writings, he also writes occasional columns for several newspapers.

Gigs around the world

Finland

Six times winner of the Audience Favourite Comedian Award at the largest annual stand-up festival in Finland.
Best Newcomer 2003.

Abroad

In December 2015, Leikola moved with his wife to Los Angeles, California.