Toronto commuters may soon need more than a PRESTO card for their next subway ride — they might also want to have a controversial opinion ready.
New York’s hugely popular internet talk show SubwayTakes is officially heading north, with comedian and host Kareem Rahma bringing the viral series to Toronto and the TTC.
The concept will remain delightfully simple: Rahma sits beside a commuter or celebrity on public transit, asks “So, what’s your take?”, and lets the conversation unfold from there.
New York Format, Toronto Opinions
Rahma confirmed that the Toronto edition will follow the same format that made the original series a social media phenomenon, only this time featuring Toronto personalities, commuters and plenty of local opinions.
And the first celebrity guest couldn’t be much more Canadian.
Mike Myers is set to appear on the Toronto edition, a fitting choice considering the Scarborough-born comedy legend has recently been spotted showing his affection for the city — including dancing inside Bloor-Yonge station.
The New York version has featured everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Javier Bardem to Spike Lee, Benny Blanco and Matty Matheson, alongside ordinary subway riders willing to defend their most questionable opinions.
Topics can be about practically anything. Previous guests have debated relationships, graffiti, food and social etiquette — including one particularly contentious argument that barbecue sauce deserves the title of the ultimate sauce.
A PRESTO Card Gets the SubwayTakes Treatment
There will also be one distinctly Toronto modification to the show’s signature setup.
In New York, Rahma famously conducts his interviews using a microphone attached to a MetroCard. For his Toronto episodes, the MetroCard will appropriately be replaced with a PRESTO card.
Rahma and his crew have already been riding the TTC while preparing for the series, and some Toronto fans have spotted him along the way.
One commuter apparently approached him with an especially local take already prepared: Fahmee Bakery’s famous Scarborough patties should become Canada’s national food.
That might be difficult to argue with.
Toronto Humour Takes Centre Stage
Beyond the subway itself, Rahma says Toronto’s distinctive sense of humour is one of the things he’s most excited to showcase.
He’s even developed his own nickname for Toronto residents: “Torrentinos.”
According to Rahma, Toronto humour can be deceptively subtle, with comments that initially sound completely ordinary before the joke lands a few seconds later. It’s a style he says feels noticeably different from the humour he’s encountered in New York, London or Chicago.
And with SubwayTakes attracting millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, Toronto’s particular brand of humour is about to get a very large international audience.
So the next time you step onto the TTC and notice a camera crew — or someone holding a microphone attached to a PRESTO card — choose your seat carefully.
You may be one question away from having to defend your hottest take to the internet.
Get involved.
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