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Comedy Got Softer? ft. Dave Merheje & Jean Paul
Comedy changed — and comedians felt it.
From Toronto grind days to cancel culture, this gets brutally honest.
In this episode, we break down:
- Jay Martin sits down with Jean Paul and Dave Merheje for a deep conversation on Canadian comedy, stand-up writing, Just for Laughs, comedy festivals, hip-hop influences, cancel culture, and what it takes to survive in the entertainment industry
- The guests reflect on coming up through Toronto’s stand-up scene, building their voice, handling difficult peers, evolving as performers, and the balance between authenticity, risk, and audience sensitivity
- They also share their comedy Mount Rushmore, discuss Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin, Chris Rock, and highlight comedians they believe are next to break out
- Hosts: Jay Martin
- Guests: Jean Paul, Dave Merheje
Fresh off Juno-related appearances and years of experience across stand-up, television, writing, and live performance, Jean Paul and Dave Merheje bring sharp insight into the evolution of comedy in Canada and beyond.
This episode is a strong watch for anyone interested in stand-up comedy, comedian mindset, writing process, entertainment culture, and the changing rules of modern performance.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro and guest welcome
- 00:58 Jean Paul and Dave Merheje introduce themselves
- 02:01 Early Toronto comedy scene memories
- 07:03 Dave Merheje on writing, nerves, and improvisation
- 09:44 How cultural background shaped their comedy
- 13:02 Has comedy changed after COVID and cancel culture?
- 18:18 Hip-hop, music, and performance influence
- 20:39 The road to Just for Laughs and comedy festivals
- 25:00 Difficult people and egos in the comedy business
- 32:03 Comedy GOATs and Mount Rushmore picks
- 40:04 Comedians on the come up
- 44:32 Outro
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