Chatting with Dave Merheje about Just For Laughs 40

After 2 years of not covering comedy shows, the Mob is back at Just For Laughs for their 40th-anniversary festival. We are so excited to get back into the laughter, the chats and sharing with Montreal the fantastic Canadian talent that awaits them this summer.

I was super happy to catch up with someone I’ve watched grow as I have in the past 10 years. He has always made me laugh and, from the first time I saw him perform, I knew he would be a star.

Dave co-stars alongside Ramy Youssef and Mo Amer in the award-winning comedy series Ramy on Hulu. As a stand-up, Dave has made multiple appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, JFL42 in Toronto, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Halifax Comedy Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Australia, and tours clubs and theatres regularly.

In 2018 Dave released his comedy special “Good Friend Bad Grammar” which is available on Amazon Prime, and won the 2019 Juno Award for Comedy Album of the year. His most recent comedy special, Beautifully Manic, can be seen on Netflix as part of Comedians of the World, right now.

You won Homegrown in 2011 and now in 2022, you have your own amongst others. How does it feel?

It feels like the hard work, time and effort I put in paid off. To be there the first time and win Homegrown was a dream come true. To come back now and have my own show amongst many others, I really feel a part of the Just For laughs Family. It feels great.

How did you keep your juices flowing during the pandemic? What was it like coming out of the pandemic and getting back on stage?

During the pandemic, I was very depressed. I am sure many went through the same. I was not one of those comics that did the Zoom or virtual shows. It just wasn’t for me. I need the audience to feed on. So it was very tough for me. Getting back on the stage was easy. I had my few nervous moments the first time but in no time I was back on stage performing like my old self.

Congratulations on Ramy renewing for a third season. You also have two acting projects on the way, “Sometimes I think of dying” and “Valara”. What has acting brought to your comedy and what has stand-up brought to your acting?

The acting was something I always wanted to do so getting this role in Ramy was amazing. Now with two more acting projects on the way, it feels like I have accomplished a big goal.

I guess you can say that stand-up comedy gave me that grit and thick skin to approach acting with no fear. Acting can be challenging as there is the camera, no live audience and lines to remember so the work is different.

Which comedians are you looking forward to seeing after a 2-year hiatus from comedy summer camp?

The people I am doing the Just For the Culture show are some of my faves. The host Alonzo Boden is fire and I love his comedy.

A show for people to come and watch is LOWKEY Comedy Show. This will be Paul Elia and myself just riffing at Theatre Saint Catherine. This is gonna be a really fun show.

If you could describe your comedy as a type of cookie, what type of cookie would it be?

It would have to be an Oreo. If you are not down with Oreos, we can’t talk. Oreos are fire!

You can catch Dave Merheje at this year’s Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal at many different shows. See below for details. And remember to bring Oreos.

ALL ABOUT DAVE AT THE FESTIVAL HERE

Award-winning comedian, Dave Merheje has conquered the comedy scene with his “no fear” stage presence and style best described as aggressive in-your-face-funny. Catch Dave perform his new show, Summer Love Habibi Volume 3 on the JFL stage. JULY 26th & 28th – BUY TICKETS HERE

LowKey Comedy Show is an indoor/outdoor comedy show created by comedians Paul Elia & Matt Rife. The show was birthed during the coronavirus pandemic in a direct response to the halting of live entertainment. LowKey was the first live, socially distanced comedy show in the entertainment capital and featured some of the world’s top comedic talent like Bill Burr, Tom Segura, Ramy Youssef, Ali Wong, and Iliza Shlesinger to name a few. Since their first show in July 2020, LowKey has done over 50 outdoor shows all over the SoCal including indoor theaters in Palm Springs, Detroit, and Beirut Lebanon. JULY 30th at 11:59 – BUY YOUR TICKET HERE

Just for The Culture (formerly known as The Ethnic Show) is a complete celebration of diversity, inclusion and funny people. You’ll laugh as a variety of comedians take the stage to talk from their perspective about what culture means to them. Hosted by Alonzo Boden and featuring Dave Merheje, Jessica Kirson, Paul Rabliauskas, Sheng Wang, Yannis Pappas and Zainab Johnson! JULY 13th to JULY 28th – BUY TICKETS HERE

Join host & Canadian comedy legend Rick Mercer and take a hilarious look at what it means to be Canadian, as Comedy Night in Canada welcomes top comedians from coast to coast! These comedians may eat ketchup chips or poutine, use the metric system, and spell colour with a “u” but they all speak the universal language of funny! Rick will be accompanied by Dave Merheje, Eman El-Husseini, Ivan Decker, Salma Hindy and Sophie Buddle.
JULY 29th at 7PM – BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE