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

👉 If you enjoyed this, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments.

👉 Visit www.tplmedia.ca

🔗 Links:

www.tplmedia.ca

Pillars: Happiness

#JayMartin #tplmedia #comedy