Comedians of the World Season 2 Episode 3 Dave Merheje
- January 1, 2019
COMEDIANS of the world is back for its second season, inviting some of the most hilarious stand-up comics from around the globe to grace the stage with their unique styles of comedy. The third episode of the season features the Lebanese-Canadian comedian Dave Merheje.
Merheje's stand up performances are known for their high energy, boldness, and irreverence. He touches on a wide range of topics - from his Middle Eastern heritage to his life as a Canadian. Merheje is a master at constructing his jokes with razor-sharp precision and delivering them with perfect timing. He has his way of making even the most mundane things about everyday life laughable.
The episode opens with Merheje marching on stage wearing his iconic white suit and black shirt in flashy, mob-boss fashion. He starts with a series of jokes about how his mother's dreams of having a successful son have been tarnished by his decision to become a comedian - a profession which he refers to as a 'circus monkey.' The audience chuckles at his quips about initially using standup as a stress relieving exercise rather than a career option. He then moves on to discuss his identity crisis as a middle-eastern Canadian, how he experiences discrimination due to his racial appearance, and the balance he tries to strike between both cultures. Furthermore, he examines Toronto's diversity, describing it as a city where everyone is from every other country, and how he wished it only existed inside a postcard.
Merheje's set is a perfect blend of jokes about his life in Toronto, his dysfunctional family, his relationship with his girlfriend, and his experiences during his travels. He makes light of the conflict between the way he sees himself as an artist versus how his family sees him as a disappointment for not having a high paying job like his siblings. He also pokes fun at the side effects of taking psychedelics, describing a scenario in which he microdoses psilocybin to deal with his anxiety only to be confronted by the ghosts of his ancestors poking at him with a stick.
Merheje's set isn't for the politically correct audience, as he peppers his jokes with profanity, dark themes, risqué sexual references, and gallows humor. But despite this, the comedian's antics land flawlessly with the diverse audience, often leaving them gasping and laughing out loud in equal measure.
The audience's reaction is contagious; they're consistently inflicting their high doses of belly laughter to Merheje. It's never clear cutting enough to know if the comedian is willing to go that far due to his performance prowess or the audience themselves. Regardless, both showcase their impressive strengths in their respective roles.
Merheje finishes his set with a rousing finale that involves him insulting himself multiple times to the point where it's not clear if he has any self-worth at all, but in some weird, messed-up way, his insults are meta-jokes that are still funny to the audience.
Overall, COMEDIANS of the world season 2 episode three featuring Dave Merheje does not disappoint, both for fans of the genre and for those who are into diverse, free-flowing humor. He is a versatile comedian that can fill any room with his infectious energy and clever jokes. The audience will definitely enjoy watching him as he performs in all his glory.
