Comedy Clash: Canada vs USA

Toronto Underground Cinema erupted with laughter Saturday night, as some of the best comedians in North America battled for top joker at the first-ever Canada vs. USA Comedy Clash event.

The Canadian crew was represented by comedy heavyweight, Jay Martin, as team captain, along with Dave Merheje, Jean Paul and Arthur Simeon.
Team USA, which consisted of Dave Lester, Dino Vigo and John Moses, finally arrived after being detained at the border for two hours. Comedian Chris Clarke was not able to make it across the border, and was then replaced with Rochester, New York comic, Zack Johnson.

One by one, the eight jokers performed their sets, as the audience members graded each comedian by applause, on style and ability to make them laugh, in order to distinguish who was the better team — Canada or the USA. “There`s competition tonight? Where?” Martin joked about his American opponents.

Continuous laughter echoed through the cinema, as the comedians poked fun at one another, themselves and a few audience members. Windsor-born Dave Merheje had the crowd roaring with his imitation of Drake, while funnyman, Jean Paul humourously recounted his trips to Jamaica.

Many of the jokesters tackled serious issues in their set as well. Arthur Simeon fought against stereotyping and racism with his witty humour and Dino Vigo joked about living in a priority neighbourhood and gang violence.

Part of the proceeds for the event was donated to Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), which was a relatable cause to many of the comedians.

“CAMH is very dear to me, because I think mental health needs to be recognized,” explains Martin, adding that laughter is a powerful healing aid for depression. “I think it’s a real illness, especially depression. I used to suffer from it myself, so I feel like I’m kind of giving back to help a cause to help people like me. Luckily, I had comedy to help get me through mine. Hopefully, it can inspire some other people.”

Martin used his humour as a way to relieve the stress of childhood and adolescent traumas, and says that he doesn’t know where he would be today if it wasn’t for comedy.

Toronto-born comedian, John Moses, who later moved to Brooklyn to pursue his career, shared that many people in his family use the services at CAMH and he applauds the organization, while describing the importance of comedy. “I’ve got a cousin that’s an emergency doctor, and I like to kid that I’m doing more healing than he is,” he says.

At the end of the night, neither team Canada nor team USA was crowned winner of the comedy clash, but instead, the honour went to those who came out to support the event.

“I think the winner ultimately is the audience because you guys get to just laugh at Canadian humour and American humour,” says Martin.

Saturday night marked the first round of the tour, as the Canada vs. USA Comedy Clash show heads to Montreal and Hamilton.