A Talk with Angelo Tsarouchas and Derek Seguin

Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas is returning to his native Montreal next month for two reasons. First of all, he is yearning to return to his hometown because he can’t get his favorite Greek baked goods in L.A., where he currently lives.

“I wish there was a good Greek bakery in L.A.; those knock-off Greek bakeries run by Mexicans just doesn’t do it for me,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I guess you could say I’m coming soon to a depanneur near you.”

The other reason heralding Tsarouchas’ prodigal return to Montreal is that he will be performing for the second time at Just For Laughs’ Ethnic Show: Ethnical Difficulties, which will play at the Metropolis from July 17-23. Joining Tsarouchas in this United Nations of comedy will be host Maz Jobrani, Elon Gold, Mike Marino, Paul Varghese and Erik Griffin.

“I’m very excited to be working the Ethnic Show once again, because it’s a great line-up. I’ve worked with many of these comics before, and I am glad to be together with them next month in Montreal. It’s one of the best shows at the fest hands down,” he said.

Angelo Tsarouchas

Tsarouchas, who made his festival debut 10 years ago and is currently married with a two-year-old daughter, admits that growing up Greek in Montreal meant growing up in a tight knit community where the people grew with you, and was a place where you can maintain your Greek language and heritage, which is similar with the Greek communities in Melbourne, Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Montreal is the only place in Canada where members of the Greek community speak three languages. I also miss celebrating Easter in Montreal, especially in Laval, where you could always see a lamb roasting on a spit at practically every house in the neighborhood around Easter time,” said Tsarouchas. “I can always go back to Park Avenue, visit friends and pick up where I left off; it’s like I never left the neighborhood.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Greek, Jewish, Italian or Portuguese; we’re all Montrealers and we always have a sense of pride in our respective communities. And if you leave Montreal, you always miss Montreal, because they always complain about the same things, such as they can’t get a good pizza, souvlaki or bagel where they live now,” he added.

And Tsarouchas never minded being known as a Greek comedian, and admitted that he never originally placed the Greek label upon himself, but everyone else did. “I never called myself a Greek comedian; I was more worried about being labeled as unemployed,” he said. “At one point, I was even told to change my name. But after ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ became a hit, I was told not to change my name, and I’m glad I didn’t, because it would have meant changing who I was and dishonouring my Greek heritage. It’s not a bad thing being known as the Greek guy.”

When he’s not touring around the world with his Greek tinged stand-up act, Tsarouchas has been doing his shared of movie and TV appearances, including “Mad Men” (during its Golden Globe Award-winning season, in which he was seen as a nightclub bouncer), “Sullivan and Son”, “Cinderella Man” and “Fred and Vinnie”, in which his performance earned him many critical accolades and awards. Right now, Tsarouchas is in development with actor Vince Vaughn’s company and the CTV network for a new sitcom that’s tentatively called “The Angelo Show”.

And top of all those accomplishments, Tsarouchas steadfastly maintains his Greek ties these days, as he cheers on the Greece soccer team at this year’s World Cup (in fact, he was in the middle of watching the Ivory Coast-Japan match throughout our interview). “I’m a big soccer fan, and I am looking forward to watching the Greece-Japan match in a few days; however, if Greece loses, I am going to commit hari-kari and never eat sushi again,” he admitted.

By the way, Angelo, the way the Greek team has been progressing in the World Cup so far, you won’t have to hang up your chopsticks, soya sauce and wasabi so quickly … and please put away that hari-kari knife!

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Derek Seguin

After impressing the audience at last year’s “dirty gala” with Whitney Cummings, Montreal comic Derek Seguin was selected to perform for the first time at Just For Laugh’s mega successful “The Nasty Show”, which plays at Club Soda from July 9-13 and at Metropolis from July 24-26. He will be part of the line-up that will include Ari Shaffir, Kurt Metzger, Hailey Boyle and host Bobby Slayton, the “Pit Bull of Comedy” himself.

“I am honoured, flattered and super excited to perform at the Nasty Show for the first time, and joining such a great line-up including Ari Shaffir, who I find more nastier than me,” said Seguin in a recent phone interview.

Seguin admitted that the overwhelming popularity of the Nasty Show year after year is due to the fact that it’s a show where anything goes, and that everyone has a little pervert inside of them. “People are always curious about how far the moral compass will allow them to take,” he added.

“I am not a shock comic. I just tell my stories earnestly and hope everyone likes it,” admits Seguin.

Seguin, who prefers the traditional American stand-up comedy style and is a big fan of Louis C.K., Bill Burr, Jim Jeffries, Derek Edwards, Mike Wilmot and the late Richard Pryor (“he is a God-like creature”), got his start in comedy while he was working as an advertising executive, when he was introduced to Montreal comic Kevin Gasior during a Christmas party. Shortly afterwards, at the age of 31, Seguin did his first open mic night. What originally was supposed to be a hobby became a career by 2008, and Seguin began appearing regularly as a headliner at many of the Yuk Yuk’s clubs, and performed across the country alongside some of the top comics in Canada, such as Russell Peters, Sugar Sammy, Mike Macdonald and Jeremy Hotz.

“I am very lucky to be put into a position where my dreams are coming true,” said Seguin. “Imagine that … I can make money and support my wife, three kids, an ex-wife and pay for a house by just talking about my dick!”

For more information about the Ethnic Show, the Nasty Show, or any other Just For Laughs show – or to purchase tickets – check out their website at www.hahaha.com.