Since his series stopped production in 2008, Jon Dore has started making a name for himself south of the border. After starring for two seasons in one of the funniest Canadian series of all time, the aptly named The Jon Dore Television Show, which still airs on the Comedy Network, Dore uprooted himself and started anew in Hollywood.
But it's a slow process, he admits, even though his hilariously outrageous program is running on the IFC in the States and he had a guest-starring role as a mugger/ zookeeper on an episode of CBS's How I Met Your Mother. Touring comedy clubs across the U.S., he estimates that over the course of a typical weekend, eight to 10 people might have seen him on TV and come out to see him for that reason. The rest are just out for a night of anonymous comedy.
"It's kinda fun," the 11-year comedy vet says on the phone from his home in Los Angeles. "In a weird way it's kinda like headlining for the first time again."
It may be fun but it's not always easy. Last weekend in Michigan, for example, was the worst experience of his standup career.
"They were probably the most unruly crowds that I've ever performed in front of in my entire life," he says. "I almost hit my breaking point. Every show had a stagette that had something to yell out. They were texting, yelling, there was music blaring in. Michigan nearly broke me. It was a genuine nightmare. I just couldn't believe the disrespect these human beings had. Just unbelievable."
So you can bet Ottawa native is looking forward to coming home this weekend. To Canada, that is. It doesn't matter where. In a special Global ComedyFest Encore presentation, Dore plays the Cultch tonight then heads to New West for four shows over two nights at Lafflines on Friday and Saturday.
"There's good and bad with everything, but yeah, Canada's definitely a more comfortable place to perform," Dore says. "Don't get me wrong; I love performing in the States but it just feels like this is home. You go to Vancouver, it's a familiar scenario, you know anything you say isn't going to be misconstrued and fans of the TV show seem to want to come out."
Besides, he says, "I really like the venue. The Cultch? I mean, it's a cultural centre! People are coming because they want to see culture."
Not that he won't bring a certain class to the Cultch or Lafflines, but like his persona on stage, Dore is a master of the earnest poker-faced lie. In fact, he himself will admit to a crowd that the first lie he ever told was on board the Space Shuttle. Some of his jokes are harmless ditties like that one while he can also get quite dark ( "I treated my grandfather like royalty. Which means, yes, I killed him in a car crash"), but for him the joke, not the truth, is always king.
While a movement is afoot in comedy for personal, raw storytelling, Dore refreshingly keeps us at a distance. We never get to know the man behind the beard.
"My beard has nothing to do with comedy," he deadpans. "It has something to do with the fact that I'm hiding something. Oh yeah, there are secrets that I'll go to the grave with, for sure. Pardon me, I'm going to be cremated. Go to the urn with."
But, he isn't as cocky as he appears. He admits he's an over-thinker, constantly concerned about the expectations of the crowd.
"I want the show to go well," he says. "If they get unruly, I get worried. Then it's like, okay, how do I control this crowd? If the middle act does really well and they're in love with them, how do I change the pace a little bit?"
He might have reason to torment himself this week when his opener will be fellow Canadian and former Vancouverite Lynn Shawcroft, who, despite having done standup herself for over a decade is probably best known for being the widow of the legendary Mitch Hedberg.