Jeff Paul is a Toronto comic whose grandmother once described his act as “absolute filth,” which is probably the most accurate review he’s ever gotten. He’s been doing this long enough to remember Puff Mama’s Underground Comedy Club, a legendary Toronto room that ran on no liquor licence, a leaky ceiling, and a permanent hotbox before weed was legal, and he’ll tell you some of the greatest shows this city has ever seen happened there.

How would you describe your comedy style?

To quote my grandmother (RIP), my comedy could be described as “Absolute Filth”

Who are some of your influences?

Alcohol, weed, the occasional mushroom trip. Nothing too hard though. I did try MDMA for my 1st time recently – will do again!

Who was your favourite comedian growing up?

I loved Chris Rock in the 90s, but in retrospect I think it may have just been his gratuitous use of the N word.

Who is your favourite comedian now?

Is Carlos Mencia still at it?

What is your pre-show ritual?

For local shows, I usually just walk to the venue with a beer and a joint. Road gigs are the same but just in the car.

What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?

Puff Mama’s Underground Comedy Club was a magical place. Long before weed was legal, that place was hotboxed every night. It was a pirate ship, booze with no licence, leaky ceiling, no heat in the winter and some of the greatest shows Toronto has ever seen.

It’s closed down now, but some say Savio still lurks in the shadows disguised as a chair with sunglasses.

What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?

I’ve got this one about emptying a used condom onto my wife’s chest, and one time I heard my mom say from the crowd, “I hate this fucking joke”

What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?

I actually GO to comedy clubs, something most of you reading this have not done in a long time. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GO SUPPORT LIVE COMEDY.

Tell us a joke about your city.

The TTC decided to take the night off last week so I was walking home down Queen street in Toronto, passed an entire block of closed up shops, when I tripped over a homeless man overdosing from fentanyl on the sidewalk and then some rich douchebag in a Tesla powered by his own self worth laughed at me out his window and called me the F word….it doesn’t really have a punchline I guess, more of the reality of my city.

Do you have anything to promote right now?

I shot a special in April and have not done a single thing with it since, so look for LOCAL OPENER coming out in 2027 or ’28.
But in the meantime, you can catch me every Wednesday at The Corner Comedy Club and every Thursday hosting THE PRO SHOW at Comedy Bar in Toronto.

Where can we follow you?

I’m @jeffpaulcomedy on all the socials. I still use MySpace as well! But I use Instagram the most.

PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?

There are actually 3 other comedians I have found named Jeff Paul, so go check them out too – except the one who wears fingerless gloves, he’s god-awful.