FIVE QUESTIONS WITH COMEDIAN DOUG NAGY

By Ben Rispin @benrispin 

I recently had the pleasure of witnessing the awesome comedy force that is Doug Nagy while judging the Canadian Comedy Awards at Levity Comedy Club in Hamilton. While the night was rammed with amazing comics, one stand up received perfect points from this judge. 

After informing the crowd that he was once training to be a minister, what followed was a sermon of jokes that would have no business being told in any religious establishment. Doug went on to win "Best Comedian" and is set to Co-Host Magic The Ganjaing with Patrick Coppolino on April Twentieth at Levity Comedy Club

We're thrilled he took the time to answer Five Questions for our Fannablog. 

Find more info on Magic The Ganjaing by clicking the poster below. 

Producer Ashley Sloggett, Comedian Eric Johnston, Broadcaster Bob Cowan, Doug Nagy and Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame founder Tim Progosh

BIO:

Doug Nagy was born and raised in Welland Ontario and ran wild in the streets as a latchkey son of a single mom. He was introduced to Heavy Metal music from his head-banging babysitter who ended up strangled dead in a ditch. Teenage Doug began performing shows as a solo punk rock folk act with his one man electric ukulele show. Between songs Doug improvised jokes and would eventually be encouraged to try stand up comedy. Upon moving to Hamilton Doug: was adopted by the local stand up scene, developed his chops, got signed by Yuk Yuks and became part of an internationally acclaimed podcast. All was going well until the 2008 financial crisis hit and Doug decided he needed a day job in order to avoid homelessness. He then got married, had a child and faded into the shadows of domesticity... only to return anew thanks to the transformative power of divorce!  The time away has given Doug a fresh perspective and new appreciation for art for its own sake. 

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH COMEDIAN DOUG NAGY

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF COMEDY FROM? 

 I would watch Benny Hill and Johnny Carson with my grandparents when I was a kid. I always loved to laugh and make people laugh. My love of stand up comedy was born when I saw Eddie Murphy: Delirious. 

WHAT WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?

 The First Concert I went to was Motorhead in Palonia Park. We were there hours early and found a spot front and center in front of Lemmy. I still have the setlist.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST “BIG SHOW”? OR YOUR FIRST SHOW EVER?

 My first set as a comedian was performing for a nurses retirement party. They thought I would do 20 minutes and I only had five so I pretended to be a terrible magician for the rest of the show and all the tricks were failures. 

Doug Nagy performs at Levity Comedy Club in Hamilton 

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST SHOW OR FUNNIEST SHOW MEMORY?

Funniest show was at a work Christmas Party that hired a few of my friends and I to perform. Everyone hated me and my friends have coined the show as The Doug Nagy Christmas Special. After the show a woman came up to me and said "I just want you to know that as an American, I found that disgusting" to which I replied "Madame, I want you to know that as a Canadian - I don't give a fuck"

WHAT’S NEXT?

Working on comedy albums and sharing with my international friends

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