With a vodka on the rocks in hand, a mellowed Finesse Mitchell sat back in a martini bar recounting the job well done on the night’s performance, as the “Just For Laughs” tour hit Massey Hall and Toronto in full throttled laughter.

With the SNL alum leading the pack as host, Toronto experienced a night of hilarious mayhem.

“I thought that the show was very strong, I mean, believe it or not, people try not to laugh, you know? They want to kind of act like a critic, and considering that Toronto’s crowd is one of the hardest, I think that when you end up making them laugh, it’s a great feeling,” Mitchell told andPOP.

The show brought out a packed house which left viewers with the calling card of “Just For Laughs.”

A sore face, in tears, lungs out of breath and a smile.

And it’s no wonder as the night included stellar performances from Mitchell and his co-stars: British funny man Hal Cruttenden, Canadian talent and Toronto’s very own Pete Zedlacher, Irish breakout star David O’Doherty and last but not least, Scottish superstar Danny Bhoy.

“We’re all having a great time so far, and everyone is very professional,” said Mitchell. “We have a 4 or 5 really funny people, but the the main thing is that they don’t complain about any playing time or spot light, they all act like great professional guys.”

Coming off in full swing from the Maritime circuit (October 20th-27th) and then Hamilton on Wednesday (which was Mitchell’s first gig as the host), the cast has been on the stage every night. And with another 11 shows to go- the next being in Ottawa Saturday night, and then ending in Victoria, BC, on November 15th- the guys will be spending every winding moment together.

So, Mitchell’s guy-to-guy bonding technique?

“I’m trying to get them into Lil’ Wayne, but umm, that’s not going so well,” jokes Mitchell. “Gotta keep on trying, but we’re definitely getting some good vibes.”

And as the tour progresses, Mitchell makes yet another stride to the bigger picture. In short, after having left SNL in 2006, and now joining the Just For Laughs crew in 2008, Mitchell’s thoughts are simple. Don’t call this a comeback, the career is only beginning.

“I think that Saturday Night Live was my stepping stone. I mean when I’m meeting people like Jack Black and Halle Berry only on my second week of the job, that’s a huge experience,” Mitchell told andPOP. “So when I got let go in 2006, that was in no way a slump. To have SNL as my first actual introduction into the comedy scene is amazing. Not many people have the privilege of doing that, mainly because their main goal is to end up at SNL for a career. But I began there. And now to have the opportunity to hit up Toronto in Massey Hall? Unbelievable. These are all just pieces to a larger goal down the road.”

But there’s also an important secret to success that the 36-year-old comedian holds dear. This bread and butter plan to excel relies heavily on the networking factor.

“When you’re young, it’s very important to surround yourself with not only positive people, but people who will help you flourish in your future career,” said Mitchell. “In any field, whether it be film, media or business, everyone plays a specific role and part, and as a result, you have to make sure to acquaint yourself with them.”

“In that sense, It’s a chain. You’ve got the guy who has the talent, but then you’ve also got the guy who has to market the talent, and the guy doing the financial things, there’s a whole list. This means that without each piece, the puzzle doesn’t work. So that’s why maintaining your contacts and networks are crucial.”






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