NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Paul Mecurio is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian, actor, and writer best known for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. His unique journey from a Wall Street lawyer to a stand-up comedian has led to his appearances on major platforms like HBO, Comedy Central, and CBS. He’s also known for his acclaimed, award-nominated Broadway Comedy show, Permission to Speak, directed by Frank Oz.
In a recent interview, Mecurio opened up about his unconventional transition from finance to comedy, how he found his comedic voice, and the challenges and rewards of his multi-faceted career.
Your career path is one of the most unconventional in comedy—going from Wall Street to stand-up. What was the turning point when you knew you had to make the leap from one to the other?
“It wasn’t a specific turning point; it was a series of events that led to the jump. The comedy thing slowly crept up on me. In retrospect, it was always there—dormant and waiting to come out. I started writing material in law school, then began writing jokes and making short comedy films as a young lawyer. After amassing a lot of jokes, I met Jay Leno at a private function and gave him some. A few days later, he called me, hired me, and started paying me $50 a joke for his Tonight Show monologue. At the time, I didn’t leave Wall Street; I saw comedy as a hobby—like some people play golf. But over time, I became obsessed with it.”
Mecurio recalls the struggle of balancing his high-pressure career on Wall Street with his growing passion for comedy.
“I was working 100 to 110 hours a week doing mergers and acquisitions and trying to do stand-up on nights and weekends. I was completely exhausted and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I was living a double life, keeping my Wall Street colleagues and comedians in the dark about each other. The crossroads came when I realized I couldn’t continue both lives. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I ultimately decided I didn’t want to live out of fear of losing financial security. Comedy chose me.”
You started out writing jokes anonymously for Jay Leno before taking the stage yourself. What was scarier—performing your first stand-up set or telling your Wall Street colleagues you were leaving finance?
“Ha ha ha, one was scary, and the other was a little embarrassing. Performing stand-up for the first time was terrifying. Your heart races, and you get up in front of a tough crowd—other comedians and drunks. Telling my Wall Street colleagues I was leaving to pursue comedy was nerve-wracking and a bit embarrassing. I was handling big merger deals in a world where people take themselves very seriously. Telling them I was going to be ‘chuckle boy’ felt intimidating. But their reaction surprised me. They said, ‘Good for you! You’re pursuing your dream.’ Many even came out to support me—it gave me a lot of confidence.”
Your comedic style blends sharp observational humor with personal storytelling. How did you develop your voice as a comedian, and who were your biggest influences?
“When you start, you don’t have a unique point of view yet. You’re just trying to connect with the audience, so you talk about general life experiences like food or TV commercials. But as you get more comfortable on stage, you let your guard down and become yourself. That takes time, though. My influences are a mix—George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and later, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert—all of them masters of blending humor with commentary.”
You’ve been part of The Daily Show and now The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. How does writing for a late-night show differ from stand-up? What is the most rewarding, landing your own jokes on stage or watching the jokes you’ve written be performed flawlessly?
“When writing for a show, you have to write in the voice of the host or the show’s sensibility. A joke that works for Leno might not work for Colbert or Stewart. You have to adapt. As for rewards, landing your own jokes on stage is always more fulfilling. Don’t get me wrong, seeing someone else kill with one of my jokes is great, but when you perform your own material, and it connects with the audience, there’s nothing like it.”
Late-night comedy has changed a lot in the last decade, especially with the rise of digital platforms. How do you see the landscape evolving, and where do you think late-night is headed?
“With the internet and social media, late-night TV has become less dominant. Shows like The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson used to pull in 15 to 20 million viewers a night, but now ratings are watered down across platforms. That said, shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are still hugely important and serve as a stamp of legitimacy for acts. It’s just a more crowded field now.”
Your one-man show, Permission to Speak, invites audience participation in a unique way. What inspired that concept, and do you ever get nervous about what people might say?
“Permission to Speak is different because it’s not just stand-up—it’s also about the audience. We give people a chance to tell their stories, and the comedy comes organically from that. It’s fun, unpredictable, and exciting because no two shows are the same. I don’t get nervous about what people might say. Everyone has a story, and the show gives people a space to share without judgment. It’s about human connection, and people really enjoy the opportunity to be heard.”
One Permission to Speak attendee, a therapist praised Mecurio for his show at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and hers is just one of many. You can watch HERE. Another heartfelt testimonial to the power of Mecurio’s show was shared via Facebook, which you can read HERE.
Colbert is known for his sharp wit and quick improvisation. What’s it like collaborating with him behind the scenes, and has he ever surprised you in a way that left you speechless?
“Stephen is a good friend. His mind is incredibly quick, and his memory is insane. When we work together, it’s a fun ride, riffing off each other’s ideas. His knowledge of The Lord of the Rings and the Bible still blows me away. We’ve come up with some of the funniest stuff just feeding off each other.”
Comedy can be a tough industry, especially with the increasing scrutiny around jokes and cancel culture. How do you navigate those challenges while staying true to your comedic instincts?
“You can’t worry about scrutiny or what the world thinks you should say. I didn’t give up Wall Street to let others dictate my art. Comedy has always pushed back against convention, and that’s more important now than ever. Sure, there’s political correctness, but sometimes it goes too far. I use humor to push back on overly PC moments and make my point. You have to stay true to your voice.”
From stand-up to writing to producing, you’ve worn a lot of hats in entertainment. Is there a part of the industry you haven’t explored yet that you’d love to dive into?
“Ha, porn! Just kidding. Actually, I’ve directed a couple of things and would love to do more. It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s rewarding to collaborate and shine the spotlight on others.”
Looking back at your career, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received, and what would you tell aspiring comedians who are afraid to take that first step?
“The best advice I got was to go for it. Don’t look back and regret not pursuing your passion. For aspiring stand-ups, the key is stage time. Don’t worry about getting paid initially—just perform. The more you get on stage, the more comfortable you’ll become. It’s an art form, and like any craft, it takes practice.”
To close out the interview, Mecurio, shared some exciting news about his upcoming projects and appearances. “I’m making a return appearance as a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday, February 27 at 11:35 PM EST,” he revealed. His award-winning Broadway show, Permission to Speak, is also on tour, with performances scheduled for March 7th and 8th at the United Theatre in Westerly, RI, (Tickets HERE) and March 29th at City Winery in Philadelphia (Tickets HERE). Fans can also catch his popular podcast, Inside Out with Paul Mecurio, featuring an impressive lineup of guests including Paul McCartney, Kevin Costner, Stephen Colbert, Kyra Sedgwick, and Spike Lee, available wherever podcasts are streamed.
Mecurio continues to captivate audiences with his blend of humor and storytelling, whether on stage, on screen, or behind the mic.
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