“It happened so fast!” observes Daniel Lemire as we approach his four-decade career. The 67-year-old comedian, known for his many characters and his jokes on the news, wants to slow down in the next few years. But until then he embarks on a – perhaps last – tour of Quebec. And his head is already teeming with other projects.
On August 22nd, Daniel Lemire will be performing at the ComediHa! receive a tribute. Firmly. Michel Courtemanche, Laurent Paquin, Jean-François Mercier, Sonia Vachon and Pierre Verville are among the guests who will celebrate him.
• Also read: From Yvon Travaillé to Uncle Georges: Daniel Lemire’s most outstanding characters
When asked what he expects from this evening, Daniel Lemire answers quickly. “Honestly, I have no idea! Denis Bouchard is working on it, I don’t know with whom. I can get a vague idea of it anyway. It’s sure to be done well, that’s part of the game. But this will not be from A to Z. I have the impression that there will be people who will pick up numbers that I have already done.
Despite his 40-year career – 42, he tells us – Daniel Lemire mentions that he has never received an honor in the past. In fact, Just for Laughs already asked him, he says, but he declined the offer. “I had just left Just for Laughs at the time and wasn’t interested in giving them a show! I was cold with them. The break had been quite steep. Other than that, nobody else has called me for a tribute. Not even in my family! [rires]»
loyal audience
At 67, Daniel Lemire can’t help but look back on his career, although he admits he’s not very nostalgic. “When something is over, it’s over. I’m not someone who picks up a lot. Also, we sold our house three years ago and threw away the stock!”
His greatest professional pride? “The length and the fact that I have a loyal audience that follows me,” he replies. The new show I started last fall is going well. But it’s done very differently. I was much more mainstream back then. Now I’m sort of in the shadows a lot more, and that’s okay.”
Will his new show, working title A Little Last for the Road, really be the last of Daniel Lemire’s career? He refuses to confirm this beyond a doubt. “It’s hard for me to deal with that. If I say it’s my last, what do I do if I want to release another one in six years? Sometimes I find it to be an unnecessary marketing element. We won’t get involved in that.
Graphic novel and mockumentary
But he notes that by the end of his new tour, he’ll likely have hit the 70 milestone. “I don’t know if I’ll do it again after that,” he admits. It gets harder and harder at all levels as you get older. There are so many shows, the offer is also so big. At some point you will ask yourself whether it is still worth it.
Then what will he do? Daniel Lemire, who loved “Planet Cunk” (“Cunk on Earth”) on Netflix, mentions that he’s working on a mockumentary project. “We’ll see what can happen.”
A graphic novel enthusiast – he cites Samuel Cantin’s as an example – the comedian also wants to exploit this medium. “I think it’s an extraordinary art. You can do everything. There is no budget. It’s a film on paper. I think it’s fabulous. I messaged a few people. I would like to create a script. It’s more than an embryonic idea.
√ The show Daniel Lemire, 40 year career takes place on August 22nd at the Grand Théâtre de Québec as part of ComediHa! Fest Quebec. The comedian also presents his solo show in the run-in. For appointments: daniel-lemire.ca.