Zach Rousseau humorously describes his comedy style as a “desperate act” that unveils his self-proclaimed stupidity, peppered with relatable Tinder anecdotes. His humour draws inspiration from an eclectic mix of influences including Pete Holmes, Conan O’Brien, Ron Funches, iconic Balloonshop videos, the vibrant personality of Rowdy Roddy Piper, the outrageous antics of Jackass, and the charming quirks of rural Canadian accents.
How would you describe your comedy style?
A desperate act meant to prove that I’m actually even dumber than I look. Some Tinder stuff.
Who are some of your influences?
Pete Holmes, Conan O’Brien, Ron Funches, old Balloonshop videos, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Jackass, rural Canadian accents, and a very poor attempt at self-medicating my mental illnesses.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Emo Phillips, Harland Williams, Lee Mack and old Monty Python sketches.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Christina Fleming, Adam Ray, Taylor Tomlinson, and Gavin Matts are probably my top favourites at the moment!
What is your pre-show ritual?
In high school I would drink an entire bottle of Sprite before football games. I have diabetes now, and I no longer do that before shows.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
The Mint in Victoria, they run a show there every Wednesday and it’s always a great room to perform in! Go check it out if you ever find yourself on the island.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I wrote a sketch about the first person to use the phrase “tough cookie” which combines 3 of my favourite things; old-timey Sicilian mobsters, baked goods and arguments. That or my “Obtainably Hot Chippendales” sketch, mainly because I had to take my shirt off for it and I grew up as a “t-shirt in the pool” kind of child, so that was a major stepping stone for me.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Going to local comedy shows! There are so many great comedians in your scene that you might never know about unless you go check out local shows! And follow us on social media, or else we’ll feel very sad about it.
Tell us a joke about your city.
All of the jokes I have about Vancouver would get me on Ken Sim’s Official Watch List, mainly because they make very good points and I support city money going to social workers instead of the police.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I will be at Little Mountain Gallery in Vancouver on November 22 for Fact or Fiction? It’s 6 comedians telling true (or maybe not true!) stories and it’s up to the audience to decide if they’re lying or not! Tickets are available online, or check out Little Mountain Gallery on Instagram for details!
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Randee Neumeyer, Kevin Appleby, Eve Ghostkeeper, Sammy Tonning and Darcy Boon Collins are a few of my faves from the Vancouver scene, and I also want to give a shout-out to the entire comedy scene in Victoria, where I got my start. It’s small but they’re all killers and there are too many to name.
