It's always great to see comics who once appeared at Just for Laughs as struggling personalities return to town as household names. Standup comic Mo'Nique was here performing in the "New Faces" discovery showcase only two years ago, and now her sitcom, The Parkers, is the highest rated African-American TV show in the States. I spoke to Mo'Nique after she got back from shopping in L.A.



Mo'Nique: Sorry I wasn't here before. I had to take the kids shopping because we're going to Disney World. Y'know, gettin' stuff they didn't need.

Mirror: Your kids aren't coming to Montreal?

Mo: No. But I'll be there. I'm hosting the Uptown Gala and I'm not sure what else.

M: You got a TV show because of your performance here in Montreal?

Mo: Well, the last time I was in Montreal, I already had a talk show deal, and this woman named Dawn Steinberg saw me along with some other people and all the sudden we had sitcom offers!

M: You weren't expecting that?

Mo: No! My agent was like, "Now that we have some offers, we should take our time." I was going crazy! "Sign the papers, sign the papers!!" But we weighed the options, and it's been wonderful ever since.

M: Do you get brothers coming up to you after shows to find out what you're doing?

Mo: It's gotten a lot worse now. Half of it is attraction, but the other half is just because I'm on TV. I have a wonderful husband, and most of these guys are like, "I have a wonderful wife, so let's go." It's crazy.

M: Were you already aware that the Just for Laughs festival could make or break you?

Mo: No sir. I had no idea it was such a powerful business affair. Everybody is there. I had no clue that Montreal had so much weight. But I came here as a nobody, tryin' to work my thing, and it's nice to come back as a celebrity and make way for the next batch.

M: You're looking forward to that, I can tell.

Mo: People just look at you in a totally different way. To be able to come back and say I've finally made it, is truly a blessing.

Part of An Evening at Eve's Tavern and hosting Uptown Gala, see comedy listings for details