ArmenՅԱՆs: Mexican-Armenian Jack Assadourian on his first shows in Yerevan and his deep responsibility to speak up about Artsakh on his platform "when the world was staying silent"

Mexican-Armenian comedian Jack Assadourian (Jack Jr.) is in Yerevan on these days. This is his first visit to his father's homeland, and it is more than eventful. Jack has also brought his brand new stand-up show with him, which, promisses to be funny and interactive as usual. The first show took place on July 27 at the Hard Rock Cafe, the next show is scheduled for August 4 at Common Ground Books & Spirits.

Jack's humor will not leave the Armenian audience indifferent, because in his witty texts everyone can not only find themselves or their acquaintance, but also become a participant in a whole funny improvisation. NEWS.am STYLE, within the framework of the "ArmenYANs" column, talked to the comedian about his first visit to Yerevan, staying true to his roots and presenting Armenians so typically.

"After everything that happened with Artsakh, I felt this deep responsibility to speak up and to use my platform when the world was staying silent"

Jack says he's really excited about this trip. He wanted to visit Armenia for years, but it never quite worked out. "Things changed when I started getting more involved in the Armenian community through stand-up. Especially after everything that happened with Artsakh, I felt this deep responsibility to speak up and to use my platform when the world was staying silent. That experience made me feel even more connected to my roots, and it pushed me to learn more and do more."

Now, he is finally here exploring the culture, the land, the people with his own eyes. "And I’m not just going for me," he says, "I’m going to film the whole experience and share it with others,  especially those who haven’t been, who don’t know much about Armenia, or who maybe feel disconnected from it like I once did. I want to soak it all in and hopefully bring others along for the ride."

Alongside with the iconic sights, the churches, the mountains, the history, it's the people who Jack wants to meet, because, he belives, it’s the people who make Armenia what it is. "That’s what I’m most looking forward to. I want to experience it all — the villages, the nightlife, the food. I want to eat, sleep, and breathe Armenia while I’m here." 

Jack, you have Armenian and Mexican roots. Could you tell us how and where your parents met? And where were you born?

My parents met in Los Angeles, kind of by fate, honestly. My dad was born in Beirut, and he came to the U.S. in the 1970s during the war. He first landed in New Jersey through a student exchange program, but he wasn’t a fan of the cold — at all — so he packed up and made his way to sunny California. That’s where things got interesting. My mom’s best friend happened to live in the same apartment building as my dad. One day, they crossed paths — and my dad, who had taught himself Spanish just out of personal interest, decided to speak to her in Spanish. And the rest is history! I was born in L.A., where both of their worlds came together — Armenian and Mexican, Middle Eastern warmth and Latin spirit — and I’ve tried to carry that combo with me ever since.

Having spent your childhood far from Armenia, you’re still connected to your roots and language. How did you manage to stay so close to your heritage?

That was definitely thanks to my dad. Even though we were living in California — and I didn’t have cousins, aunts, or any extended Armenian family around — he made it a priority for me to stay connected to our roots. In 4th grade, he enrolled me in a private Armenian school. He really wanted me to understand where we come from — our history, our culture, our language. And that school played a huge part in shaping that connection for me. That’s where I learned Armenian (even though I don't speak it well), celebrated the traditions, and really started to feel proud of that side of who I am - even if I didn't always feel the most accepted or welcomed because I was half Armenian. 

Tell us about your shows in Armenia. Is this a brand new show or something you’ve performed before?

For the most part, this is a brand-new show. A lot of what I do is crowd work, so every show ends up being different depending on the audience, and that’s part of the fun. What I’m really excited about is the energy around this show. I’ve been getting messages from Armenians all over the world saying they’re planning to be in Armenia and will be coming to see the show. That’s wild to me and really special. To perform in Armenia, in front of people who’ve flown in from all over, many of them seeing stand-up in English for the first time here... 

Armenia and your Armenian roots mostly influence your shows. How do you get the inspiration?  

The best way I can describe it is, I’m trying to be like the Sebastian Maniscalco of Armenians. I take our culture, our quirks, our family dynamics, and turn them into something funny and relatable for everyone, whether you’re Armenian or not. A lot of my material is rooted in that Armenian experience; the way we talk, how our parents act, our community’s energy. And while I’m definitely known for having a bit of a filthy mouth — which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly traditional in our culture — I think that contrast is part of what makes my comedy stand out. It gives me a bit of an edge, and I think people connect with the honesty in it.

Who are some of your favorite Armenian comedians?

I honestly love all comedians. I have so much respect for anyone who gets up on stage and makes people laugh. One of my favorites is Vache Tovmasyan. I’ve been a fan of Armenian comedians for a long time, and what I really appreciate is how supportive we all are of each other. Vache actually came to one of my recent shows in LA, where we got to connect. It’s all love, and I think that kind of community is what makes Armenian comedy so special.

By Syune Arakelyan