Emmy® and Peabody Award® winning comedian/writer, TV personality, actor, podcaster, and Late Show with Stephen Colbert warm-up guy Paul Mecurio is breaking the mold on stand-up comedy. The former Daily Show correspondent & writer is making his Off-Broadway debut with Permission to Speak, which is currently playing an open-ended engagement at the Actor's Temple Theatre on West 47th Street following a sold-out run last year.
Permission to Speak is a one-man comedy show with a twist - it stars Paul AND the audience. In a show that's never been done before, Paul improvises with audience members talking with them about their lives, personal experiences and what they honestly think without feeling boxed in by the confines of contrived political correctness. A breath of fresh air, Permission to Speak is first and foremost, funny and entertaining, but also a truly freeing experience where people connect through compelling stories. (Think of it as a funny late night talk show where Paul creates a fun, safe space and you are the celebrity guest!)
Paul made a name for himself reporting on news at The Daily Show as his recurring segment, 'Second Opinion', was a hit with viewers. Over the years, he's appeared on many late-night shows, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show, The Late, Late Show, The Daily Show and Fridays (ABC) to name a few. He also appears regularly as a pop culture and general news commentator and political satirist on a wide variety of major national television shows including: CBS Sunday Morning; CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and ESPN.