Here in Lafayette, comedy is growing up. The scene is expanding, more shows are popping up. It’s become a draw for national touring acts. And comics are choosing to stay—or come back—because there’s actually something to build here. 

That’s pretty remarkable. Lafayette wasn’t really on the map as a comedy town until the last decade or so. But comedy itself — how it works, how it’s consumed — has changed. And it’s booming nationally while other live entertainment offerings have hit the skids. 

On this edition of Out to Lunch Acadiana, Johanna Divine sits in for Christiaan Mader and she's joined by two lunch guests who both work in comedy, but from very different angles—and very different eras. One started when comedy clubs were king, the other as memes have become currency. One uses hypnosis, the other political satire. And both have made Lafayette home.

Flip Orley has been a touring comic and hypnotist for more than 30 years. He’s performed in clubs and theaters across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, blending stage hypnosis with stand-up. He’s known for treating his volunteers with respect—no chicken clucking here—and for pushing audiences to think and laugh at the same time. He’s also an author, podcast host, and something of an HR nightmare, by his own account. 

John Merrifield is the founder of Oof Comedy and the co-host of Laf City Radio. A Lafayette native, John got his start in stand-up after proposing a comedy night at a bar—possibly after one too many bad open mics. Since then, he’s built a following through viral memes, sharp political satire, and a prolific open mic scene at Cite des Arts.

John left for New York to build his chops, then returned to help grow Lafayette’s comedy scene from the ground up. 

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Two comedians walk into a sushi restaurant… Well, actually, that’s all we've got so far, we’ll leave the punchline to the professionals - when we meet Flip and John next time here on Out to Lunch Acadiana we'll hear the rest of the joke. Watch this space!

Till then, this comedy lunch was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette.You can find photos from this show by Alisha Zachery Lazard at itsacadiana.com.

Here in Lafayette, comedy is growing up. The scene is expanding, more shows are popping up. It&rsquo;s become a draw for national touring acts. And comics are choosing to stay&mdash;or come back&mdash;because there&rsquo;s actually something to build here.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s pretty remarkable. Lafayette wasn&rsquo;t really on the map as a comedy town until the last decade or so. But comedy itself &mdash; how it works, how it&rsquo;s consumed &mdash; has changed. And it&rsquo;s booming nationally while other live entertainment offerings have hit the skids.&nbsp;
On this edition of Out to Lunch Acadiana, Johanna Divine sits in for Christiaan Mader and she's joined by two lunch guests who both work in comedy, but from very different angles&mdash;and very different eras. One started when comedy clubs were king, the other as memes have become currency. One uses hypnosis, the other political satire. And both have made Lafayette home.
<a href="https://www.fliporley.com/">Flip Orley</a> has been a touring comic and hypnotist for more than 30 years. He&rsquo;s performed in clubs and theaters across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, blending stage hypnosis with stand-up. He&rsquo;s known for treating his volunteers with respect&mdash;no chicken clucking here&mdash;and for pushing audiences to think and laugh at the same time. He&rsquo;s also an<a href="https://www.fliporley.com/books/"> author</a>, podcast host, and something of an HR nightmare, by his own account.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jbmerrifield">John Merrifield</a> is the founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oofcomedy">Oof Comedy</a> and the co-host of <a href="https://www.listentotheplanet.com/laf-city-radio">Laf City Radio</a>. A Lafayette native, John got his start in stand-up after proposing a comedy night at a bar&mdash;possibly after one too many bad open mics. Since then, he&rsquo;s built a following through viral memes, sharp political satire, and a prolific open mic scene at Cite des Arts.
John left for New York to build his chops, then returned to help grow Lafayette&rsquo;s comedy scene from the ground up.&nbsp;
Stop me if you&rsquo;ve heard this one before: Two comedians walk into a sushi restaurant&hellip; Well, actually, that&rsquo;s all we've got so far, we&rsquo;ll leave the punchline to the professionals - when we meet Flip and John next time here on Out to Lunch Acadiana we'll hear the rest of the joke. Watch this space!
Till then, this comedy lunch was recorded live over lunch at&nbsp;<a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette.You can find photos from this show by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/alisha.zachery">Alisha Zachery Lazard</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2025/07/26/stop-me-if-youve-heard-this-one/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him for sushi at Tsunami in downtown Lafayette. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him for sushi at Tsunami in downtown Lafayette. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Current Publisher and Editor Christiaan Mader conducting business Acadiana style: over lunch. Each week Aileen invites guests from Acadiana's  business community to join her. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him for sushi at Tsunami in downtown Lafayette. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him for sushi at Tsunami in downtown Lafayette. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

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