Sugar Sammy didn't flinch when first told that a bilingual comedy show would never fly in this province. He just had a hunch it would.

Four and a half years later, he has more than proved the skeptics wrong. The bilingual You're Gonna Rire has been a hit of epic proportions in this province. Coupled with its franco counterpart, En français svp, the shows have sold nearly 372,000 tickets at the Olympia in Montreal and at other theatres throughout Quebec. With 420 performances — including 171 You're Gonna Rires — the combined revues have set a record for the bestselling debut one-man show in Quebec history.

Sugar Sammy is moving to Paris in the fall, and will spend much of the next two years trying to conquer France's comedy scene. Before he goes, however, he will be performing You're Gonna Rire for the last time in a free outdoor Just for Laughs concert, July 28 at 9 p.m. at Quartier des spectacles.

“It's going to be one big celebration,” Sugar Sammy says, before cracking: “Also, my family and friends have been bugging me for free tickets for the last four and a half years, and now I can accommodate them all.

“This show started out as an experiment in the cultural industry here. It changed my career in a big way at home. It also gave me the confidence to move on, to try to open up another market. So this is my way of saying thank you and goodbye to the city that lifted me up.”

Sugar Sammy has also established other milestones in the last few years. Three years ago, he became the first non-francophone comedian to win the Olivier de l'année at the Gala Les Olivier, celebrating Quebec comedy, and he repeated in the same category a year later. In 2014, Sugar Sammy and franco comic/director Simon-Olivier Fecteau launched their hit TV show Ces gars-là, which just wrapped its third season. Plus, the improv from his live shows has racked up over 12 million views on YouTube.

Sugar Sammy goes by a different playbook than other comedians. At a time when franco standup stars like France's Gad Elmaleh and Quebecers Mike Ward and Rachid Badouri are pursuing careers on the anglo front, he appears to be swimming against the tide by heading to France.

“I guess it's a cultural exchange,” he says. “This next step is exciting. I think it's fun and a challenge to go into a different territory and to give the French a new point of view from an outsider.”

Sugar Sammy tested the French waters for two one-month stints over the last year.

“They liked the fact that an outsider could come and give a severe yet honest and funny critique of their social landscape. The good thing is that I can push further than the French comedians there, because I'm not from there.”

Regardless, these are volatile times in France. Sugar Sammy had just returned from Paris on the day of the terrorist attacks last November. And one would think the recent carnage in Nice would give him pause.

“Terrorism is not limited to France. It's happening everywhere. You can't live your life that way,” he says. “Also, tragedy brings a need for comedy. That's when people need it the most.”

As a prelude to his move to Paris, Sugar Sammy has been hosting Le All-Star Comedy Club France, another JFL event, wherein he has imported his favourite standups from France to perform. Following nine shows last week at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, he will be presenting two more at the Olympia on Friday and Saturday.

“A lot of people have had this misconception about comedians in France — thanks in part to their love for Jerry Lewis — and it wasn't completely false, either. For years, French comedians weren't doing standup. They were doing characters and variety acts.

“But now there is a new generation of French standups, and they are brilliant. Many are inspired by American comics like Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle. And I thought it would be fun to bring them here. And I can guarantee this is the best French standup show that Quebec has ever seen — they are all killers.”

Sugar Sammy hasn't forsaken this continent. Following his return from France, he plans to launch a new English revue to bring throughout Canada and the U.S., as well as another bilingual show in Quebec.

“I have to come back here — this is and will always be home,” he says. “And let's face it: Quebec is comedy gold. We're never lacking for material. In fact, I'm playing this new game now in Montreal: Am I going to get home today, and if so, how?”

AT A GLANCE

Sugar Sammy performs You're Gonna Rire for the last time in a free outdoor Just for Laughs concert, Thursday, July 28 at 9 p.m. at Quartier des spectacles. Sugar Sammy presents Le All-Star Comedy Club France, Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 at 8 p.m. at the Olympia, 1004 Ste-Catherine St. E.; for tickets and more information, visit zoofest.com.