Even more than striving for that 10, 20 or 60-minute routine that’s surefire and flub free with any audience anywhere, what most standup comics really long for is to reach that point in their career when they can say, with all assuredness, “Whew, I made it. Finally!”

John Wing conquered that first part years ago with aplomb. It seems like he’s always had hours of polished, tightly-structured, smart and very TV-friendly material — even back when he was a fixture on the Toronto standup scene in the ’80s and early ’90s before he moved to Los Angeles. He’s played every major comedy festival in the world, including Montreal’s Just for Laughs nine times, and been featured on The Tonight Show on six occasions, once with Johnny Carson as its host — the latter arguably being the last true validation for a standup-as-artist.

And yet, Wing, after 33 years of performing, still seems reluctant to proclaim he’s “made it.”

His appearance at Comedy Bar this Thursday, he concedes, is a yardstick of sorts to measure his success and his place in the pantheon of standup.

“I haven’t done too many shows in my life where the people paid specifically to see me,” he says.

It’s not that he can’t recognize or acknowledge his accomplishments: “Hey, we own our house and three cars,” says Wing, who has two adult daughters with his wife of 20 plus years — in itself a success for any comedian. He’s also authored several books, including a few of poetry.

But if he’s reluctant to gloat, it could be because at the time of our interview he was still reeling from a show the previous night in Ottawa.

“I made some silly mistakes and dealt poorly with some (drunken) hecklers,” he says, his voice trailing off, proving comedians of all levels of experience and stature still sting after a slightly off-night.

But for Wing, such encounters — and off-nights — would be rare. His act invites more listening than, ahem, crowd participation. Always well-dressed, often in his trademark bow tie, Wing was a master of the simple, one-line joke. He still is; largely because whereas many in that standup style slowly petered out to insignificance, Wing was always more hip than hackneyed, less corny than clever and insightful. And given our cultural climate where everyone wants everything in short bites — and wants it NOW — it’s one reason the Sarnia native has managed to remain relevant and can still make the jaded college kid laugh along with his dowdy mother, and her mother. “But I admit it,” says Wing, 53. “When I see white hair in the audience, I’m happy.”

John Wing appears for one show only Thursday at 8 p.m. at Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor St., W. Tickets are $20 and available at the box office or via Ticketweb.ca.

Denis is a standup comic and writer.