Comedian Jeff Arcuri's new Netflix special, "Nice to Meet You," delves into deeply personal territory, incorporating his wife Katie Thurston's stage IV breast cancer diagnosis into his stand-up routine. Arcuri, known for his crowd work and honest approach to comedy, stated that the past two years, marked by Thurston's illness, have matured his material and personal outlook.

"The past two years with my wife kind of grew me up a little bit," Arcuri told Fox News Digital. "So my comedy kind of matured, and that’s what the special is. The first half is the stuff that I found funny, and the second half is a lot of s--- that really happened to me."

Arcuri, who gained a following through his online crowd work, explained that his philosophy centers on finding humor in uncomfortable situations through honesty. He aimed for the special to reflect his current life, rather than relying on older material. "There’s no way I’m going to do a special not talking about what’s going on in my current life right now."

He found that making light of his wife's illness, while maintaining honesty, was a delicate balance. He recalled a moment in the special where he spoke about the difficulty of making his wife laugh during her illness, noting that audiences at most tapings did not treat the statement as a joke. However, he also acknowledged that small adjustments in delivery could significantly alter audience reception.

Arcuri and Thurston have found value in openly discussing her diagnosis and treatment, with Thurston sharing updates on her Instagram account. Arcuri mentioned that he sometimes learns about her health status through her social media, joking, "Call me first!"

Thurston's candidness has also provided material for Arcuri's act. He recounted one instance where she quipped, "Don't call me that, I ain't dead yet!" after he called her "my angel."

Arcuri began his comedy career around 2009 or 2010, performing in Michigan before moving to Chicago and then New York. After initial struggles in New York, including a poorly received appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," he found success through performing on cruise ships and at The Comedy Cellar, which encouraged him to share his work online.

Beyond the stage, Arcuri sought therapy to help manage his fear and support Thurston through her cancer treatment. "I was her person and she was my person, but also there’s a lot you go through being adjacent to somebody that’s going through that," he said. He admitted to Thurston that he was afraid for her health, a vulnerability he had previously hidden, fearing it would alter her perception of him. Instead, she thanked him for sharing his fear.

Thurston continues to be a significant influence on his comedy. Arcuri described her as "my muse and my biggest inspiration and my biggest motivator with comedy." The title of the special, "Nice to Meet You," also stems from his habit of saying the phrase when engaging with audience members during his shows.

"It’s also my debut special," Arcuri added. "So it’s those two things mixed in."