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INTERVIEW:
RICHARD LEWIS

You are about to embark on your "Wreck In Progress" tour, yet you haven't performed standup in three years? Are you nervous about returning after such a long break?

No. I'm never nervous about expressing myself in front of strangers--especially strangers who have been following my shit for years and know that I will be free-associating and doing a ton of new stuff every night. It's cathartic for me and hopefully entertaining for audiences.

Rumor has it that you were actually genuinely miserable during your "Magical Misery Tour." Is that the reason you decided to take some time off from standup?

In a way. I had gone 25 years without a break-- done probably more TV shots than anyone , a shitload of nominated specials, etc. And l performed in some of the greatest theaters in the country, including Carnegie Hall, with an almost 2-1/2 hour set-- two standing ovations-- I collapsed afterwards sort of screaming that I couldn't reach back for much more of this drive and didn't until years later--but I never stopped writing. I always write. So when I went back to do Misery Tour I was hellbent on making it my last for a while and I did: 3 years. No I'm onto the new "Wreck In Progress" tour---revitalized and kicking ass.

How difficult is it for you to break in new material?

It's a way of life. I have no idea what any show will be. I'm crazily prepared and bring on stage about four hours of new shit from which I can decide, on stage, where to go... it's risky and edgy and I dig it.

Does your fame make an audience more forgiving or is the opposite true?

Not more forgiving, more demanding. But you can at times sneak out with a laugh you don't necessarily deserve. The flip of that is they are willing to let you really wail and fly with a new premise--they almost root you on to come up with new shit before their eyes--in fact, the energy flow is huge in having the balls to continue to cook on stage in a new premise.

As someone who has played Carnegie Hall, are you looking forward to performing in the more intimate space of a comedy club?

Always. I started there. Comics historically grew from there and it's essential to go back home and also I'd rather start a tour warming up in a city and do six shows in three nights rather than sell some seats and do one show in a larger venue. Sure it's a grind, but when you start a tour you must flex that muscle, and (with me) spread my dysfunctions.

Will you be performing a one-man show or will you have an opening act? Do you enjoy following other acts?

I do around an hour, so opening acts are cool. I really dig music, but it's hard to get them--it depends on the venue-- Dave Mason and Richie Havens and others have opened for me, and it was a blast. I like intelligent opening acts.

Do you enjoy talking to audience members after the show?

For me show time is show time--I focus all day on it--it's no party for me. I want to give the audience all my guts and once it's over, get into bed ASAP.

Do they expect you to be exactly the same as you are onstage?

Don't know what you mean, but I am basically that same cat on as I am off.

Where are you from? Where did you begin your comedy career?

Born in Brooklyn. Raised--or rather, lowered--in Jersey. Got my start in NYC at the famous, original, very first Improv and then Catch a Rising Star and in the very famous club Pips in Sheepshead Bay. Then Caroline's was here. I probably wrote the most material '82 to '87.

How have the crowds changed since you began doing standup in the 1970s?

Hard to say...it's different everywhere. I just do my thing and people from 20's-60's can groove with it.

How did your act (or at least your attitude about your act) change when you became a household name?

Nothing changed, except I bought a house. The house changed more than me-- it turned into a fuckin ark when it rained!

Gentleman's Quarterly named you one of the 20th Century's Influential Humorists. In what way do you think you've been influential?

I read that--very lovely. I feel weird commenting on such a grandiose thought. I can only say that what you see on stage is me, period. You know me and what I'm really going through when I get off...that, plus my fearlessness about revealing any defects, perhaps makes me a tad authentic.

Who would you have included on that list?

Too many: Keaton, Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, Fields, Benny, Winters, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner,Caesar, Lenny, Pryor, Carlin, Klein... and on, and on.

You've made over 50 appearances on Late Night /Late Show with David Letterman and onThe Tonight Show. How is doing a standup shot different from doing panel? Do you prepare the same way for each?

It's really insane, after 30 years, I have hours of shit in my head and would prefer to just wail like I do on Grodin or some good radio shows, etc., But the talk shows are under a lot of pressure and they seem to want to know where to lead the guests.

That makes sense with many, or it could suck. But, with all due respect, (and I don't mean to sound grandiose) if you can't nail down Robin or (Jonathan) Winters, I feel I should just be allowed come out and entertain the host and his audience. I love being the court jester, as long as I'm not too locked in. Depending on the mood of each host, the looser they are, (and I am), the better the TV, I think. Some audiences like to see me just talk and be funny with t he star of the show. Just jokes is a drag because that's why you do concerts. There is a happy medium, though... I guess.

David Letterman was one of the first people to give you major national exposure. Did the two of you know each other from your early standup days?

Yeah. He gave me my first real break in 1982 because he dug my stuff but knew it was better for me to just sit down on panel and go wild, rather than be restricted in a five-minute monologue like the Tonight Show always requested. So I focused on Dave and I don't believe anyone (any comics) have done more appearances. Eventually, I got to do "just panel" with Carson and it was a blast.

You recently made your dramatic acting debut in the independent film Drunks. Did you enjoy playing a dramatic character or do you prefer comedic roles?

Drunks was the single most important acting work I've done. I'm hoping it will lead to other opportunities.

Blockbuster has Game Day exclusively, starting Sept 21, for six months, and it's a real trip--whacked out by day; the country's best basketball coach by night--real happy with my work.

After starring in both Hiller and Diller and Anything But Love would you consider doing another sitcom? If so, what, if anything, would you do differently?

Who knows? I'm working with ideas and people now--I just have to be sure that the writing and my character are fuckin' hilarious. That's it. Simple.

When you wrote The OTHER Great Depression, did you find your humor easily translated to the written word?

I hope so. It is the heaviest undertaking of my career. It's an autobiography of riffs that will mine the deepest, darkest and funniest thoughts I have ever had. They seemed best suited for a book, and it will kickstart my tour into the highest possible gear ever. I'm totally psyched.

I had some good luck reading some of Kerouac's words on a recent Kerouac tribute album, and got me pumped to tear into my autobiography with reckless abandon. I am.

How did the Kerouac gig come about? Are you a fan?

I was asked. I was a fan and it was a groove.

Are you currently friends with any other comedians?

Too many screwballs to mention.

You are known throughout the land as a neurotic comic. Does having that reputation make it difficult to be happy in real life or have you learned to separate the man from the comic?

I'm the same guy. It feels no different. I am me. If I can't shit, the comedian can't shit either, ya dig? No difference.

A theme park just opened called Richard Lewis World. What is the most popular ride?

Pin the Blame on the Donkey.