You are frequently praised for your ability to adapt to any performing situation. Do you think adaptability is the key to excelling as a club comic?

When I come up with material I do have every intention for it to be TV suitable. I just wrote two really funny bits that I am looking forward to getting on TV. The material that I write that is dirty-- sometimes there will be a way to word it so it can be used on TV. It also depends on what TV you are doing-- cable, network, network late night, network primetime, daytime. They all have different restrictions. When I did the Rosie show, I was called on a Wednesday and they asked me to do the show the next day. So we were going over my set on the phone and I mentioned a bit about being divorced, the producer said I could not do divorced material; it was too negative for Rosie's audience. {Here's where I should insert a joke but I have nothing.} I stink. Not only does material have to be clean it also has to be PC you wouldn't want to offend anyone. So basically you have to take out all of the funny material out of your set, then be funny. When I was doing the Keenan show, we went over my set, they told me what I can do. Well... I am bombing, okay... Plan B... so I switch up, do some other stuff end up having a half-way decent set. After the show, the same people that told me what I should do were happy with what I ended up doing. What I'm trying to say: Is the Amazing Jonathan truly amazing or should he just go by Jonathan?

On "Last Comic Standing" you frequently praised fellow comic and housemate, Dave Mordal for his writing ability. Do you consider yourself to be a good writer?

You ask me if I think Dave Mordal is a good writer. It's funny-- When you look at him and see this badly dressed broken down old man, you think, "What can he offer to society?" Definitely not hair grooming tips. You would be wasting your time if you asked him about body building or any physical activity. But one thing he does great is write comedy material. I think his stuff is truly clever, funny and mostly clean. {Not saying dirty isn't funny.} There are a few comics who I think are great writers. Jim Norton, Patrice O'Neill, Colin Quinn. Me, yeah, I think some of my stuff is written well. I have been asked to write for comics on many roasts. I just finished helping Suzie Essman write for the Smothers Brothers roast. Although when it comes to writing for myself it is hard for me to sit down and think of stuff. It just hits me whenever. Then I work it out onstage and just pretty much write down the premise. For a new comic, besides being a slave for the headliner, it is very important to keep writing and writing. As you grow as a comic you will find what you like talking about, and the garbage you have written in the beginning will most likely get dropped, bit by bit. So if you want to grow into a great comic like Dustin Diamond, remember: your pen is your friend.

Why do you think the producers of Last Comic Standing picked you to be on the show?

Why was I picked for LCS? Besides killing thru all of the qualification rounds, I think they wanted my type of character. An in-your-face, East Coast kind of guy. When you look at the comics that were in the house it reminds you of a Benneton add. They tried to cover as many walks of life as they could. Which was fine with me-- it was prime time NBC-- you have to try to relate to as many viewers as you can. But it wasn't the 10 funniest people in comedy, or you would have had people like Brian Regan, Dom Irera, Slayton in the house. Although with the crew we had, and me carrying the show, I think it turned out great. Okay, Dave Cory and Ralphie helped me carry the show at some points, when I let them. I really think NBC edited the show great. I believe for me the camera exposure in the house was the most important aspect of the show. I got to show different sides of me it was like an hour showcase each week for viewers and industry. When you can be yourself without a script, and know how to work the camera, it was a golden opportunity. That's why I love doing Tough Crowd and I loved doing Opie and Anthony, you could be yourself, be funny, no script. Now here's a question I would like to ask, do you think Peanut could go further with his career if he dropped Jeff?

How many minutes of material did you have to be prepared to do? Did the producers have to approve the jokes before the taping, just as they do on other television shows?

For the first round you were supposed to do two minutes. The second round four minutes and the third round five minutes. These were all of the qualification rounds. Then when we were in the house, we did the challenge thing. No one ever picked me to go up against. But you were supposed to do ten minutes in a comedy club setting on the studio lot. I myself did not go back onstage until Vegas, during the finals, where I had to submit the set I was doing for them to okay it. As did everybody else in the finals. Dat did not have to submit his set cause they already saw him perform it twice, during the challenges. And since he only has six minutes of material the odds were he was going to do it again. I am only kidding, he's nuts but he is a good guy. And for anybody that reads this, I myself have no regrets from the show and no resentments. I got as much out of the show as I possibly could imagine. I am on tour with Cory and Dave and we are having great shows everywhere.

Were you embarrassed or made uncomfortable by anything that happened and/or appeared on the show?

I was not embarrassed in anyway from what they showed or what they didn't show. There was a lot of funny stuff that did not make it on the air, but I am sure they had it ready if NBC wanted to extend the series one or two more weeks. One of the funniest things I did in the house was during the rat episode I sat on the counter doing the rats profile, like how the FBI profile criminals. I was surprised it didn't make it on air. I was also shocked when they caught Ralphie and Dave in bed together. I did not know what was going on 'cause Dave was the bottom. But I did start getting suspicious when I would walk in the room and Dave would be giving Ralphie back massages. This just hit me: if there was a nuclear holocaust and there was only roaches left on the planet but their was a microphone setup and one last comic standing in front of it do you think it would be Bobby Collins?

The challenges made on the show seemed to be more about personality conflicts than comedic ability. Did it feel unnatural to look into the camera and say, "I know I'm funnier than..."

It was uncomfortable going into that booth saying I know I am funnier then whoever. And I did not go into the house thinking about winning, I just wanted to get as much camera time as I could; and show different sides of me. So, as I look back, my game plan worked. I would have not changed anything.

If you had to chart your career, what years would be on top and what years would be on the bottom?

Comedy, like any other form of entertainment has highs and lows. There have been so many great times so far in my career. Hosting Woodstock 99, doing HBO Def Jam, Comedy Central Presents, Opie and Anthony, I love doing Tough Crowd, Last Comic Standing, and many other things (I just don't want this to look like a resume). And there are points when you want to swallow a bullet. About four years ago I was dropping Patrice off in New Jersey, we were talking in the car about the business, and I remember saying I have absolutely nothing going on in my career. He was pretty much at the same point then. I did not have a manager at the time, no agent. The heat I had from Aspen wore off, not a fuckin' thing to look forward to. Somehow, one thing lead to another and here I am doing this interview for eight open mikers to read. There have also been personal things in my life that have affected my career. When I was getting divorced, I was separated for three months while still living with my ex and kids, I had to work a week in Vegas; it was July. While I was in Vegas that week, she would be moving out with the kids, so I new I would be coming home to an empty house and my two daughters would not be living with me anymore. It was the most depressing time of my life. So I am in Vegas and all I see are happy couples, families together, I would do my shows, walk off stage and cry. I get home to an empty house, no furniture, no electricity, no phone, no food, and I am sitting on a mattress in the living room with a candle burning saying to myself, "She'll be back... she's just trying to teach me a lesson." Things in my life did eventually work out I would have my daughters in the day and she would have them at night, and the best decision I made in my life was not to leave my kids and go to LA to advance my career at the time. I was there throughout my daughter's upbringing and I was a major part of it. I have seen their sporting events, their class plays, opening presents during the holidays. I have been there to see my kids grow up and that truly is the high light of my life. The end.