The average TV viewer should recognize Caroline Rhea from any number of shows: “Hollywood Squares,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” her own short-lived talk show, and as the host of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” And she’s fine with that.
But ideally she would be known for her stand-up comedy – the gig that broke her into the entertainment business in the first place. Venturing from her hometown of Montreal to New York in 1989, Rhea climbed the comedy scene ladder until scoring a string of TV and film roles.
Now she’s enjoying her time off from TV and relishing the freedom of the stand-up stage. We spoke to her in advance of her stint at Comedy Works this weekend.
Q: I see on your schedule that Denver is your only current tour date. Why come all the way out here?
A: Comedy Works is my favorite club in the whole country. In fact, I made my comedy CD there. (Owner) Wendy Curtis is so smart. She’s just made it into a great place, and the audiences are the best.
Q: Have you enjoyed hosting “The Biggest Loser” for the last couple years?
A: There’s a lot about it in my act now. Of course, they hired a comedian to host it so I thought it was going to be completely different show. I think there was a conflict initially, but it kind of leveled off. Personally, I’m never saying anything mean or making fun of anybody for (being fat) again.
Q: Is it hard kicking people off the show?
A: I can’t stand the elimination part, but I love how much happier and healthier people are afterwards.
Q: Would you ever want to take a stab at another talk show?
A: I don’t know. I like doing stand-up because I’m the writer and director and actor. It’s very satisfying.
Q: More so than TV?
A: Anything you do on TV is fun, but it’s diluted. Someone’s editing how you are. Being on stage, nobody can edit you. Nobody’s going to say, “You can only talk about this and that,” or “Don’t talk about anything political.”
Q: But you’ve got to appreciate the exposure from your TV roles …
A: Of course, but the thing that’s frustrating to me is that I’d like to have that much exposure from comedy. Stand-ups are weirdos. The place where we’re happiest is onstage trying to make a bunch of strangers laugh.
Q: You came up in the New York club scene but you’re an L.A. TV regular. Do you split your time evenly between the two places?
A: If I’m working I’m generally in L.A., but if I want to live my life, then I’m in New York. I like L.A. but it’s really just a giant office. I’m just not that interested in getting my hair and makeup done to go to the grocery store.
Q: I’ve read that you’re fluent in French. Do you ever do stand-up in French?
A: I haven’t but I’d love to. I’ll probably do the Montreal festival in the summer.
Although all of my jokes will be in the present tense, because that’s all I can remember immediately.
