Career comedian Richard Lewis has become newly relevant the past decade, thanks to HBO’s Emmy-winning “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which will become the network’s longest-running scripted series when its eighth season debuts next year.
But Lewis has rarely stopped touring his comedy act over the past 39 years. As a product of the fertile New York stand-up scene that birthed friends like “Curb” star and “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David, Lewis has always traded on his Jewish heritage and fast-talking, neurotic persona.
Of course, Lewis doesn’t so much talk as bounce around like a high-speed pinball. We tried to chart his trajectory via phone from his home in Los Angeles in advance of his Comedy Works South gigs today and Saturday.
Q:I noticed that “Curb” is now in syndication. How does such a raw, profanity- laced show get away with that?
A: Well, I went in for eight hours of overdubbing to take care of seven seasons of (cursing). But Susie (Essman, who plays Larry David’s nemesis) — I can’t even imagine how long she had to spend in the recording studio. It must have been like Guantanamo Bay in there for her!
Q:“Curb” seems to have been a real boon for your career the last decade.
A: I’m glad it’s either loved or hated, because I love cult kinds of things. That said, this fit the bill for me and my stand-up. The people that like “Curb,” most of them would understand my craziness.
Q:And you really have known Larry David since you were kids, just like your characters on the show?
A: We really did know each other as kids at camp and hated each other, but we became best friends as young comedians in our 20s in New York. We were inseparable then. And “Curb” has been a great thing for me. I mean, it resurrected my career. The audience is high-school kids through late boomers.
Q:How has your stand-up act evolved since “Curb” debuted?
A: My life is my act and if my life changes this morning, there’s no way I’m not going to talk about it on stage tonight. That’s what I do on talk shows. Because to me, honing an act is boring. Honing a monologue for “Carson” or “Letterman” was a different story though.
Q:Like a lot of stand-ups, you’ve really benefited from your presence on late- night shows over the years.
A: I’m 62 years old and I’ve done every show a million times. At this point I’ve outlived the talent bookers! I say, “Look, ask me about God, my rash, marriage, infidelities, whatever. Because whatever you think I’m going to say, I’m not.”
Q:I see that you’re also in next year’s “Vamps,” which is the first movie Amy Heckerling has directed with Alicia Silverstone since “Clueless.” How was that experience?
A: You never know until you see the movie how it is, but the spirit on the set was great — particularly working with Amy, who was an unbelievably collaborative actor’s director. Everyone was sucking blood and having sex — it was very cool.
Q:Can you reveal anything about “Curb’s” eighth season?
A: I’m knee-deep in three or four episodes right now, but I can’t relate too much. We did have this one scene where (Larry David) looked at me and did one of his ad-libs, and I looked at him and I said, “I’ve known this guy for 50 years.” And it really hit me: “Whoa, this is our third act, Jack!”
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
richard lewis.
Stand-up comedy. Comedy Works South at the Landmark, 5345 Landmark Place in Greenwood Village. Today-Saturday. 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. $30. 720-274-6800 or
