Some of Richard Lewis' random thoughts

[Brian Damage]

Comedian Richard Lewis uses his life to provide fodder for his act. His neuroses are his comic gold - and everything is fair game.

Here are a few of his random thoughts about life and the world around him from a recent interview:

On the steroid scandal in sports: "I wish I had a trainer who would shoot me up before each show to make my problems seem even more encompassing."

After going on a free-association riff about several different subjects, none of which he'd been asked about: "I've never answered a question in my life. I've made a career out of mining my own craziness."

On how his taste in comedians was shaped by his childhood: "With my family and my upbringing and the low self-esteem, it's no wonder I responded to Woody Allen when I'd see him on 'Johnny Carson.' He was a Jew from Brooklyn who seemed to have the same problems I did. Or Oscar Levant, who was an actor and pianist who was brilliant - but crazy. Everybody seemed to come from the same tree."

On his friendship with comedians Phyllis Diller and Jonathan Winters: "They're like surrogate parents to me, the parents I wish I had growing up. Getting close with them is way more surreal than being in the Oval Office or hanging out with the Rolling Stones."

On psychotherapy: "My shrink had become a pit stop; I'd do a phoner. I thought I was healthy and tried terminating therapy. But I weepily crawled back."

On landing acting roles in which he doesn't play Richard Lewis-types: "I recognize Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino when they play different roles. Casting directors are able to suspend their disbelief with actors - but somehow, with comedians, it doesn't happen. The older I get, the more it sickens me that casting directors can't see past that."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain..._thoughts.html

[TJL]

Richard Lewis is one of my favorite comics.

I saw him perform when i was in college, and he was hysterical.