Seriously funny

March 23, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

It may be hard to believe, but this year marks the 20th anniversary of Johnny Carson’s leaving “The Tonight Show.” These days the number of touring comedians who appeared on the iconic late-night program is dwindling. To put it in perspective, back then getting on Carson made careers. Naturally this came in a pre-cable-television-era where viewers had the option of watching “Nightline” or Carson’s monologue.

As for his guests, specifically comedians, if you did well on the “The Tonight Show,” you instantly became a name in the comedy world. And if Johnny liked your set enough to invite you over to his desk, well, it was a feeling like hitting the game winning home run in a World Series game and scoring the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

One such person who achieved both is comedian-actor Kevin Nealon, who before he appeared in the ’90s on “Saturday Night Live” and current Showtime series “Weeds” was a working stand-up act. Nealon makes his long-awaited return to Cleveland with shows Friday and Saturday at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre.

“It didn’t change my life, but it was probably the highlight of my life, besides my son being born,” said Nealon, calling from Los Angeles. “It probably trumped anything else I’ve done in this business. As a comic, that’s like passing the bar exam. It’s really the biggest obstacle and challenge to do.

“I was approved to be on the show, and I had a great set. Then he called me over to the couch. I sat down and talked for a while. I’ve never had more of a natural high than that. Between the time I did it and the time it aired, I was floating and just praying there wouldn’t be any kind of a natural disaster that would be preempted.”

Not only is Nealon’s story golden, but his paranoia remains steadfast today appearing in his stand-up material, which he describes as being dry witted, nonthreatening and absurd with a little bit of shock value. Currently he’s honing his act for an hourlong Showtime special to be taped next month. He joked so far he has a solid five minutes.

“My material is based on truth with a little bit of a twist or an embellishment to it,” Nealon said. “I’ll talk about my thoughts on stress and staying healthy. I have a lot of fears. I talk about tsunamis and the rapture. I also talk about family. We’re looking for a private school to send our child, who will be going to kindergarten next year. But I’d like to see him get some diversity. My feeling is if he does go to this school, he’s going to have to join a gang so he gets that diversity. And it’ll have to be an Asian gang so he gets an education as well.”

In many ways, Nealon’s onstage persona and real life personality couldn’t be more dissimilar to his “Weeds” character Doug, a drug-taking, sex-crazed ex-city councilman. When asked what Doug would think of his stand-up, Nealon joked, “He’d wonder why there weren’t more hot chicks. Doug is so attractive to people because he’s a nameless wreck. And people like watching car crashes. He’s so sloppy and so aimless. And he enjoys a good time. People live vicariously through him because he’s doing what everybody wishes they could do.”

Even though Doug is naturally a fictional character, Nealon said some audiences coming to see him don’t quite get that.

“I’ve turned a lot of pot down in the last seven years, a lot of coke,” Nealon said. “I’ve never done coke. One of my jokes is I said I never did coke because I have low self-esteem. They usually brought it out on a mirror and I hate looking at myself.”