Sometimes you just run out of space in a newspaper, but that's the beauty of The Internets...no boundaries. I had to cut down my conversation with Michael Ian Black for today's paper, but here's the DVD extra's version.

Also, if it had not been for my bungling of technology, it's possible we could have had an audio clip of the interview.

But to make up for it, here's a preview of tonight, some Michael (Ian Black)-on-Michael (Showalter) action via CollegeHumor.com and "The Michael Showalter Showalter."
*Warning, this clip contains strong language, adult themes and may not be suitable for young children, retirees or people who take themselves too seriously.

Doors for tonight's show at the Station are 7 p.m., tickets are available at the door, Bull Moose and via Ticketweb.

On to the interview:

Q: If you had your druthers, how would you promote or describe yourself?

A: Well I, uh, jeez...5’10,” cute as a button, slender, bordering on emaciated.

Q: You said that comedy sort of died off in the late 80s, why do you think that was?

A: Because it coincided with the cable television explosion and everybody was looking for programming. So there was stand-up comedy programming on every cable network because it was easy and it was cheap. So comics were sort of giving their material away to these television stations, and there was no point in going out to see them when you could turn on any channel and see them for free.
And I’m afraid some comedians will do that again with the Internet.

Q: As a group, Stella has done some work on CollegeHumor, how’s that worked out for you guys?

A: Well we had done work independent of College Humor, we were just making videos of our live show, we were doing night club shows in New York, and College Humor came along and asked if they could Web-cast them I guess is the word, so we said sure...so it worked out fine.

Q: I’m sure this is a question you get asked all the time, but how often do you get asked about "The State?"

A: Pretty much in every interview that I do.

Q: Do you ever get tired of it?

A: No, I mean, it’s...that’s my roots.
It would be like Alexander Solzhenitsyn not wanting to talk about Russia. And yes, I am comparing myself to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, favorably, I should add.

I defy you to spell Solzhenitsyn as you type.

I can't even begin to spell that.

I can't begin to tell you. It begins with S and ends with N, that's all I know.

Q: I saw recently that you got a new deal to do another show with Comedy Central. Will your experience with "Stella" affect working with the network now?

A: I had nothing but a positive experience working on "Stella." They gave us all the creative freedom we wanted, they really left us alone, I thought they did a good job of promoting the show. It’s just that the audience didn’t seem to agree with us that it was a funny, groundbreaking, innovative and wonderful show. They seemed to think it was pedantic, stupid and boring.

And honestly I don’t even know what pedantic means.

I think ultimately the show was just a little too left of center for the mainstream Comedy Central viewer. But like "The State," it has its following.

If I can just succeed on the margins of society for my entire career, I will consider it a career well spent. And so far, I’m succeeding.

That’s certainly a measure of success I guess.

I’m clawing my way towards the b-list, and it's nowhere in sight.

Q: Would you ever do one of those shows like Kathy Griffin, Life on the B-list, C-list, D-list, F-list maybe?

A: Never say never man, you know? Mortgage payment has to get made.

Q: What other projects are you working on now?

A: Isn’t it enough that I’m touring the country, making a comedy album, doing a pilot...isn’t that enough for you people? Why is it always more, more, more? I can only give so much.

In other words I’m totally unemployed and looking for work.

Q: I know that you’re married and a father. Would you ever see yourself changing the type of projects you work in as your children grow up?

A: I don’t think I would consciously do that, but you know I think as you get older your interests change. So I mean if I found myself gravitating towards that kind of material - which I can’t imagine - then I don’t see why I wouldn’t do it. I don’t know, it’s one of those never say never things. My interest is not particularly in sort of G and PG rated fare, but if the right thing came along, sure.

Q: So no "Shrek" part 7 or anything like that?

A: If the good people at "Shrek" wanted me to be part of their franchise, I wouldn’t hesitate.

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