Paul Reiser of "Mad About You" Sells Out at Junior's Last Laugh

Paul Reiser, comedian, actor, and author, is now back to his roots doing stand up comedy.  

On Friday night, he performed to a packed house at Junior's Last Laugh. 

"I'm having a ball. I had not been doing standup for almost 20 years, then about two years ago, I just got the itch," Reiser said. "Wherever they'll have me, I'll go. It's what I started doing, and it's what I love doing best." 

Reiser is currently working in Pittsburgh on a Will Smith movie that will be out next fall, which is how Junior's managed to book Reiser. 

The diverse performer is most widely known for his seven-year role starring in 90's sitcom, "Mad About You."  

His most recent complete acting role is in the critically acclaimed 2014 drama, called "Whiplash." The movie is on limited release in some cities now, and will be in Erie soon. 

"It's about this kid, Miles Teller. He plays this kid and I play his dad. He has this brutal teacher, J.K. Simmons and it's just an emotional roller coaster. Go see it," Reiser said. 

But, he says there's nothing quite like stand up comedy.  

"That's the thing. That's the appeal of it - there's no middle man. You think of something, you tell it to the audience, and you get your laugh right there. You don't have to explain it to 12 executives, you don't have to raise money, you just do it. So it's really refreshing and fun," he said. 

Reiser got his start doing standup in the 80's. But now, his content has changed a bit.

"It's 25 years down the road, and life is different. Times are different, and so the jokes are different.  I always tell my wife and my kids if itweren'tt for them, I'd have no act. So luckily, they stick around, and I jot things down," Reiser said. 

Reiser performed two shows at Junior's on Friday, but is only in town for the one evening.