Todd Barry is funny. The Bronx-born stand-up comic (and recipient of NYC's FIRST ANNUAL NIGHTLIFE AWARD for best male comedian) is co-hosting a weekly show in NYC called TINKLE with fellow funnymen David Cross and Jon Benjamin. The show, which so far has sold out every performance, features a variety of stand up talent, some musical acts, and way more hard core gay porn than I expected.

I asked Todd's co-hosts to let me in on some secrets: what is Todd Barry really like?

Benjamin: Todd Barry, to me, is like that coat you bought years and years ago that has been sitting in your closet, all moth-eaten, but you refuse to throw it out, probably just out of laziness, but maybe a little bit of sentimentality. That's Todd to me....you can never throw him out.

Cross: What nobody knows about Todd is that he is an awesome ventriloquist. Really! He doesn't like to do it onstage (for obvious reasons) but if you ever see him in the street or at a restaurant, you've got to make him do a little bit for you. It'll blow you away. He's amazing.

Benjamin: Todd’s neat.

I spoke to Todd about some crucial issues: books, pie, and scoring with the ladies. It was neat.

kp: Who are your comedy heroes?
tb: I don't like that question.

kp: Okay. Tell us about TINKLE - what do we have to look forward to?
tb: Well, I have since seen you at Tinkle. It's a comedy show started by David Cross, me and Jon Benjamin. It features a wide variety of acts for all tastes and seasons.

kp: Have you heard this joke before? Q: What's white and goes up and down in a crib? A: My ass.
tb: No, but that shows how a joke can be SUPER POLITICALLY INCORRECT while still being SUPER HILARIOUS.

kp: Do you ever look yourself up on the internet?
tb: You clearly are not aware of my one-man-show called ICKY. It's about a woman who trashed me on alt.fan.conan-obrien. Do a search on www.deja.com [replaced by Google] and find out all about it!

kp: I was sort of aware, but I guess I'll go find out more now. Do you have any plans to work with Clint Howard?
tb: Plans? Try "dreams."

kp: Are you related to Fred Berry? Can you at least dance like Re-Run?
tb: Am I related to a black man who spells his name differently than me? AHAHAHA! LOL! That's a funny question, KITTENPANTS!!! WOOOOOO!

kp: Awesome. What is the first record you ever bought?
tb: I don't know what my record purchase was. But my first "cool" records were "London Calling" by THE CLASH, and "Repeat When Necessary" by DAVE EDMUNDS, a guy who you probably don't know about.

kp: First concert?
tb: It may have been BOSTON at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, FL. My first "cool" concert was BLONDIE, with opening act ROCKPILE at the Sunrise Musical Theatre, in Sunrise, FL.