Self-Mochrie

Kimberley McGee

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 4:44 a.m.

Colin Mochrie isn't a comedian, but he plays one on TV.

The quiet Canadian comic is a self-proclaimed "average guy," yet his improv schtick draws ripples of laughter from the live audience of ABC's "Whose Line is it Anyway?" which airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. (Channel 13).

Mochrie joins fellow comedians Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Brad Sherwood in the "Improv All Stars" Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel.

An alum of Toronto's Second City comedy troupe, Mochrie spent most of his career in improvisational theater.

He recently completed two independent films, "Jane White is Sick and Twisted" and "Do it for Uncle Manny."

Mochrie lives in Toronto with his wife, writer Debra McGrath, and 9-year-old son, Luke, who is his improvisation inspiration.

During a recent telephone conversation, Mochrie spoke with the Sun from the lobby of a New York hotel as he waited -- patiently -- for his room (which was supposed to have been ready for him hours earlier):

Las Vegas Sun: What is your secret to good improv?

Colin Mochrie: There are certain tricks you have, usually swearing or killing someone onstage. Any kind of genitalia reference works. It's sad but true. When things aren't going well, it's like a race to see who will come up with the first genitalia joke.

Sun: What do you say to those who think improv is set up?

CM: They just think there's some sort of great improv conspiracy.

It's our one big skill. It's what we do. It's what the show's about. I can't do brain surgery, but I believe other people can.

The worst thing about improv is when it goes well people think you have written it, and when it sucks they just think you are bad improvisers. As you can tell, I get frustrated.

Sun: Off the top of your head, what are things you won't hear in a Las Vegas lounge?

CM: "I've won enough." "These drinks aren't watered down at all!"

Sun: Rejected hotel themes?

CM: Slaughter House Five. The Apocalypse Lounge. The Pork Room.

Sun: How do you keep fresh?

CM: That's a good question. The number one rule is to surround yourself with great people. I guess it's all about being open and listening to them and willing to go wherever they go.

I love the fact that we never go out there knowing for sure what's going to happen.

Sun: You've worked with Ryan Stiles for more than 20 years.

CM: It really helps to have that sort of relationship with someone. I would say 80 percent of the time I know exactly where he is going.

We are getting to the point where we are just trying to make each other laugh. We are trying to be the new Harvey Korman and Tim Conway.

Sun: What are some of your favorite improv games?

CM: The things I always hated were anything musical. I would love to be able to do that, but I can't. I love the games that don't have a lot of gimmicks, where we are just working off each other.

Sun: Have you ever had to censor yourselves before it got out of hand?

CM: We are usually pretty good about language and things. There was one ... It was "Things you could say to your dog, but you can't say to your girlfriend." I said, "Come," but I accompanied it with this little beckoning motion. But to you and everyone else it looked like something different. They cut that out (from "Whose Line is it Anyway?").

Sun: You've been busy with the improv tour, movies and the Canadian television series "Blackfly."

CM: I've been very fortunate that my friends have gotten into positions of power and asked me to get involved (laughs). I'm lazy in that I don't have a real skill. I just do this.

There have been so many years when there was nothing happening that I feel if I say, "No," to anything I would jinx myself.

Sun: Do you ever plan to work with "The Second City" show at the Flamingo Las Vegas?

CM: It seems the last couple of years I've been heading to Vegas a lot, so I'd certainly like to take a gander at it. It would be the most dangerous situation in the world for me to be at "Second City" in Vegas. My paycheck would be gone every week.

I'm not even that big a gambler. Like when we (he and Stiles) go with Drew (Carey), he's up at least $50,000 by the time we've left. I'm down maybe $1,000 and I'm cringing.

Sun: How does your TV persona differ from your persona at home?

CM: I'm not that interesting a person. People are quickly bored with me when they meet me on the street because I'm quite withdrawn, not really "on."

The Colin at home sits and watches the Colin on television and goes, "Who is that person?"