A lot to ‘Ask’

Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 | 4:04 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 26, 2003

Is Rita Rudner a clone?

The peripatetic comedian is meeting herself coming and going, starring in her own show at New York-New York's Cabaret Theatre, penning books ("Tickled Pink"), writing jokes for the Academy Awards (which air March 23 on ABC) and co-producing shows (ventriloquist David Strassman's "Dummy" at Golden Nugget).

She and her husband, writer-producer-director Martin Bergman, recently adopted a baby who is now 6 months old.

And Rudner is the host of "Ask Rita," a new 30-minute, syndicated talk show that debuts Monday.

Her hectic schedule has forced her to put aside completing her second book, which she says will be titled "Tickled Green."

Rudner recently discussed her television project.

Las Vegas Sun: You're involved in so many things. What prompted you to add more to your workload?

RR: I don't know. I'm trying to find a pill that stops us from having new ideas.

Sun: Are you working on the upcoming Academy Awards show?

RR: I'm supposed to be, but instead I filmed my new TV show, "Ask Rita," and I couldn't do everything at once so I'm waiting 'til the nominations come out. And then I'm waiting until after the Academy Awards have actually been aired before I start to do any work because then I'll know what's funny.

Sun: How did you come up with the idea for "Ask Rita?"

RR: We were kind of thinking about what I could do on television. People always want me to do another HBO special, but that's very hard to do. I have to travel around the country for a year getting my material together, and then I do the special and everyone says "That was really good, when's your next HBO special?" I couldn't keep doing that. This is a format that plays to my comedic strength, which is about men and women and relationships.

I've been a comedian so long I know loads of funny people who can come on the show and they have interesting takes on everything.

Sun: What's the format of your new series?

Rita Rudner: Remember the TV show "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Maher? In television they always like to describe something in terms of something that has already been on. So my show is "Dear Abby" meets "Politically Incorrect." We just discuss people's personal problems instead of political problems.

Sun: What's the lineup going to be like?

RR: There are four guests on each show, two men and two women -- comedians, celebrities, journalists. We discuss people's personal lives, based on four or five letters people have mailed to me. Sometimes I have a solution and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I leave it to the audience. There's a local psychologist I consult with. He helps me if there's anything serious I have to address. We discuss all the letters with him beforehand.

Sun: Where do the letters come from?

RR: A website called ritafunny.com. People have sent me loads of letters. Also, KVBC has gotten letters in Las Vegas.

Sun: How many shows are in the can?

RR: We have filmed 28 shows, including two pilots. It's being syndicated to over 70 percent of the country and it hasn't aired yet. We're hoping once it airs we will get the last 30 percent.

We start the next filming in February, hopefully in Las Vegas. The first series of shows we were in Los Angeles. We're trying to figure out a way to do it in Las Vegas so I don't have to take too much time off from New York-New York.

Sun: Of the shows already taped, do you have a favorite?

RR: One of our favorites was when Heidi Fleiss was on the same show with Phyllis Diller. It was hysterical. We had a great time.

Sun: Did Fleiss talk about her problems involving prostitution?

RR: Oh, yes. Absolutely. She's very forthcoming and open. She has a new book out ("Pandering"), so she tells everything.

Sun: Who have been some of your other guests?

RR: We've had a lot of fun guests on the first series of shows. Dennis Miller was so terrific, and Howie Mandel and Kevin Nealon and Leeza Gibbons and Phyllis Diller ... they were just terrific. And Heidi Fleiss of course. It was really fun to meet someone you have read so much about, and we got along great.

Sun: What are some of the more unusual questions?

RR: A lot of them are questions about men and how women know men are cheating. Men and women have different viewpoints on those questions.

Sun: On what constitutes cheating?

RR: Exactly. We get into the Bill Clinton area. We have some wacky sex problems. The wackiest was the woman who liked to dress as an infant when she became depressed. She wanted to know if she should tell her husband-to-be.

Sun: She liked to dress as an infant?

RR: Diapers, rattle. I consulted with my psychologist, and it's a real psychological problem, people who want to go back to infancy because they can't deal with the stress of being an adult.

Then there was the guy who wanted his girlfriend to take part in a threesome. That was a wacky one. People have all different opinions.

Sun: So you read the letters and you and your guests discuss ideas about how to solve the problem?

RR: Yes, and I have the last word because the show is called "Ask Rita."