Christian Finnegan is a stand-up comedian who has appeared on Chappelle's Show, had his own Comedy Central special, and is a regular on VH1's Best Week Ever. His debut stand-up CD released in October 2006 and appeared as the host on TV Land's short-lived game show Game Time. He will be appearing at the Laff Stop in Houston from July 11th-14th, so make sure to stop by and see him if you're in the area. For information on his upcoming appearances you can visit his website at ChristianFinnegan.com or his MySpace page at MySpace.com/ChristianFinnegan.

Q: Your full name is Fletcher Christian Finnegan. What makes you infinitely cooler than the other celebs that have also chosen to drop their real first name (e.g. James Paul McCartney, Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon, and Christopher Ashton Kutcher)?

CF: The difference is, once the celebrities you mentioned dropped their first names, they made millions and became loved by millions. The dropping of my first name, on the other hand, brought no influx of dollars and/or admirers. That means I'm "keeping it real", yo. In reality, I've never used my first name-it's always been "Christian", "Chris" or most commonly, "douchebag".

Q: We always love your work on VH1's Best Week Ever. What are your favorite and least favorite things about being on that show?

CF: My favorite thing about Best Week Ever is coming up with a joke that makes the camera and sound guys laugh. Those guys have to sit in a small room and hear jackasses like me make Tara Reid jokes all day long-if you can get through to them, that's an achievement. I make a point of writing at least a couple of jokes every week that are incredibly filthy and mean-spirited. I know they have no chance of getting on the show, but it tends to wake the room up. The worst part of Best Week Ever? The inevitable disappointment I feel when the producers decide not to use one of my filthy and mean-spirited jokes.

Q: In 2006, you married your publicist Kambri Crews. Other than an abundance of amorous feelings and true desire to sync up with your soul mate, was this union also used to cut down on the amount of valet parking you paid at her office?

CF: Well for starters, we live in NYC so valet parking isn't a concern, you LA phony. Secondly, her office is in our apartment. The best part about being married to a publicist is that whenever I perform my husbandly duties in an effective manner, she sends out a press release.

Q: Why do people say something is out of whack? What's a whack?

CF: Not sure about this one. I think you'd have to ask Fab 5 Freddy.

Q: What would your fans be surprised to learn about you?

CF: Other than the fact they exist? Hmm, let's see... Okay, here's something: my family line can be traced all the way back to Genghis Khan. Now that statement is not in any way true, but if it was people would most certainly be surprised to learn it.

Q: You host TV Land's Game Time. The show has been described as two hours of audience participation comedy experiment that essentially boils down to "stupid stunts." If you had to "hip things up," in order to make the show play for a major network, what changes, other than you in a dangerously tight Speedo, might we see?

CF: Wow. This is awkward. Um, how do I put this..? Game Time is, as they say, "on permanent hiatus", i.e. not on the air anymore. Maybe if you'd brought this Speedo idea up earlier, it could have been saved. Guess we'll never know. I did, however, get to meet David Cassidy, the guy who played Carmine on "Laverne and Shirley" and a professional show-chimp. Jealous much?

Q: If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

CF: You know, a couple of these questions have a distinctly Dave Barry-esque quality, as if they're amusing rhetorical premises you might find in the Sunday paper. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to provide answers or chuckle amiably before moving on to the Word Jumble.

Q: Your debut stand up comedy CD "Two for Flinching" went on sale in October of last year and is now available on iTunes. In this digital era, are you discovering that more people are buying the disc or downloading it?

CF: Putting out a stand-alone comedy CD in this day and age without an accompanying DVD is almost akin to putting it out on 8-track. But that didn't stop me! My next album will be available only on Victrola, Viewmaster and parchment. Honestly, I don't care how people get the album, although people who buy it on iTunes will miss out on all of the tasteful nudity I included in the liner notes.

Q: Where can we catch more of you this year?

CF: Dammit Simon, is this another one of those "funny" questions? I thought I told you I...oh wait. Sorry about that. Anyway, in addition to Best Week Ever I can be seen bringing the gift of awkward laughter to clubs and colleges all over this great nation. Among the places I'll be in the next few months: Houston, Philly, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and of course my beloved New York City. Interested parties can check out www.christianfinnegan.com or become my creepy MySpace friend.

Q: Let's end with word association! We say wombat and you say........

CF: Sudoku!