Michael Ian Black is our favorite contributor on VH1's "I Love The..." specials, and is also the voice behind one of the greatest ad campaigns ever; the Pets.com sock puppet dog. Michael also performs stand-up comedy, appears in Sierra Mist commercials, and will make you laugh whether you want to or not. You can stay up-to-date on his touring schedule at his MySpace page (MySpace.com/MichaeiIanBlack) or his webpage located at MichaeIianBlack.typepad.com.

Q: What's the best part about being Michael Ian Black?

MIB: All the great ideas I have for ice cream flavors: green tea with white chocolate chips and crumbled fortune cookie, for example.

Q: If you weren't doing comedy what do you think you'd be doing instead?

MIB: Trading currencies on the Forex. (I don't know if the Forex is what you use to trade currencies, or really, what trading currencies is, but I like the word "Forex.")

Q: Perhaps the pinnacle display of your acting chops was when you portrayed Joey Diaz on NYPD Blue. Can you ever top that performance, and should you even try?

MIB: Once you've successfully tackled portraying a gay Puerto Rican street hustler, that's pretty much it. The only way to top it, I think, would be to play King Lear as a gay Puerto Rican street hustler.

Q: You guest starred on Reno 911 as "Kevin the Sex Offender. " We here at Wicked Info thought you made the character reasonably likable despite the character's perverted past. Did you have any temptation to "ham it up," and perform more of a twisted portrayal?

MIB: No. I just liked the idea of a very normal sex offender who was trying to get his neighbors psyched that he was moving into their neighborhood.

Q: Bar none, you're the best thing about every VH1 "I love (fill in the blank)" special. Do you improvise most of your material or do they give you some time to ponder your prose?

MIB: It's all improvised. I'm not industrious enough to actually write anything.

Q: Are the Sierra Mist commercials you're a part of completely scripted or do you have some room for improvisation?

MIB: They're pretty much scripted because it's very difficult to improvise a complete commercial in 30 seconds.

Q: Is it only a matter of time before VH1 runs a "I love the 40's" special, and how great would that be?

MIB: I would love to riff on Bing Crosby.

Q: You were the voice behind the Pets.com sock puppet dog, by far the best sock puppet of all time and star of one of the greatest commercial campaigns over the past ten years. How much did you enjoy doing those commercials, and do you still have the sock puppet?

MIB: I'll answer your second question first. Yes, I have one of the original sock puppets. I keep it in my subterranean vault next to my robe from the Barry Levon State sketch. As for playing the puppet, it was fun, but you have no idea how exhausting it is to keep your arm upright for hours on end. Try holding your arm up for ten minutes straight and you'll know what I'm talking about. I don't know how the guy who plays Elmo does it.

Q: You're quite a poker enthusiast, having appeared on the Bravo series Celebrity Poker Showdown multiple times. How would you describe your strategy and playing abilities?

MIB: My strategy is simply to vanquish foes. I am there to inflict psychic harm on all the elderly men and women at my table. My playing abilities I would describe as modest.

Q: Who are your favorite and least favorite comedians?

MIB: Favorite: Louis CK, Jim Gaffigan, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock.

Least Favorite: Tom Brokaw

Q: Your first stand-up comedy CD "I'm a Wonderful Man" came out a few months ago. For those that haven't purchased it yet, what can fans expect from it?

MIB: Mostly jokes and a very alluring naked centerfold.

Q: Do you have any plans to tour this year, or any other projects in the works?

MIB: I tour sporadically throughout the year. Check my website: michaelianblack.typepad.com or myspace for dates. And yes, there are always more projects in the works. A movie I wrote, "Run Fatboy Run" comes out at the end of March. And a book I wrote "My Custom Van" comes out in July.

Q: Finally, we end all interviews with word association. I say "wombat" and you say...

MIB: "Tom Wopat."