Comedian Jake Johannsen is nonthreatening and sweet, a smiley guy with a touch of endearing neurosis.

Don't take him lightly, however. He's a comedic heavyweight, having performed on “The Late Show With David Letterman” more than 30 times. He was featured in TV Guide's 50 funniest moments in television history for his “This'll Take About an Hour” HBO special and has been nominated for best male stand-up comedian at the American Comedy Awards.

Given that résumé, Webster we can forgive a little comedic cockiness.
“Sometimes people leave my shows with their faces hurting so much from laughing,” says Johannsen, who performs this weekend at the Tempe Improv. He'll be ranting and raving about everything from cheesy changed per Thomas television advertisements to his baby girl.

One pop culture phenomenon he doesn't get much inspiration from is reality television. “American Idol” is hard for him to sit through.

“I found it upsetting because these people are coming to sing in the hotel banquet room in front of judges,” Johannsen says. “It took me back to the beginning of my comedy, and I just felt so freaked out by the show that I couldn't watch.”

Johannsen got his start in San Francisco. “It's one of the few jobs you kind of learn by doing,” Johannsen says.

Johannsen's talent has enabled him to shoot a yet-to-be-titled pilot for TBS, where he plays a guy managing a restaurant. A previous pilot shot for NBC never got off the ground, and he hopes the new show has better luck.

“If at first you don't succeed, try, try again,” Johannsen says. “Stand-up is fun because you get to write it and perform it and produce it and direct it, and you get to make the decisions and have all the control. It would be great to do a little more acting in some bigger vehicles, whether it be a TV show or movies.”