A house divided against itself cannot stand. About a year ago, Jay Mohr had an epiphany with the help of comedic legend Buddy Hackett.

At that moment Mohr realized he was a comic not an actor, and that everything else in his life was just "bonus and gravy."

Like his role in the upcoming indie film "Seeing Other People," his new role on "CSI Miami" this fall and his book, "Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches" (his diary about “Saturday Night Live”), which is due out this spring.
Mohr is happiest when he's telling jokes. And this weekend he'll return to the Tempe Improv for six shows to do what he loves best.

He'll bring new material — "seven to 10 new minutes about a string of commercials that really bother me," Mohr says. "Like, if I ever meet that 'Can you hear me now?' guy, I'm going to punch him in the Adam's apple."

And he'll talk about his 10-month-old son. "We should have named him Half Hour of New Material."

As for his material, Mohr says his act is a little cleaner than it used to be.

"I think that just comes from being less angry." Mohr hasn't consciously toned down his material. "I've just mellowed a bit."
He no longer feels pressure or anxiety when he goes out on stage.

"It's like a pitcher being confident with his stuff," Mohr says. "When Randy Johnson takes the hill, I don't think he says: 'Oh my God, the top of the order's up. My change up isn't working.'

"Just pitch," Mohr says. "You're Randy Johnson. It's going to happen."

Jay Mohr

Where: Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday
How much: $22-$25
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