Funny, friendly Jon Lovitz

Just like the unstable characters he's famous for playing, it was hard to believe Jon Lovitz could garner a giggle as he sipped iced tea at a Dubai hotel.

When you meet a comedian, you don't think you're asking too much to expect a few laughs, cheap shots and a big heap of charisma. Lovitz didn't exactly deliver — well, not at first, anyway.

Stone-faced and looking a tad unapproachable, the American comedian, who headlines at the Nokia Comedy Club at Madinat Jumeirah Arena tonight, made it clear he wasn't planning on sugar-coating his everyday act for the media.

But while he sounds like every journalist's nightmare (a "friendly" warning was offered prior to meeting the funny man) when the same is true for his onslaught of refreshingly candid responses, the interview is priceless.

"The cast and crew on the set of Friends treated me like crap," Lovitz said of his experiences on the hit television show.

"Lisa Kudrow and I grew up together, and when the show first started I got a call asking if I would appear. They made me feel like I was doing them a favour," he said. "Nobody knew the show would do so well."

But eight years later, Lovitz learned the hard way favours are rarely returned in show business and Friends the show may have been, but friends he didn't have.

"They were filming series nine, but negotiations were going on for episodes for Season 10 and nobody would talk to me," he said, screwing up his face.

Bearing a worryingly-accurate resemblance to his character in the show — a former restaurateur "loser" who goes on a blind date with Jennifer Aniston's character, Rachel — Lovitz fiddled uncomfortably with his thumbs.

"It's like they told everyone, ‘Just say hi to him and nothing else.' I had to beg for the part and they finally wrote this bit where I play the biggest loser.

"Lisa said hi and Courtney [Cox] said, ‘Sorry, we can't talk to you — it's because we're in negotiations.' But I was like, what do I care? I think they thought if I heard anything then it might leak to the press."

Also known for a memorable cameo in The Wedding Singer and a five-year stint on Saturday Night Live, Lovitz could easily be mistaken for a grumpy old man.

But with fingers in more pies than he cares to mention, Lovitz has successfully conquered the world of television, film, stand-up comedy, advertising, animation and even Broadway.

‘No superstar'

And someone I'd previously mistaken as a temperamental actor with a lack of enthusiasm (or manners, depending how you see it) began to be replaced by a humble, down-to-earth, modest man just trying to make a living.

"The hardest thing is trying to keep your career going," he said sincerely. "I'm not a superstar. I get recognised in the street and people ask me to tell a joke [something he did, but we couldn't possibly print it in the pages of a family newspaper]. But I've just worked hard and taken the roles which have come my way."

It's ironic then, that his "fallback" as he calls it was the one thing he turned out to be the best at. "I wanted to do stand-up for more than 20 years," he said.

"But every time I got up on stage, my heart felt like it was jumping out my chest. I was so nervous. But people gave me a break and I got there."

The son of a doctor, 52-year-old Lovitz is still famous in the US for his stint on SNL between 1985 and 1990.

He's lent his voice to many characters for film and cartoons, including Artie Ziff, Marge's ex-prom date, in The Simpsons, He appeared in The Wedding Singer alongside Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore and has just finished filming the new release Casino Jack with Kevin Spacey.

A few tales-of-being-screwed-over-in-Hollywood later Lovitz started warming to his audience. His dry sense of humour grows on you and you can't help but picture him in on his awkward date with Rachel.

So what's the highlight of a life on the suburbs of the "big time"? "I had a call from my agent saying she got me job singing a duet with an English singer and it would appear on an album," he said straight-faced.

"I was like great, who is it? And she said Robbie Williams." He paused, looking up with an uninspired expression. "I'd never even heard of him," he added waiting for the laughter to subside around him.

"I was told a concert in England would be the equivalent of U2 in Ireland — it would sell out in minutes.

"He was a brilliant guy. So funny and a great performer. We performed at the Royal Albert Hall together and he's the only superstar I know who would tell jokes and wave to his mates while he's on stage."

In November 2007, Lovitz opened The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at Aubergine in the Downtown Gaslamp District in his hometown of San Diego, California, where he performs every Wednesday when he's in town.

A second Jon Lovitz Comedy Club has opened on City Walk in Universal Studios, Hollywood, and both are extremely successful.

Blowing my anti-media theory right out of the water, Lovitz rubber-stamped my misinterpretation of him. "Being interviewed is fun, because it makes me feel like I've done a lot. That's what makes me feel like I'm famous. That's it really."

Mr Grumpy officially became a really nice guy.

What to expect from tonight's show

"I make fun of myself, I make fun of everybody. I play the piano and sing funny songs about Bob Saget," says Jon Lovitz.

"I'd say my show is rated ‘R' — it's a little risqué."

Don't miss it

Jon Lovitz is the headline act at The Comedy Club at Madinat Jumeirah Arena Thursday night.

The show starts at 9pm and tickets cost Dh250. Call 800-4669 or 04-4334913. For dinner, drinks and table packages, visit comedyclubme.com