The always-funny Tim Meadows was a "Saturday Night Live" cast member for almost 10 seasons. Friday, he'll serve as the first guest for the 2012 season of "Wits." We caught up with the man behind Leon "The Ladies Man" Phelps to talk public radio, stand-up and "SNL."
Q: How'd you get involved with "Wits"?
A: Paul F. Tompkins did the show [in 2011] and afterwards he sent a mass email to his friends and suggested that if we had the ability to do it, that we should do it because he had a great time.
Q: Are you a public-radio guy?
A: I like "All Things Considered" and "All Songs Considered." I've listened to "Prairie Home Companion" for years. I was interviewed by Terry Gross years ago and she was genuinely inquisitive about how I do my job. It made me feel good, like, "Wow, someone who has interviewed world leaders did her research and is actually taking an interest in me."
Q: Can monotone, professorial public radio hosts learn anything from Leon Phelps, a fellow radio man?
A: I doubt it. I think NPR is way above what Leon does. If anything, Leon has a frank, honest, inquisitive nature about sex. And he's not that afraid to say what he thinks, even if it's gross to other people.
Q: Are you familiar with Rhett Miller, your musical cohort for "Wits"?