Jonathan Mangum is a very busy comedic actor who lives in Los Angeles (where he bumps into lots of Second City alum) and visits his wife's hometown of Chicago here and there to enjoy Garrett's popcorn and beef sandwiches at Portillos. He shot en episode of ER here, has been seen on Comedy Central, and recently shot a scene in "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson. In this interview he describes how he and the cast of the Drew Carey show once kicked the cast and crew of ER's collective ass in a game of Medal of Honor. Just another day at the office.

Are we crazy, or did we see you hacking up a lung in a cough syrup commercial, then trying to sell us insurance, and then singing the praises of Verizon Wireless? Are you trying to take over television itself?

You are crazy, and yes I was hacking in a cough syrup commercial and the rest. I’m not trying to take over tv. I have. Seriously though, commercials are great. They’re a big part of my bread and butter. I’ve done over 100 since I moved to L.A. in 1995.

Did you start doing comedy in college, or how did you get started with that? What experiences have taught you the most valuable lessons about comedy (and what are those lessons)?

I got started while I was going to college, but not in college. I started with a improv theatre called SAK Theatre Comedy Lab in Orlando, FL. There I Met Wayne Brady and some other great performers. Eventually we all moved to L.A. and formed the Houseful of Honkeys.

As far as experiences, Fail Fail Fail and Fail again! Keep Failing. Embrace it. Do every single live performance you can do. The improv books are okay, but there’s nothing like doing it until you’re sick of it.

You've done a ton of television shows - you were a regular on The Drew Carey Show, and have appeared on Reno 911, Roseanne, Married...With Children, and even Clarissa Explains It All. Which sets were the most fun to hang around? Which one had the best craft services table?

Drew Carey for sure. Because the office setting of the last two seasons was an internet company, we set up eight computers that were used as props. However, they were all working computers with Medal of Honor loaded on them. We had death matches all day long. The filming of the show was a by-product of the gaming. We even took on some cast and crew from ER in a Medal of Honor bout. We kicked their dramatic lil asses. Best food? Also Drew Carey. I can’t describe to you the mind numbing set up. I got fat.

Your MySpace seems to indicate that you have 95,314 friends. That's a lot of birthday cards to send every year. How do you keep up?

I personally send a card and gift to each friend. In fact, that is all I have time for. That’s 261 birthdays per day.

You did Comic Relief 2006 in New Orleans a few months back. What was that like?

Loved it. I grew up in Mobile, AL which is 3 hours away from N.O. When I used to visit, I would either step in vomit or poo, every time (no joke). The city was filthy I feel bad for all the good folks affected by the hurricane, but a side effect was the clearing of the negative parts. The city was clean for once. The food and the architecture are amazing. The best part was Emeril cooked a dinner for us at his restaurant. It was unbelievable.

Did we read that you shot a scene with Jack Nicholson for the upcoming The Bucket List? What's it like to act opposite such a formidable screen presence?

Amazing. He was very nice to me. I was also surprised to see that acting in a scene with Jack, although a great honor, is no different than doing a commercial or any thing else. It’s always just the lights, the crew, the camera. Anything else is just in your mind.

What are you up to these days, and are there new comedy and acting challenges you'd like to tackle in the near future?

Doing a show for VH-1.com called HPC. Check it out.

I’m writing a lot with Wayne Brady. I also did a guest spot on FOX news’ comedy show, “The Half Hour News Hour”. It is a right wing version of the Daily Show. A lot of people I know were amazed that I would do a bit on a right wing comedy show. I told them I am a comedian. No target is safe or should be. As far as the future, I’d just like to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s a lot of fun!

- Elizabeth McQuern