Kathy Griffin

Her life is like a sitcom. Wacky redhead strolls down MichiganAvenue. A guy approaches. "Hey, aren't you on some TV show?" heasks hopefully. She runs a hand through her frizzy hair. "Don't yourecognize me? I was profiled on `60 Minutes,' but I feel much betternow. I've had some therapy," she says, laughing like a madwoman.

Suddenly, it's Kathy Griffin striking again. Watch out for thezany sidekick to Brooke Shields on NBC's hit series "Suddenly Susan,"because the Chicago native will pummel anyone who gets in the way ofa punch line.

Q. Would you ever want to play the series lead instead of thesidekick?A. If I had my own show, I'd cast someone else in the lead andgive myself the role of the mousy sidekick. It's the law orsomething.Q. How does a Chicago girl become Must See TV?A. I went to Oak Park High School, where I used to do theplays. I came to L.A. and didn't want to do the standup club scene,so I worked with the Groundlings doing sketches. Then I did bitmovie roles. I was in ``Pulp Fiction."' When Bruce Willis runsover Ving Rhames, I'm the girl screaming, ``That guy is crazy! He'sa maniac!"' Then I played Jim Carrey's mom in ``The Cable Guy."'Q. What has been your weirdest role?A. On ``ER"' two seasons ago I was a troop scout leader. Ialso played Jerry's college friend who gives him the wrong barbecuesauce on ``Seinfeld."' If that's not enough, I did a famouscommercial for Kenwood stereos where I'm dressed like a '70s discoqueen and I recite the lyrics to ``Play That Funky Music WhiteBoy."'Q. Does having a hit sitcom mean men are ringing your phone offthe hook?A. Now I have my pick of losers. Now guys can mistreat me allover the country.Q. Can't Brooke set you up with someone?A. Andre Agassi, Brooke's husband, wants to set me up with aRussian tennis player. OK, I pushed him. The first time I met Andreon our set I very sweetly said, ``Hi, nice to meet you. Who's singleon the tennis scene? Come on, Andre. Names. Names! I wantnumbers, too! Give it up now!" I was hurt when Andre ran from theroom screaming, but come on.Q. What is the key to your heart?A. Two of the best things a man can say to a woman are, ``Ilove to watch you eat,"' and ``You know, honey, you really do lookbetter without makeup."Q. What's the worst thing a man has ever said to you?A. Once I went out with a makeup artist and he looked at me,shook his prissy little head and said, ``You might want to blendmore."