Jeanmarie Simpson: You’re one of the funniest people alive! Maybe my favorite comedy moment is you (on SNL) as the devil putting Paul Simon on the elevator that is hell, where he has to listen to Muzac versions of his work for all eternity.

Comedian Jon Lovitz attends the press conference announcing the May 28th opening of The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at Universal City Walk

Jon Lovitz: I have to give credit to Jim Downey, who was the head writer on SNL when I was there. The first time I played the devil was in a sketch Jim wrote. It was a parody of the show The People’s Court. It went well, so they kept the devil as a recurring character. The funniest part of it to me was the costume. The costume designer had bought a cheap Halloween costume and showed it to me and said, “How about this?” It was such a lame attempt at a costume, I thought it was hilarious — complete with a plastic pitch fork. It really was a costume for a five-year-old.

JS: How’s it going with the upcoming opening of your new Comedy Club?

JL: Everything is going great. The club is called Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, located at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles. We’re redoing the club to have a beach theme, complete with an onstage set of palm trees and the background of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. We also have great food: Mulberry Street Pizza, Jerry’s Famous Deli’s desserts and gourmet food from The Perfect Bite. We have all the top comedians wanting to play our club. Great atmosphere, great food, great location and great comedians! We have the Grand Opening May 28th. It’ll be like a movie premiere! And we have $3 valet after 9:00 p.m. I’m telling you, it’s going to be great!

JS: Your May 28th Grand Opening event will benefit The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Can you tell me about that? What is your interest in Ovarian Cancer Research?

JL: One of my best friends is Faith Kates. She is the owner of Next Model Management and the president of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, so I offered to use the ticket sales of my opening night to benefit the fund. It’s an easy thing to do and it feels right to help out my friend. Plus, I love women and this is a very devastating disease. I’m glad I can help. We will be using the club in the future for other charities and foundations, such as the Wyland Foundation, which raises money for conservation of the world’s oceans, and Haven House which is a shelter for battered women and children.

JS: Is there anything funny about Cancer?

JL: I don’t think so. However, it is ironic –- you can use humor to defeat Cancer, the way Norman Cousins did. He was told he was dying of Cancer, so he went home and watched the Marx Brothers comedies, and guess what? All that laughing cured his Cancer. They say laughter is the best medicine, and I agree one hundred percent!

JS: How do you balance your drive to be funny (it’s clearly effortless on your part, but it’s also your job and livelihood) with your concern about those diagnosed with Cancer and finding a cure? Is it challenging sometimes? Do you ever just want to sit down and cry?

JL: I was at Mardi Gras in New Orleans a few years back. I was asked to be the King of Bacchus, which is one of the “Crewes,” as they are called, whose job it is to put together thirty floats for a parade. But the other important part of Bacchus is to raise money for charities. It was a great weekend. They literally treat you like a king. You can bring your friends, they give you dinners and lunches at whatever restaurants you want… They make you a special king’s costume and 250,000 special gold coins with your face on them. You toss these coins to the crowd, like a king. The only thing they ask you to do is visit Children’s Hospital and visit with the kids there, which I did. After I left, I cried. It was very, very difficult seeing sick children. But one kid, about fifteen, saw me and said, “Hey, Jon Lovitz! I love The Critic!” It’s hard, emotionally, to do, but I realized what they are going through is, of course, the hardest thing possible. I felt sad but also very glad that I went there knowing I cheered the kids up for a little while. It’s very humbling and makes you thankful for health and everything else you have in your life.

JS: Are you working on any other projects? What’s next for you?

JL: Right now I’m focusing on my stand-up and my club. Believe you me, that’s plenty. I hope you can make it to the club. You’ll have a great time.