Comedians

Veteran comedian David Steinberg, who has directed such hit TV comedies as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Mad About You" and "Seinfeld," returns to Showtime on Monday evening for the second season of his interview series, "Inside Comedy. " This season he turns his lens on Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Bob Newhart, Jim Carrey and more. Do you think comedy can be dissected? I don't really dissect comedy. Nothing kills off humor more than overanalyzing it. On our show, it's just a conversation that I don't prepare for at all. Usually I know everyone because I've been around a lot, but the idea is to get their feeling about what it is that they're doing, the start, the middle and where they are now. What you get is very, very funny people who aren't switched on as they usually are on a talk show in front of an audience, so you can see how naturally funny they are. PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times I thought it was interesting when Jim Carrey told you he thought that comics come from mothers with some form of mental illness.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh may be the dirtiest player in the NFL to some, but don't tell that to comedian Louie Anderson. Why? Because Suh saved Anderson's life during the taping of the new ABC celebrity diving show "Splash. " TMZ.com was the first to report the story. Apparently, Anderson was practicing his dives when he was overcome with exhaustion and sank to the bottom of the pool. Suh noticed and immediately jumped in and pulled Anderson to the surface. Former Olympic diver Greg Louganis (who you have to hope isn't one of the competitors -- talk about an unfair advantage)

Huell Howser, 67, one of public television's most iconic figures, died Sunday night, his assistant Ryan Morris said. No other details were given. His platform was traditional and unflashy - highlighting familiar and off-the-beaten-track spots all around California in public television series with titles such as "California's Gold," "Visiting," "Road Trip" and "Downtown. " But though his shows were focused on points and people of interest, it was Howser who turned into the main attraction, tackling his subjects with an awestruck curiosity and relentless enthusiasm.

LONDON - First, Silvio Berlusconi, who was driven from power last year by Italy's economic woes and his own scandals, said he wanted back his old job as prime minister. Then Mario Monti, an appointed technocrat who succeeded him at the head of an unelected government, kept the nation guessing for weeks before suddenly declaring that he would dive into politics and seek to lead the next government. They're only part of a perplexing lineup of political candidates voters will face in February's elections as political parties begin a frantic search for coalition partners.

At first glance this pairing of Joe Rogan and Doug Stanhope could be dismissed as an evening of strictly bro-centered laughs with two comics who briefly were the replacement hosts for "The Man Show" after the end of the Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla era. But don't dismiss the chops on display as both are among the sharpest wits working today, with Stanhope reaching a new audience with a raw-nerved turn on FX's "Louie. " The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Fri., 7 p.m. $38.50. http://www.livenation.com.

Maria Bamford shuffles across her Eagle Rock kitchen, shoulders hunched and arms slack at her sides, as a video crew of nearly two dozen mills about. "'Scuse me, 'scuse, um, 'scuse …" comes her meek, trembling voice. The sink is piled high with dirty dishes, the floor strewn with empty pizza boxes, script notes and a mess of filmmaking equipment. Bamford's blind pug, Bert, scurries by just as a smoke alarm goes off. The scent of freshly burnt cookies fills the room. Just a few days before Halloween, Bamford is shooting her newest comedy special, an hour of stand-up in her living room for a rapt audience of two: her parents.

LAS VEGAS - Picture the lion before the kill. Sitting comfortably in a tony suite backstage at the Mirage casino, comedian Lewis Black was in a mellow mood. A reasonably fit, aging man with black and gray hair and glasses, he seemed a bit professorial as he mulled over a question: What was his best tool to disarm a heckler? Within an hour he would be onstage, face scrunched in disbelief, arms and hands flailing in trademark fury, voice bawling with frustration and anger as he eviscerated politicians, baby boomers and social media while slaying a packed multi-generational house that had turned out to see a 64-year old man complain himself into a rage.

Comedian Chris Hardwick, whose offbeat humor embraces nerdiness, has purchased a house in the Hollywood Hills for $2.05 million. Out-of-the-ordinary features include an outdoor mosaic tile bath with a 200-year-old faucet and a log cabin art studio. The 4,200-square-foot home has wrought-iron balconies, vaulted ceilings, two fireplaces, four bedrooms and four bathrooms. There are terraced gardens and stone walls on the quarter-acre lot. Even though the 1924 house recently underwent a three-year makeover, Hardwick has some plans of his own and has hired Finton Construction to complete the work.

From bloodshed in Gaza to forgiveness in Myanmar, here are five stories you shouldn't miss from this past week in global news: Brazil education standards contribute to learning crisis In Myanmar, returning exiles show capacity for forgiveness China dissident Ai Weiwei basks in his relative liberty Middle East shifts may weaken Iran's influence with Palestinians Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi walks tightrope in...

UCLA defensive end Datone Jones remembers attending a show at a comedy club with teammate Eric Kendricks two years ago. It was hard to be inconspicuous. Kendricks and his wild jet-black hair — picture the image of a cartoon character who has stuck a finger in a light socket — became an easy target. "Every comedian picked on him," Jones said. "One guy called him 'High School Musical.' " Coach Jim Mora rolled his eyes at this, saying, "Did the guy know who Eric was? I mean, you might want to be careful doing that.