Friday, Feb. 9, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.
Who: Brad Garrett
When: 10:30 p.m., today and Saturday, and Feb. 23-24
Where: Mirage's Danny Gans Theater
Tickets: $65; 792-7777
Brad Garrett is living large.
The 6-foot-8 comedian has a new TV show on Fox (" 'Til Death"), a new movie ("Music and Lyrics"), a long-term contract with the Mirage, and a new bachelor's life after Garrett became a household name as the sad-sack brother of Raymond in the hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond."
He made local headlines last summer when he hosted a roast for his pal, poker champion Doyle Brunson, at the Bellagio, which is owned by MGM Mirage (as is the Mirage). During the evening he made some comments that enraged Pamela Anderson, and she left the roast in a huff.
Garrett will perform at the Mirage this weekend and again Feb. 23-24.
He recently spoke to the Sun by phone as he drove to the studio to work on his television show.
Q: How's the TV show doing?
We're starting to feel like we're getting our creative footing. We're coming around. Everything seems to be clicking a lot better. We're going to be on after "American Idol" on March 14, so that's going to be an exciting boost. We're going to try to get some eyeballs on it, and meanwhile we're having a great time.
You're performing at the Mirage. Is this a long-term arrangement?
I'm going to be gigging at the Mirage this whole year, about one weekend each month. I'm working on some other stuff, trying to keep it going and stay one step ahead of the law.
You made headlines last summer when you roasted Pamela Anderson. Is she still mad at you?
I have some exciting news. Pam and I are now living together. It's kind of against her will. I keep her in a small box in the garage.
What are your feelings about Anderson?
I don't know what to tell you. I think she should get a boob job, pretty much. I think that's what's missing from her.
How did it all come about?
What happened was: I'm a poker player. I love to play poker. I'm not a good one; the problem is if I have a good hand I become incontinent. It's a very bad tell. So I'm not a great poker player.
Doyle Brunson asked me to do a roast for him and his poker buddies at the hotel for his 80th birthday last year. It was a roast. I've done quite a few of them. Pam Anderson was supposed to be on the dais. She showed up with nine guys. It was her bachelor party that night. It was a bachelorette party and she was with nine guys. If you're going to go out, that's the way to go out.
What happened?
She came into the room. She really didn't want to do the roast. She wouldn't come onto the dais. It looked like she was not really having a great time. That being said, it was my job as an emcee to roast everyone on the dais, including her, and she didn't take it very well. She ended up getting a little feisty and wanted to take a shot at Uncle Comedy and, let's face it, I had to save myself. She's not the first blonde to try to hurt me. Nor the last, I have a feeling.
So, I just do the roast and the audience thought it was funny. Jennifer Tilley was on the dais and she took it great and the poker guys took it great. Pam just got bent out of shape, but she knew it was a roast. I think she just expected people to fawn over her, do whatever people do.
Do you know her personally?
I don't. I followed her numerous times - with my headlights off - but I can't really say I know her.
Was she simply being oversensitive?
I really don't know and I don't care. I was paid to come by and roast. Truth be known, I would have done it for free, and with my act I should work for free. But you know, I was a fan of Doyle Brunson and I wanted to have a good time. The idea was to do a roast. Pam should never have signed up if she couldn't take it like a big girl.
So you haven't spoken to her since the roast?
Have you included this into your act?
No. Except for the restraining order - that's really been the only communication. Let's be honest. Can you really talk to a blonde like that anyway? Is there really anything to say? I mean, you put her in the corner with shiny objects and fuzzy things and that's the whole evening. I mean, what would you say to her? Great hair. You're not going to talk to her about DNA or problems with the Senate. She's going to do five hours on her waxing and you've just got to act interested.
No, but I may start. I'm just making sure I don't get a call from her attorney. I've met a lot of attorneys lately.
This hasn't hurt you with MGM?
It hasn't. If anything it's helped me. Now they want me to start roasting the cocktail waitresses as they walk by as a little added pleasure for the guests checking in. The MGM (executives) knew what they were getting into, which is why they hired me, and they had a great time. I think that's what it's about. Only two women were on the dais and they both signed up to do it. It's not like we showed up on their doorstep and humiliated them. We just did a roast, and Pam had done roasts in the past. She was roasted on Comedy Central. I think she wasn't having a good night and didn't want to hear from the 10-foot Jew.
What are your plans for the future?
I'm going to the premiere (which was last night) of a new film. It actually opens on Valentine's Day. It's called "Music and Lyrics" and stars Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. I play Hugh Grant's friend and manager. He plays an '80s pop icon whose career has dried up and he's trying to get a resurgence and jump-start his career. He meets Drew Barrymore. She writes him a hit song. I'm in the movie for about 18 minutes and then I disappear. I'm taking my dad to the premiere. Hopefully we'll run into Pamela Anderson because my father has a couple of things to say to her.
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