From “Aliens” and “Beverly Hills Cop” to “Mad About You,” Paul Reiser has appeared in some of the biggest movies and TV series of the last three decades. “After 'Mad About You,' which ended in '99, I was really happy just to stay put and not do anything for a while,” the popular actor, comedian and writer tells Tacoma Weekly. “I was in a nice position to do things that I wanted to do and not have to do things that I didn't want to do.”

Then the stand-up bug bit him again after he hosted charity event in Los Angeles that made him pine for his comedic roots. “It was a great audience, and I was remembering suddenly what it's like to be onstage and get laughs,” Reiser says. “I thought, ‘Oh my god, I miss this.’ So I started from there. I called up the local clubs here.”

For the last six months, Reiser has been back on the road with the act he'll bring to Tacoma's Pantages Theater on May 17. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., with tickets ranging from $22 to $65; http://www.broadwaycenter.org for further show details. And visit our site, at http://www.tacomaweekly.com, to learn what Reiser had to say about getting back in comedic shape and his appearance in “Behind the Candelabra,” HBO's forthcoming Liberace biopic that will star Michael Douglas and Matt Damon beginning May 26.