Chris Rock is in a very good mood. His beloved New York Mets just landed Johan Santana, arguably the best pitcher in the game. Rock is also stoked about his current tour, which kicks off Friday at the Playhouse Theatre. The venerable comic-actor, who is ranked as the fifth greatest standup of all time by Comedy Central, talks politics, baseball and claims to be lucky to be working. Yeah, right. - Ed Condran

Congratulations on landing Santana.

It's not like you guys [the Indians] had a chance at him since you're in the same division. It's very exciting. Me and [Jerry] Seinfeld were talking about it last night.

What's it like just hanging with Seinfeld?

It's cool. Just two Mets fans talking.

In 2003, you wrote, directed and starred in Head of State, which featured a black president. Much has changed in five years. Barack Obama has a very good chance of becoming president.

I think he's a pretty good candidate. He just happens to be black. My movie was about a black president running for president. It was about him being black. Obama just happens to be black.

What do you think of Hillary Clinton?

I think Hillary is good. She ain't Bill and George [Bush] ain't his father. It's too much of the same era. Bush and his father had similar presidencies but worse.

Comedy is tragedy plus time, according to that scene in Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors. When will be able to laugh at this tragic era?

It's pretty bad now. I don't know when [we can laugh]. All I know is when I'm president, no one else can be president from the same family.

Why do we start in Iowa? Why is the election on a Tuesday, not a Saturday?

Why is it easier to vote for Dancing With the Stars as opposed to the president of the United States? When I last checked, teachers and civil servants are off. Everyone else works. It's hard. Make the voting go the whole weekend. Make it like a movie and we'll check the numbers on Monday.

What's appealing about Everybody Hates Chris is that it's so realistic.

I can't get away from my past. It sticks with you. I needed a writing staff that has some experience there. I want people close to that character. [EHC star] Terry Crews has five kids in real life. He's not really acting. He actually brings something to the part.

What's next for you?

I want to produce a show for Raven Symone. I want to do her in front of a studio audience. I'm a fan. I've had a couple of meetings.

You're the fifth greatest comic, according to Comedy Central. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen are the only comics ahead of you.

It's an incredible honor. I still have time to move up or move down. [Laughs] Only death would bump me up a notch at this point.

You have a great way of saying anything. Where did you learn that?

I don't know. It's a mild form of Tourette's. I remember about a year and a half ago, I went to a Mets game. I was talking to Willie Randolph. The lineup is being made. I look at the lineup. I see Moises Alou and Shawn Green. I say, "What is this, the '89 All-Star game?'

What did Willie say?

He laughed. But it's comedic Tourette's. Sometimes it might be best if I keep my mouth shut.

Louis C.K. once told me that he turned down your head writer gig. He said that he told you, "I'm not going to do Chris Rock on HBO, I'm going to do Dana Carvey on ABC, a real network.'

[Laughs] Exactly. Dana Carvey is one of the greatest sketch players of all time.

But his show failed. How challenging is it to go on a network like ABC and be funny?

You can't do that. Sketch, edge, you have to be on cable. It's a tough job.

So is hosting the Oscars. That has to be the most thankless job in the biz and you tried it.

The risk is far greater than the reward.

Burt Reynolds told me you're his favorite person after working with you in The Longest Yard.

We had a good time, me and Burt. He has stories. He has slept with every actress in Hollywood. He'll give you all the details. "I met her at the Playboy mansion in '74.' "I got her as soon as she got off the bus.'

Looking back, you were underutilized during your Saturday Night Live days.

I don't think I was underutilized. It was a golden time. I was an apprentice to some of the best sketch players that ever did it. Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. If I were on the show today, I would get the exact amount of sketch work.

But none of those guys are the fifth greatest standup comic.

Exactly.

CHRIS ROCK: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, Playhouse Square's Palace Theatre, 1615 Euclid Ave.,

216.241.6000. Tickets: $45.50-$75.50.