Every so often Curb Your Enthusiasm fans ask Jeff Garlin what it's like to be Larry David's manager, whom he portrays on the critically acclaimed HBO series. However, Garlin isn't David's manager in real life. The burly humorist, who will perform Friday and Saturday at Hilarities, is a comic-actor-director, who has done standup for a quarter century. In a recent phone interview, he talks about his career. - Ed Condran

So what do people say to you who confuse you for Larry David's manager, and what's your reply?

It's funny. They'll come up and actually ask, "What's it like managing that kind of money?" I've also heard, "How do you make the right decisions for his career?" I say, "I'm sorry to disappoint you but the show is pretend."

What's Susie Essman like in real life? She's amazing as your Curb wife.

Susie Essman isn't who she is on the show in real life. In reality she's really lovely and wonderful.

Six seasons of Curb are in the can. Did you ever think such a quirky show would last for so long?

No. I didn't think it would work. When we started this, it was making us laugh and I thought we would be able to do this for a little while. But none of us thought for a millisecond that it would last like this. Give credit to HBO for thinking that Larry David was deserving of a show like this. I thought that I would try it for a year. I thought it would be a fun series and it's been great. I'm still in shock that it's been going on this long.

Unlike other industry shows, people out of the business can relate since much of the humor is derived from everyday experiences.

That's true. Everybody has arguments and they have weird things happen to them. I think most people can relate to the show.

Since the show is predominately improv, how many takes are usually necessary before you nail a scene?

It usually depends on who the guest actor is and how well we're nailing it. But I look at it more in terms of time than takes. If I do a scene with Larry, it's done pretty quickly.

You and he have great chemistry.

We've known each other since the late '80s. What we do on the show, it just happens. It's natural.

The celebrity guests, who play themselves, such as Ben Stiller and Mel Brooks, have worked so well for Curb.

A lot of them have been really hilarious, particularly Ben Stiller. Celebrities love coming on the show.

During interviews, such subjects as Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler have told me that they would love to be on the show.

To hear that someone like Lily Tomlin would like to come on, all I can say is that old line, "We're not worthy." She really said she would like to be on our show?

Yes. She spreads the word out when it comes to shows she would like to be on. That's how she appeared on West Wing and The X-Files.

Well, it would be quite an honor to have her or Bette on the show.

How often are you approached, let's say in the supermarket by your peers, who say, "I love your show and it would be great to be on it?"

That happened with David Schwimmer. I ran into him at a movie theater and he told me that he loves our show and would love to be on it. I told Larry this the next morning and he says, "There's a part he would be great for. Do you think he would do it?" I told Larry, "He just told me he would do it." And he did it. Brad Pitt also told me he would like to be on.

Most people don't realize you're a standup.

Jay [Leno] knows I do standup and my peers know that I do standup. But young comics don't know I do it. I've been doing it for [25] years. The thing is, I love standup. My two passions are standup and filmmaking. I'm not a political comic. That's too much for me. I would get so angry. I talk about my family and the world around us but not in a political way.

Your movie I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With nailed it since it's about a guy who has trouble with women, food and his career. That sounds like most guys.

I think people relate to it. I loved working on the movie. There is nothing like making a movie or doing standup. They're both at the top of my list.

Jeff Garlin: March 14-15 at Hilarities (at Pickwick & Frolic), 2035 E. 4th St., 216.241.7425. Tickets: $25.