Andy Richter Rules the Universe may be the name of his show, but as far as we're concerned, Andy Richter just plain rules. Period.

Since leaving "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," the comic actor has had a handful of movie roles, and worked with Barry Sonnenfeld and Robert Altman. FOX gave him his own series, then cancelled it, then brought it back, then cancelled it again.

I met Andy at Midnight Pajama Jam and he graciously agreed to be interviewed. Then he told me the best story about Sting I've ever heard.

kp: So what's happening with your show? It was on, and then it wasn't, and then it was back on, and then I moved and I don't have TV anymore, so I don't know what's happening.
ar: Well, it's off, I think. It's not officially off, but it don't look so good. We were supposed to be on the first two weeks of February (sweeps), and then at the last minute they yanked us, because every Fox show but two (Joe Millionaire and that Ryan Seacrest show) is doing pretty shitty, so they need all the sweeps-determined ad dollars they can get, and apparently they'll get more money out of Malcolm reruns than us. We were supposed to come back on in March, but now that's not happening either. There's been talk that we might take the show to another network, but I'm fairly skeptical about that working out because alpha males tend to kill the offspring of other alpha males, not nurture them, if you know what I mean.

kp: One of your costars (James Patrick Stuart) used to be on All My Children, which is cool, if you're my mom. I just read that he's also the son of the "Chad" half of Chad and Jeremy. How awesome is he?
ar: He is a very talented, nice man, but I must confess that I have never felt awe for him. He is not a mountain or a hurricane, but he is fairly proficient with a Playstation 2.

kp: If you really controlled the universe, what would be the first changes you would make?
ar: Make things smell nice, I guess. And then I'd get to fuckin'! Yee-haw!

kp: What other projects are you working on? Are you taking on any more serious, less comedic film roles?
ar: I actually have been auditioning for some TV dramas. I haven't gotten anything yet, but everyone is absolutely in love with what I'm doing. As far as films, I mostly audition to play 1) the fat guy 2)the stupid guy 3) or the friend, or any combination of any of the three.

kp: POOTIE TANG vs. SCARY MOVIE 2: who wins?
ar: Pootie. Although the vomit scene in SM2 is pretty funny.

kp: What was it like working with Barry Sonnenfeld?
ar: Fun. He is really funny, full of good stories, especially ones about his mother.

kp: I know everyone asks, but do you miss Conan? Do you miss working with so many robots?
ar: I do miss Conan. I miss working on the show, the atmosphere there, the camraderie with the writers and everyone else on the staff. My life now is so much more serious, at least in terms of my various workplaces. Everyone is such a grownup, and that is a tiresome waste of time. But, I really don't have any regrets. I'm on a freakin' journey, dude!

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