He is Everyman’s funny man.

Premier comic Brian Regan (pronounced ree-gan) returns to Pikes Peak Center Saturday with another round of funny. The headliner’s relentless touring schedule has earned him sold-out shows across the nation. This year he celebrates a milestone: 25 appearances on “The Late Show with David Letterman, ” scheduled for August 30th. 

“I guess they like me,” Regan says. “It means a lot to me they keep asking me to come back.”

When people talk about Regan, they often call him an observational comic and one who varied audiences can relate to. He explores the random and mundane dramas of everyday life — optometrist appointments and UPS shipping, buying donuts and refrigerators, fig newtons and telephones.

Here, Regan talks about being funny to survive, the joys of harvesting daily life for material and happiness without a late night show.

The Gazette: I’ve heard you have seven siblings. Do you think growing up in a big family had anything to do with your sharp sense of humor?

Brian Regan: I think when you grow up in a big family you learn to make yourself known. I mean, when you’re sitting at the end of the dinner table, by the time the pan of fish sticks gets passed down to you, there aren’t going to be any left. You’ve got to make a big deal of it. Being funny was necessary. I mean, I did it to survive.

Gazette: So I understand you dropped out of college to pursue comedy full time. How much flaque did you catch for that?

Regan: It was not a comfortable phone call to Mom and Dad. They were surprisingly cool. They said what most parents would say, you know? “We think you should finish school and then try comedy once you’re finished.” And I don’t want kids now to think that’s what they should do. My situation was a little complicated. I was close to finishing, but there were some mess ups with my credits and all I really wanted to do was get out and try this comedy thing. I figured I’d eventually go back and finish if it didn’t work out. Well, it worked out, but I went back and finished anyway. About 15 years later, I did get my degree.

Gazette: You do quite a bit of touring. Would you say you find quite a bit of material from being on the road?

Regan: Doesn’t have to be on the road. I get my comedy from anywhere and everywhere. I just go about life and do what I normally do. I go to the shoe store, go to the post office, I just observe things, jot them down. I write what really interests me and hope it’s funny.

Gazette: Do you use your own family situations in your material?

Regan: Well, I do have two kids. Sometimes I’ll use a little bit, but I think it’s important not to alienate the people in my audience who don’t have kids. Plus, I don’t ever want my kids to feel like I’m following them around with a notebook saying, “OK, do something funny because Daddy needs five more minutes in his routine.” If it happens, it happens. If it’s funny, I’ll use it.

Gazette: What else do you have going on? Any hopes for a TV show?

Regan: Well, my 25th appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” is a real honor to me. … I’m going to keep plugging away on the tour. As far as a TV show goes, I used to really want one more than I do now. It’s not always the be all (and) end all.

I think if I was offered something where I could have strong, creative say, then I might consider it. But that kind of opportunity hasn’t come about and in the meantime, I’m pretty happy. I think I have a pretty decent career going so I don’t really need a show.

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