Internet Underground: What projects are you working on right now in real life? Can you tell us a little about the film you're currently shooting?

Rodney Dangerfield: I'm excited about my new talking book, La Contessa, where I reveal my torrid love affairs and also about my new movie, Meet Wally Sparks, about a scandalous talk show host. Burt Reynolds and Cindy Williams are in it and cameos are made by Michael Bolton, Jay Leno, Bob Saget, Tony Danza and Ron Jeremy.

IU: What was your first experience with computers?

RD: I thought, "Wow, who invented this?" Then, I pulled a muscle downloading.

IU: How did you get interested in the Internet and cyberspace?

RD: My wife showed me and I thought it was wild.

IU: How long has your Web site been up and who designed it? Who created your screen saver?

RD: I launched it in March. I decided the kind of stuff I wanted up there and had some help designing it from my wife and some computer guys at HLC-Internet and an independent consultant named Ken Johnson.

IU: Does having a Web site allow you to show more of your personality than more traditional media? What part of your site do you think best defines you as a person as well as an entertainer?

RD: Since it's my own personal site, I can say whatever I want and talk about my side of the story with the Academy rejecting me and AT&T saying I'm not dignified enough to represent them. Whatever I want to talk about... sort of a soapbox, I guess.

IU: How much e-mail do you get? Do your fans actually believe that it's you? Are people surprised that you have a 'net presence?

RD: People are surprised, and when I do answer, sometimes they write again and say "Only the real Rodney would answer like that," and other times they don't think it's me at all. I get hundreds of letters a day and pick out some good ones to answer.

IU: Has being on the Internet and having e-mail given you any new jokes or material for your routine, and if so, what are they?

RD: One guy sent me a joke I liked. I bought it from him, but it's too dirty to quote here.

IU: Do you e-mail other celebrities? What is the general Hollywood reaction to cyberspace?

RD: I've sent messages to a few and they never answered back. I can't speak for "general Hollywood," but I'm still learning my way around cyberspace. It's all new to me, too.

IU: What are your favorite Web sites?

RD: I like the idea of Virtual Vegas and RealAudio. And I'll give my wife a plug: visit her site at jungleroses.com.

IU: What's the weirdest e-mail you've ever gotten?

RD: Someone sent a pornographic photo once in response to something I said through e-mail. At the time, I didn't know you could send photos so it came as a real surprise.

IU: Where is your computer set up and what does the surrounding environment look like?

RD: My computer sits on the credenza behind my desk. The microphone for the computer is propped up on a comedy award statue. All this is in my living room. My wife decorated the whole place.

IU: Even in this new medium, do you still get no respect?

RD: No respect at all, are you kiddin'? I never had any luck with computers. I bought an Apple. It had a worm in it!