Goat Boy comes home: Jim Breuer makes LI book stop

When comic Jim Breuer started thinking about writing his book, "I'm Not High," he might have been.

Among the revelations in the Long Island native's autobiography - subtitled "But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories About Life as a Goat Boy, a Dad and a Spiritual Warrior" - was that he "partied like a rock star" and only gave up marijuana altogether in 2007.

But then Breuer, if not quite a rock star himself, used to hang out with several - particularly his heavy metal heroes Metallica. The former "Saturday Night Live" regular - 1995 to '98 - who originated such "SNL" classics as "The Joe Pesci Show" and Goat Boy makes a homecoming appearance at the Smith Haven Barnes & Noble Wednesday. He returns Nov. 26 for a stand-up show at NYCB Theatre at Westbury.

Breuer, who talks and writes unabashedly about his spiritual side - along with irreverent episodes with such kindred-spirit comics as Tracy Morgan, Dave Chappelle, the late Chris Farley and, oh yeah, amateur comic Rudy Giuliani - chatted by phone from New Jersey, where he lives with his wife, Dee, and their three daughters.

Do you think there's something in the water out here that spawns comics? Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Rosie O'Donnell, Kevin James?

Maybe it's the jet fuel. In Valley Stream, we lived right under the JFK flight path.

Where did Goat Boy come from? I heard he was a Long Island suburban legend.

It's just one of those characters I came up with to get free drinks at bars. I'd pretend to have Tourette's [syndrome]. Only instead of cursing, I do all these goat sounds, bah-ah-ah.

Was Joe Pesci seriously offended by your "Saturday Night Live" caricature, or was he just busting your . . . ?

Oh, I had no doubt! It was straight out of "Goodfellas." I thought I'd have to pay the Mafia the rest of my life. Once he realized that I was sincere, that I was sorry if I offended him, he was fine. The skit really crushed that night when we were on with [Robert] De Niro.

Besides comedy, you seem to love heavy metal. Maybe that goes back to living under the flight path.

[He laughs.] It was the music that got me through my teenage years. To this day, it's like fine wine to me. My three really awesome merlots are Metallica, Judas Priest and AC / DC.

That doesn't fit your "spiritual warrior" side. You talk a lot in your book about moments that seem to come from God.

It's honestly just real-life experiences. I've always had open eyes and an open mind. No one's going to convince me that it's other than something spiritual in my life. I'm all ears to anything that promotes understanding.

Where do you see yourself headed next?

I'd like to go with everyday radio. I'm on [Sirius-XM] every Friday. I'd do another movie in a heartbeat. I thought I nailed my character in "Half-Baked." But radio allows you to be yourself. You don't have to be hilarious all the time. Yeah, I'm a comedian. But I'm more a storyteller, someone you relate to.

Jim Breuer

WHAT Meet the comedian as he signs copies of his book "I'm Not High." Plus, a comedy show next month.

WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Smith Haven Mall Barnes & Noble, Lake Grove; Nov. 26, NYCB Theatre at Westbury

INFO Signing: 631-724-0341; show: livenation.com

FOR MORE

Larry Miller in Cody Comedy Festival

Speaking of Valley Stream comics, Larry Miller, who, like Jim Breuer, grew up under the JFK flight path, headlines the Cody Comedy Festival. The benefit performance for the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, features the stand-up comic and actor who has appeared in such films as "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Best in Show."

WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Oct. 20, Staller Center, 6 p.m. "Funny Bone" cocktail reception, Wang Center, Stony Brook University,

INFO Tickets $30, $150 show and reception; 631-632-4466, codycenter.org