'Mike & Molly' star Gardell ready for standup tour

[May 13, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Billy Gardell plans a working summer, regardless of whether his sitcom "Mike & Molly" returns for a second year.

Gardell starts a national standup tour in June titled "Halftime," in support of his DVD of the same name.

The 41-year-old comedian said the title refers to the fact he's about midway through life. It was a "sloppy first half," he jokes, but now he's a father and has settled down.

"When I was younger I was crazy," he said. "Then you go from, `Yeah, I'll do another shot' to `How much sodium is in that?'"

His boy is proving a big influence on his work.

"My son is 7. A lot of material comes from hanging out with him. He and I are on the same intellectual level," Gardell joked.

His comedy tour will take him to theaters in Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio and other states. Gardell stars with Melissa McCarthy in "Mike & Molly" as a couple who found love at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

Gardell said he has a "good feeling" CBS will renew "Mike & Molly" when the network announces its fall schedule next week.

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Online:

http://www.billygardell.com/

[Associated Press; By LYNN ELBER]

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