Spike Feresten hosts his own Saturday night talk show on FOX, an anti-talk show really, the creatively titled “Talkshow with Spike Feresten.” But it is his writing he is most famous for. Feresten penned the “Soup Nazi” episode of “Seinfeld” amongst others, and was a staffer for “Late Night with David Letterman” as well as a receptionist at “Saturday Night Live,” where he got his start passing jokes to Dennis Miller, then host of “Weekend Update.”

Before trying his hand at comedy, Feresten attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, which likely explains his decidely-hip-for-a-talk-show-host glasses and his decidedly-cool-for-a-talk-show-host haircut. A recent interview described him as “a cuter, west coast Conan O’Brien,” which seems particularly accurate given his hopeful transition from comedy writer to comedy personality. Spike was nice enough to answer a couple of our dumb questions via email.

We know you didn’t have much on-camera experience prior to “Talkshow,” but now that you’re a few weeks in are you feeling more comfortable?
I am much more comfortable now that a few shows have aired and there have been no death threats.

What has been the most humbling thing abut being on the other side of the camera?
The realization that just because you’ve spent a good portion of your life in front of the TV, you aren’t automatically ready to perform inside of it.

What are the ingredients for a good talk show guest?
I believe I am very close to landing the first interview with Mel Gibson since his arrest. I hear it’s either me or Diane Sawyer, but I sweetened my offer with a box of red envelope monogrammed soaps. How can he say no?

Spike Lee or Spike Jonze?
I celebrate Spikes of all races, colors and creeds.

Before becoming a writer you had musical aspirations. Any regrets about not pursuing your love of music? You did get to sing on-camera in Pauly Shore’s “Jury Duty” though, right?
On a recent show I sang a duet with “American Idol’s” Kevin Covais. We sang “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” I may not win a Grammy, but then again I probably will.

Speaking of music, what records are you enjoying most these days?
This week’s top 3 records are G-Love: “Lemonade” (he wrote our theme by the way), The Sounds: “Dying to Say This To You,” Beck: “The Information.” Also, I have been enjoying Howard Stern and the all-Rolling Stones channel on Sirius Radio. In fact I just leased a car based solely on having the Sirius Radio option.

With “Seinfeld”-isms peppering our vernacular (yadda, yadda, yadda, “No soup for you!”), has anyone ever made reference to anything you’ve written while in your presence, unaware that you’d had a hand in creating it?
I recently stopped for coffee at a country store by the beach and overheard the guy behind the counter telling a patron that he is referred to as the “Deli Nazi.” But he was making polite conversation with a customer!! I wanted to strip him of his Nazi status right there.

PC or Mac?
I have an Angelina Jolie-Pitt blended, tech family. PC’s, Macs, iPods and HPs all living under one roof. Have you seen those people collecting vintage Texas Instruments LED calculators from the ’70s? That is ultra-nerd concentrate!

Any favorite websites?
I start off the day with all the news that’s fit to print on NYTimes.com, but very quickly detour into sites like StuffOnMyCat.com or StatueMolesters.com, then its all a blur after that. I eventually wake up under my desk at three in the morning and wonder how the day got away from me.

Check out “Talkshow with Spike Feresten” Saturday nights at midnight on FOX.

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