'Things' are good for Demetri Martin

It's time to catch Demetri Martin before he becomes Steve Martin. The star of Comedy Central's Important Things With Demetri Martin, an inspired amalgam of stand-up, prop, and sketch comedy, has recently scored some meaty roles in such dramatic forthcoming films as Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock and Steven Soderbergh's Moneyball.

The Steven Wright acolyte performs tonight at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, delivering his surreal/cerebral humor. (Videos from his shows can be seen on the Comedy Central Web site.) "I use this product called I Can't Believe It's Not Butter because sometimes when I'm eating toast, I like to be incredulous. 'How was breakfast?' 'Unbelievable.' "

Martin, 35, chatted this week about his enviable gigs and discussed whether he's more Greek or geek.

Question: Important Things is a television anomaly. It's a comedy-variety show. Was that the concept you pitched producer Jon Stewart?

Answer: When I got the offer to do a pilot, I wasn't sure what the show would be. I knew that it should be some offshoot of my stand-up. I jump around from topic to topic. It's not so linear. I needed that freedom built into it.

Q: What kind of feedback did you get from Stewart?

A: His feedback was insightful. He's great at editing comedy. It's just like it was when I worked with him on The Daily Show with my Trendspotting segments. He is the experienced sage coming in to help.

Q: What was it like working with an auteur like Ang Lee?

A: That was awesome. It feels like I'm taking different classes. It's like when you get into a class that a lot of people wanted to be in and it's like, 'Yeah, I got into that course.' I think Steven Soderbergh is another amazing director. I'm so lucky. I'm excited about playing very different characters. I play a closeted gay man in 1969 who still lives with his parents in Ang Lee's film. Then I play an assistant GM, Paul DePodesta, of a baseball team, who played college baseball in Moneyball. I'm the sabermetric guy.

Q: How and when did you realize you could be a dramatic actor?

A: When I was in fifth grade I played the Grinch, the title role of the school play. I really enjoyed it.

Q: Are you more Greek or geek?

A: I think I'm less "r." You can take that letter out when you describe me. My friends' dads were more of the Greek stereotype than my friends. They had that machismo thing going on. But that wasn't me. I wasn't that Greek guy you saw on television a generation or so ago.

Q: You're no Telly Savalas. You have so much hair you're like a wolf.

A: I have a full head of hair and I can grow a good beard but I'm not as hairy as you might think. I don't have a hairy back. I can grow a thick beard but I end up looking like a terrorist. That's not a good thing these days.