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CINCINNATI — Best known as the host of the E! network's "The Soup," comedian Joel McHale will soon bring his live, stand-up comedy act to Cincinnati's Taft Theatre.

McHale is an outrageous stand-up who has been called funnier live and in person, though he has had success on television and in film. He was born in Rome, but spent the formative years of his life in the suburbs of Seattle, Wash. After graduating from the University of Washington with a master's degree in fine arts, he later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. It didn't take long before he discovered his gift of stand-up comedy.

"Comedy is not something that I went out to pursue. I came to Los Angeles to be an actor. I took three years of graduate school in drama to become a good actor," McHale said. "When I got 'The Soup,' it was one of those many auditions I went on."

"When we started the show there was no staff. It was a fun thing to do, and we were just trying to make ourselves laugh. Now, four years later, I know way too much about Tyra Banks," McHale said.

Now, McHale spends much of his time on "The Soup," writing jokes, in acting roles, and performing live stand-up comedy. When he's not working, he spends time with his wife and two children.

He said he believes "The Soup" is so popular because of the recent rise of reality television.

"I think people sit at home and yell back at the screen, the same way I did before I hosted 'The Soup.' Now, instead of sitting in my underwear on a couch yelling back, I wear makeup, a suit and I yell into a camera. I think when we do the show, the way we write it, hopefully we are saying what you are thinking about Flavor Flav or Bret Michaels."

In his performance at Taft Theatre, McHale will talk about his family, pop culture and what it's like at "The Soup."

how to go

WHO: Joel McHale

WHERE: Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18

COST: $32.50

MORE INFO: (513) 721-8883; livenation.com; ticketmaster.com