Tracy Morgan

As unpredictable as Tracy Morgan can be, a pair of predictable things happen in most of his interviews: 1) He talks about getting someone pregnant (including Kris Jenner and Oprah Winfrey) and 2) he flummoxes his host. That’s the case with some of the most experienced interviewers alive today, including Conan O’Brien (who basically said, “I give up”) and Ellen DeGeneres (who acknowledged she lost any control before the interview was a third over).

Even unflappable David Letterman found himself saying, “Let’s try to find an area that doesn’t take an ugly turn.”

It happens again in our interview, when he starts yelling, “Jimmy Kimmel said that!?!” I was officially flummoxed. The difference this time is that it wasn’t driven by a comedic riff or spontaneous outburst, but something heavy.

Which makes sense. The gruesome accident that killed Morgan’s best friend and left Morgan in a coma for a week – and in rehabilitation for a year – has changed the way he looks at things. He continues a standup tour that visits Golden State Theatre Friday, Sept. 30. In advance of that show, Morgan, star of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, spoke to the Weekly about the meaning of life.

Thinking we do this a little bit differently: I give the answers and you tell me the question. Ready?

One minute. (He directs “Pablo” to steer for uptown.)

Oprah Winfrey.

A very kind, warm person towards me.

Octopus, sharks and a snake.

Is that my hobby? OK – I get it. Ask the Oprah one again.

Oprah.

Were we married and had two kids? Were their names Justin and Valerie?

OK no more Alex Trebek stuff. How does keeping sharks and an octopus change the way you look at life?

Well, these things exist on earth and most don’t know they’re there. It gets me away from our world. Spending time with my sharks is like going to Shaolin Temple.

After so much success, when were you least confident you could pull it all off? What was plan B?

There was no plan B. I want you to know there was none. I had to make it. Like I told my brother Michael, “I went hard. Do or die.” That’s my motto: Do or die.

I want to run a quote from Jimmy Kimmel by you: “A great hour of comedy could come from [the accident and coma], something that really moves you in a way that 99 percent of comedy specials don’t.”

(Silence.) Jimmy Kimmel said that? About me? Jimmy Kimmel said that?! He said that about me? He actually said that?

I hope I didn’t get him in trouble.

No, he’s a dear friend of mine.

I can read it again.

I love that he said that. That’s really getting me choked up. If I can take my pain and turn it into laughter before your very eyes, I’m happy. And I’m happy he said that. We’ve been friends since long ago. I love him like a brother.

OK – here are some quotes from you: “Comedy is who you are, where you’re from, and perfection.”

That’s what it is. That’s all it is.

“I don’t think I cheated death. This was planned. My room wasn’t ready.”

I tapped into something great that transcends race, color, class. I tapped into love. God chose me to do that, and I’m fine with that. Life is good, love is great, God is everything.

“One black dude in the whole galaxy?!”

C’mon man. Star Wars. The whole galaxy? He left a good job as stormtrooper. A union job.

“Nobody wants to take the pie in the face no more. Everybody’s too cool. I’m willing to do that.”

I’m old school comedy. I’ll do anything for a laugh. That’s what it’s about. Mofos are too cool these days. I learned that from Lucille Ball. Things are different now. People have a different sense of humor. Technology and social media did that. Things are dark out here.

Most treasured life advice?

Never take life too serious or you’ll never make it out alive.

TRACY MORGAN comes to Golden State Theatre Friday, Sept. 30 ($53-$86. www.GoldenStateTheatre.com)