Lewis Black, the comedian, TV and movie star with anger and attitude, sees value in the rage he unleashes on stage.

It might be an act, but Black says when you're mad as hell, you release stress and angst.

"I don't suffer from ulcers," said Black, 58, who is heading this way again for a show Tuesday at Blaisdell Concert Hall, and another gig Nov. 25 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. "My blood pressure's perfect, too. When my career is over, I'll have to campaign that 'Screaming For Health' works."

He was sitting in his car in a parking lot in Williamsburg, Pa. where he had a show scheduled, when we called to talk story about what ticks him off and why.

"Everything is pretty rotten in the world today," he said.

Is he miffed about the recent election results, and the looming changes on the political front?

"I'm happy," he said. Without naming President Bush, he said: "We got his attention, but that's like saying we got a gnat's attention. The point is, I voted. You have to vote. But it's all been a stupid, mean-spirited campaign, which didn't deal with issues. The whole thing about the (Iraq) war is that we'd bring democracy to another country. It's a lame excuse, of course; democracy sounds great only on paper."

He's bothered, but not surprised, that young voters stay away from the polls in droves.

"Nobody talks to them," he said of politicos who lack communication with youths. "Heck, they're not even talking to mature adults, so why would a kid listen ... or vote? I find it difficult to find meaning in what they're saying."

Because of his stand-up act, and his ongoing rants on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Black has made tantrums, sarcasm, irreverence, even arrogance his calling card.

This all haunts him a bit, because folks expect him to be p.o.'d even when he's not doing shtick. His reputation often spills over into real life.

So what makes him happy?

Easy. "Being with friends. I go see a movie. That's real nice," he said.

His most recent film role is in "Man of the Year," with Robin Williams.

Does he watch his own flicks?

"Yeah," he said. "If I expect to be doing (more) films, I'd better watch. I feel I'm getting better progressively, with each movie. I think it's all part of a learning curve. I wouldn't say I'd like to keep doing 'em, but I've done four this year. The way it works for me now is that I can do a part in two weeks. It would have to be an extraordinary role, or movie, where I would stick to acting."

He loves the tension and give-and-take of a live crowd.

"Live works — there's nobody else around, nobody else to muck it up, it's all my responsibility," Lewis said. "After working in theater, I know if I screwed it up. You can't blame anyone else."

Because travel is a requisite as he hops from one gig to the next, he copes.

"But I don't like traveling," he harrumphed. "The security's dumb. 'Take off your shoes.' You gotta be kidding me. I did the Ziploc thing once, when I had less than an ounce of liquid. So they tell me, 'It doesn't have a label on it.' I read all the things about what you can bring or do, and these guys never mentioned that I had to have 'em labeled. So I had a fight with the guy, who wanted me to throw it out. I mean, I cannot make a bomb with an ounce of fluid."

These kinds of encounters, of course, make their way to his shows.

"By the time I get to Hawai'i, I'll have another 10 minutes on airport security," he laughed.

With Thanksgiving nearing, what does Lewis have to be thankful for this year?

"A lot," he said. "I have had an unbelievable year: four movies ('Man of the Year,' 'Unaccompanied Minors,' 'Accepted,' 'Farce of the Penguins'), an HBO special ('Red, White and Screwed'), a show at Carnegie Hall (plus the CD, 'The Carnegie Hall Performance'), and my book ('Nothing's Sacred') went to paperback. And I even had a hole-in-one in May."

Further, his health profile went up a notch after he underwent a colonoscopy.

"I had so much fear" before the procedure, he said. "Afterwards, I had the best sleep in years."

And yes, still no ulcers.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.