"It"s been pretty wild," says legendary comedian Soupy Sales of his career. It certainly has.

Since the 1950s, Soupy Sales has etched a place in our memories as a zany, pie-in-the-face comedic genius. From his nightclub days in New York and Atlantic City, to his celebrated television shows, to his numerous other television appearances, Soupy has captivated two generations with his screwball antics and trademark jokes. Over 19,000 pies and still performing, Soupy shows no signs of slowing down. His biography comes out in Oct., and he"s starring in three movies this fall, including "This Train" with Liv Tyler.

A North Carolina native, Soupy began his career as a radio script writer for $20 a week. After some standup comedy gigs and a stint as a disc jockey, he moved to Cincinnati in 1950. There he hosted "Soupy"s Soda Shop," which became the first teenage dance program on American television. His first talk show, "Club Nothing," also got a start that year, featuring a variety of guests, music, and of course, Soupy"s unique brand of humor.

Soupy got his big break in Detroit, where he quickly became one of the most recognizable faces on television. Kids were glued to "Lunch with Soupy Sales," which was the first non-Saturday morning cartoon program on the ABC network. His Friday night show was known for its surprise guests, such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Mickey Rooney, and Jerry Lewis, all whom received a pie in the face at the show"s climax.

"The Soupy Sales Show" is probably the crowning achievement of Soupy"s career. With his colorful array of character puppets, including White Fang, Black Tooth, and Hippie the Hippo, Soupy entertained a national audience from his New York studio. During this time he also made a variety of guest appearances on other shows, such as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Bob Hope Show," and "The Dean Martin Show." Sullivan even invited back Soupy for a second week after his initial appearance something he had never done before on his show.

Nowadays Soupy keeps busy with writing books, creating comedy albums, and returning to his hometown of Huntington, W. Va, for an annual festival. At "The Soupy Sales Plaza," he hosts a jazz and comedy extravaganza, which attracts people from all over the country. "I love working," said Soupy. "I"ll keep moving for as long as I can."

Soupy"s trip to the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase is not only a return to his standup comedy shtick, but also a reminder of how comedy has changed over the years. Soupy has said that television nowadays is overpopulated with sitcoms, and ought to include more slapstick comedy. Artists, he says, such as Kathy Griffin, embody this kind of comedy that is absent on television. "There"s no physical comedy anymore," said Soupy. "I"d like to see more natural comedy."

This Friday and Saturday, Ann Arbor will be treated with Soupy"s "natural comedy," which has been celebrated time and time again by audiences and critics alike. And at 75, Soupy is still making us laugh, even if he does so without a certain formula for success. "I don"t know what it is that works for me," he said. "It just does. The camera does not lie."

For tickets and show information, call the Comedy Showcase Box Office at (734) 996-9080.