John Hodgman (Plaza Theatre, Sept. 22) brings mustache, love of Alton Brown to Atlanta

"I'm only doing what I can do. I can only grow the mustache and tell jokes that are interesting to me. When I decided to shave off the mustache last October, I wondered if I'd feel real happy. 'Oh. That's who I used to be!' Instead, I looked at myself and said, 'Oh! It's you again!' So I started growing it again. Now I have this rather disruptively deranged summer beard that I will keep for the Atlanta show so everyone can see the dangers of bad grooming."

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

His droll, quirky sense of humor draws a certain nerdy/hipster following, the types who listen to his podcast "Judge John Hodgman." As a "judge," he takes on silly disputes and resolves them. Subjects he has tackled recently: the right way to put toilet paper on the roll, how to confront a 40 year old listening to electronic dance music and how to properly do the "YMCA" dance.

The reference to "YMCA" allowed Hodgman in his latest podcast to comment wryly about the Village People, who hit it big in the late 1970s. "They dressed up as masculine cultural icons as a part of a profound art project that got all of mainstream America singing along to how to pick up men at the Y, " he said. "Then they went on 'The Love Boat.' And that's amazing!"

Here's his latest podcast:

His podcast will feature the occasional celebrity guest. Marietta's own food guru Alton Brown has dropped by a couple of times.

"I've been a huge fan of his since the 'Good Eats' days," Hodgman said. "When I was writing for Men's Journal many years ago, I was asked to do a road trip with a food personality. I liked Alton so I insinuated myself into his life. Suddenly, we were two strangers on a drive to Oxford, Miss. We realized somewhere in Montgomery, we had nothing to say to one another. But we have remained in friendly contact. I am always eager to be in his company. I do aim to reach out to him" before he returns to town.

Hodgman, over the years, has done many a show in Atlanta but likes to perform at distinctive places that don't normally host comedians. Last year, he performed at Erikson Clock, a satellite venue for Westside arts hub the Goat Farm.

This time around, he's going to stand in front of a big movie screen at the 76-year-old Plaza Theatre. "I am looking forward to the air-conditioned beauty of that majestic theatre and just steps away, there's the Majestic Diner!" Hodgman said. "They used to serve fried chicken livers but sadly enough, not anymore."

Hodgman is not fazed by the rather modest lighting in the theater: "I'm luminous. It doesn't matter. I've been injected with radioactive matter so you'll be able to see me!"

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Regardless, you'll also be able to continue to see Hodgman's occasional appearances on Comedy Central's "Daily Show." Although Jon Stewart recently stepped down and Trevor Noah is taking over the hosting duties later this month, most of the writing staff and correspondents will remain. Hodgman has already shown up in promos.

In the past on the show, he's come on as the "resident expert," playing off the trio of fake trivia books he has written. More recently, he became the "deranged millionaire."

But he said he has to come up with a new character. "With Donald Trump leading in the polls for president, I"m not sure the deranged millionaire would add anything. I don't think there's a joke that would compete with the long-form improv comedy that Donald Trump is doing. He's clearly committed to it."

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I've interviewed Hodgman once before in 2011. I didn't do a particularly good job prepping for it (read it here) and told him it probably left no impression on him at all.

He ran with that by telling me: "I hate to say it, but you ruined my life. I turned down a lot of really good opportunities. Now I'm forced to go on the road again. I was offered a role on "Avengers: Age of Ultron.' I was going to take it but then I wondered what Rodney Ho would think. He'd like me to keep it real. So I said no."

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

His conclusion: "When people give you advice, they're not necessarily thinking of your interests. They're thinking of Rodney Ho's interests."

But he has forgiven me.

I was curious about his affinity to residing in cities that sound similar but not exactly. He grew up in Brookline, Mass. He has lived for many years in Brooklyn, N.Y. And recently, he has purchased a place in (I kid you not) Brooklin, Maine courtesy of his wife Katherine.

He described his childhood in Brookline as part of his "fabled path growing up as a profoundly pretentious and affected only child."  And he enjoys his primary residence in Brooklyn.

But during the summers, his high school teacher wife likes to visit family in Maine and convinced him to purchase an abode in Brooklin of all places.

"It was fate," he said. "We went to profound depths to complete the joke. So now it's mostly just confusing and embarrassing."

Hodgman said he has learned to love the rugged prickliness that is Maine. He also named his tour "Vacationland" in honor of Maine's tourist slogan.

"No one in Maine wants you to visit them," Hodgman said. "This is one of the great paradoxes of the state of Maine."

He said during his show, he'll mention a tourist trap called Perry's Nut House, which sells nuts and fudge and souvenirs. "It has a big sign that says, 'NO BATHROOM.' We know that's a lie. There's a bathroom in there. They just don't want you to use it! I think it's out of spite. How dare you enter the store to spend money! We don't want to clean up after  you or accommodate you in any way. They put the spite in hospitality!"

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

SHOW PREVIEW

John Hodgman's "Vacationland" show

9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22

$27.50 plus fees

Plaza Theatre

1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta