Tracy Morgan: Nudity enthusiast. Diabetic. Published author. Yes, you read that right. The revelations in the 30 Rock star’s new book,_ I Am the New Black_, range from the tragic (his father died of AIDS, he’s been estranged from his mother for years) to the ridiculous (“out-of-control Tracy” is nicknamed Chico Divine) to the downright predictable (“Everywhere I go there are no shortage of women I’d like to get pregnant”). Intrigued, GQ scaled Mount Crazy to worship at the feet of the most anarchic voice on television—and to learn how his comedy is like a turkey, what Lorne Michaels has in common with Mike Tyson’s trainer, and the virtues of audiences at Benihana.

One can definitely see the roots of your comedy in your dad. In the book, you describe him pointing to the bleachers at your high school and telling you not just that you were conceived under the bleachers but that it was doggy style and he “gave it to her good.” That’s just nuts.

Yeah, man, that was my dad. Man, he was honest. He reminds me a lot of Richard Pryor. He never lied to me about sex. But I was a kid, you know—I was 12 years old! I was like, What are you telling me this for?

Can we talk about Lorne Michaels for a second? In the book, you write, “Every Jewish man has to love one…”

“…nigger in their life.” Yeah. Lorne is my Cus D’Amato. Lorne helped build my con?dence up, being in front of an all-white audience and all that. And he told me when he hired me for Saturday Night Live: You’re not here because you’re black; you’re here because you’re funny!

**That’s also where you met Tina Fey. **

She wasn’t on SNL when I first got there, but we clicked right away. She’s a very dear friend of mine. [pause] I mean, don’t get it wrong. She’s a married woman! I’m a 40-year-old black man!

There’s a lot of overlap between you and your 30 Rock character, Tracy Jordan. How much of your life do you mine for the show?

Tracy Jordan is a part of Tracy Morgan; Tracy Morgan is not a part of Tracy Jordan. Again: Tracy Jordan is a part of Tracy Morgan; Tracy Morgan is not a part of Tracy Jordan. I’m not running around on the street in my underwear with a light saber.