We have a fun AVQ&A at the AV Club today (proposed by yours truly) on silly songs we sincerely like.

Today I chat with a standup comic and writer who made a splash last year with her national TV debut on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" where she finished as a semi-finalist. Now, she is a touring standup comic, Groundlings member and full-time writer and performer on the E! Network's popular "Chelsea Lately" show. You can find out much more about her, including clips of her work, here.

Is there anything you avoid writing jokes about, either because you think they're offensive or just plain overplayed?
No, not in particular, but I don't usually write about controversial stuff. I'm much more of a storyteller so my jokes are usually something silly about me or my family.

How many times do you try out a joke before deciding if it doesn't' make it?
When it comes to writing jokes on "Chelsea Lately," you only get one shot because you write the jokes right before the show so when we say them on TV they're being said for the first time. But in my own personal standup I will try out a joke at least two or three times.

What have been some of your favorite venues?
My favorite venues in LA are the Comedy Store because it's where I first learned to do standup and it's where I continue to perform every week. They've always been super supportive of me so at this point it feels like family. The other one is the Groundlings because I went to school there for five years and then was a part of their Sunday Company. It's the place where I learned to do improv and sketch comedy and that's the kind of training I'll be able to use forever.

For "Last Comic Standing," did you notice a difference doing standup on TV for reality TV show vs live audience?
Yeah, you just have to make your jokes shorter for TV. When you're with a live audience, you have much more time to explore topics and take them on more of a journey with you.

What impressions or characters did you do for your SNL auditions?
I've done Susan Boyle, Richard Simmons, Jonah Hill, and Jane Lynch as far as impressions. And I have done a ton of original characters for them. You can check out my reels here.

If you had to pick one to stick to for the rest of your life, would you do sketch or standup (or some other genre of comedy?)
That's a tough one because I love them both, but I guess I would pick standup. People would probably think I was super weird if I was still wearing silly costumes and wigs when I'm like 65.

Have you always gone by "Fortune" or did you start using it as a performer? How did the decision to use it come about?
Fortune is my middle name. I grew up going by my first name, Emily. I started going by Fortune when I was 23. I just thought it was such a cool, unique name and it's my great-grandmother's maiden name so in a way, I wanted to pay homage to my family.

What's an average day like at "Chelsea Lately"?
Our days start with looking at clips, coming up with an opening monologue for the show. Then we go look at newspapers and magazines to pick topics for the roundtable. Once we have six topics, we write lots of inappropriate jokes that our audience luckily finds very funny. The rest of the day we share feelings...lots and lots of feelings.

What's working out with Richard Simmons like? Are they actually hard workouts? Or is it more "oldies" and less "Sweating"?
I love going to his studio in Beverly Hills. I've only been a couple of times but it's so fun. He's feisty so I can't help but watch him the whole time and his workouts aren't bad...you really do sweat a lot, but anytime I do any sort of physical activity, I sweat a lot.

What are some of your long-term goals?
Some day I'd love to have my own sitcom or something like that, but I'm just so happy to have the job I have right now. It's an an amazing feeling to get paid to do what you love.

How does it feel to be the 284th person interviewed for Zulkey.com?
Wow, 284th. I obviously feel very special. Haha!