When the streets in Greenville look a little deserted tonight it's because everyone will be at the comedy show at the Greenville Convention Center, said Sheryl Underwood, the show's leading act.

Underwood, host of Black Entertainment Television's ComicView, will perform along with Mike Washington and Mark Patrick in the show that begins at 8 p.m.

Be on time, she said during a telephone interview this week.

"We have to start on time and end on time because it's Friday night and everybody wants to kick it right after the show at the afterparty," she said. "Then you have all day Saturday to sober up so you can be in church on Sunday."

But don't wait until Sunday to carry your Bible, she said. "Bring some olive oil and extra thick Bibles, the old King James Version with gold around the pages and Jesus' talk in red."

You'll need it for her show, where she will discuss, in adult terms, "sex, religion, politics, white people adopting black babies, everything."

Underwood, an Arkansas native, began her career in comedy in 1989, when she became the first female finalist in the popular Miller Lite Comedy Search. She has won a number of comedy competitions, including BET's ComicView's Funniest Female Comedian.

She recently was nominated for best comedy actress in the 13th annual National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications Vision Awards competition, and ComicView with Sheryl Underwood was nominated in the comedy category of the awards.

But Underwood's talents extend beyond comedy. This week, she was in Las Vegas for the 2007 Trumpet Awards as a special correspondent for Tom Joyner Morning Show radio program. The ceremony, sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, salutes the achievements of African-Americans, and those who have shown consistent support toward the enhancement of African-American achievement in areas such as law, politics, medicine, business, sports and entertainment.

Underwood has produced and starred in television series, and has acted in several films, most notably appearing as Catfish Rita in "Beauty Shop."

Queen Latifah, Andie MacDowell, Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone and Mena Suvari also starred in the ensemble comedy that is now airing on Showtime.

A spin-off of "Barbershop," the movie is about a rival beauty shop that opens up on the same street and gives the neighborhood's female clientele a place to gather and gossip.

Underwood said she used her "Zeta side merged with my stepmother" for the role in "Beauty Shop."

"My stepmother is such a sweet person; I don't like to call her my stepmother because she raised me. And, you know those old Zeta sorors always got your back."

Underwood chairs the National Executive Board of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Founded in 1920 at Howard University, the sorority promotes the ideals of scholarship, service, sisterly love and finer womanhood.

Often mentioning her sorority in her comments, Underwood said, "I love representing Zeta and being the board chair. It's changed my look, demeanor — who I am."

If you Go!

WHAT: Comedy show featuring Sheryl Underwood, Mike Washington and Mark Patrick.

WHEN: Doors open at 7 p.m.; show begins at 8 p.m.

COST: VIP tickets are $30 and include free entry to the afterparty at the convention center. General admission tickets are $25. Call 321-7671.

ONLINE: http://www.sherylunderwoodandfriends.com/

Contact Cherie Speller at 329-9512 or cspeller@coxnc.com.