After graduating from KU in 2006, Nikki Glaser left Lawrence for the City of Angels to pursue a comedy career. Open mic nights in Kansas City clubs gave the St. Louis native the confidence to join the competitive L.A. comedy circuit and last month she performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

What was it like to do your first open mic night?

Generally, for comedians, the first show is amazing. It’s your first time and people usually cut you some slack. They say the people who stick with comedy always have a good first set. If you don’t know how great it feels to hear people laugh at your first jokes, you have nothing to hold on to as you go along. Comedy is like heroin; we’re always chasing that first high.

What makes someone funny?

Most comedians had to develop a thick skin for whatever reason; they’re fat, they’re nerds, they had to persevere past something in their lives to make people accept them. Those are the people who can make the best jokes.

Where do you find your material?

Just from life. When I first started comedy, I was 18 and I hadn’t really experienced life. I talked about sex a lot on stage because I knew that’s what a lot of other comics did, but I hadn’t even had sex. I didn’t even know what was funny about it. But now that I’ve had more experience with relationships and being out of the college bubble, I’m able to get more material. Now I just try to go out and live life to its fullest just to get stories to tell on stage.

How did the Jay Leno opportunity come about?

I did Last Comic Standing when I was a senior at KU and when I initially auditioned, two of the guys I auditioned for happened to be the bookers for The Tonight Show. They liked me and told me I would perform, but that was in 2007. Then last month I got a call from a producer asking me to be on the show that night. They usually put comedians on the show when celebrities drop out because they know that we’re always available. So it turns out Paula Abdul dropped out for that night and I thank god for her pill addiction because I wouldn’t have been there without her. But I thought the set went really well. The crowd definitely got me.

Any embarrassing moments on the set?

I saw Rainn Wilson from The Office backstage and accidentally called him ‘Dwight’ to his face.

What do you miss about Lawrence?

I miss having the schedule that college provides for you. There’s no syllabus in the real life. There’s no one telling you what to do or when to turn things in. But other than that, I miss the Jazzhaus, I miss Henry’s and I miss the down-to-earth people in the Midwest. Lawrence just has nice, cool people.