‘GENERAL HOSPITAL’S’ MOONLIGHTING STAND-UP

By day, Sean Kanan plays the very serious A.J. Quartermaine on “General Hospital.” By night, Kanan lets his hair down as stand-up comic.

“It’s almost like an alter ego,” says Kanan.

Kanan, who has performed stand-up in clubs such as The Funny Bone in Pittsburgh and Dangerfield’s in New York City during the past few months, takes his gig seriously. He collaborates on his material with Eddie Feldman, who also writes for comedian Dennis Miller, and studies with coach and comedian Carol Montgomery.

“There’s an aspect of balance that stand-up offers me,” says Kanan. “I wish I could bring some of the humor of my personality into A.J., while maintaining the integrity of the character. I think A.J., historically, has been kind of a smart-aleck. There’s no reason why--when push comes to shove--he couldn’t come up with a zinger every now and then.”

In the meantime, Kanan is content to confine his “zingers” to the stage, where he’s constantly recognized by soap fans.

“When I was coming up with my routine, I realized people were going to know who I was from ‘General Hospital,’ ” says Kanan. “I couldn’t ignore that. I needed to address it. My first five minutes of material are about what it’s like being on a soap and playing A.J. People are interested to hear that. It also allows them to suspend their recognition of me as A.J. and get on with the material I’m doing.”

Kanan says that jokes about the soaps provide his “best material. I talk about the fact that A.J. was shipped off the show when he was 11 years old and came back two years later as a 21-year-old alcoholic. Then I go into how A.J. worked as a desk clerk at a hotel until he got bored and did what every kid does--borrow $1 million from his grandfather and bought it.”

Nothing gets in the way of a Quartermaine, especially logic. “I also do stuff that isn’t soap-related,” he adds. “I do impersonations of Marlon Brando, Sean Connery and Don Knotts.”

While Kanan insists that he doesn’t have a favorite between his two professions--”they’re like apples and oranges”--he considers himself an actor first. “I love acting,” he says, noting that he is anxiously waiting for his story line to heat up. “I don’t think A.J. is being utilized to his full potential. A.J. is always on the edge. He’s very insecure on the inside. He’s afraid of screwing up and everybody seeing it. That’s why he’s always trying to be this overachiever. The interesting part is the subtext.

“I’ve been on the show for over a year, and I’m really waiting for something to sink my teeth into,” he says. “I loved my story with Crystal Carson (who played Julia Barrett). We got a great response from fans. Then Crystal was written off the show. That was unfortunate. I enjoyed working with her. I hope in the future I get to do something really heavy. I feel I’m up to the challenge.”

“General Hospital” airs weekdays at 2 p.m. on ABC.