Jeff Garlin shares his enthusiasm

Mekeisha Madden Toby / Detroit News Television Writer

For comedic actor Jeff Garlin, Detroit has become the loving admirer he never knew he had. Now he wants to return the favor.

The infatuation began in 2006 when Garlin, who is best known for his role on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," wrote, directed, produced and starred in the romantic comedy "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With."

Much to his surprise, Metro Detroit gave the film its second largest box office numbers in the country, just behind New York.

"I've never played in Detroit," says Garlin, 47, while attending a recent premiere party for "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in Hollywood. The show is currently in its seventh season.

"I played in Windsor when I was a beginning comedian, but I've never played in Detroit. But every week, the movie company kept asking me 'Who do you know in Detroit?' The numbers were that great. There are other cities where I have a following but I didn't know Detroit was one of them."

Now Garlin is working on his humorous book "My Footprint: Saving the Planet One Pound at a Time" (Simon Spotlight, $25), which is due in stores in February and he can't wait to plug it here.

"I'm coming to Detroit in March," the husband and father says. "I'll sign copies of my book and do at least one night at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. It should be a lot of fun."

Garlin, a Chicago native, is also working with Flint's own controversial filmmaker Michael Moore to create the Michigan Comedy Festival in Traverse City. The latter is Moore's adopted hometown and the site of his annual film festival.

"People with taste are drawn to anything that feels real," Garlin says of the humor found on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and in his act. "It's nice to be loved."

Detroit News Television Writer mmadden@detnews.com (313) 222-2501