GH (introduction in studio): NBC is giving the "thumbs up" sign to Nathan Lane today and we are thrilled about that. The network will put his formerly shelved show Encore!Encore! back on the air waves after a several week disappearance I had lunch with Lane right here in Hollywood to talk about TV's highs and lows. He's terrific.

GH (voiceover): Nathan Lane is back stronger and funnier than ever. Many proclaimed his sitcom Encore!Encore! was doomed after a rocky start and rumors of cancellation. But NBC is showing its support by putting Nathan on the Wednesday lineup.

NL: Mickey Rooney once said to me, "They build ya up to knock ya down. Remember that ... they build ya up to knock ya down." Yeah.

GH (voiceover): But now Nathan is on his way back up again. Lane's sitcom about a self-centered opera singer who's lost his voice was getting bad press before the pilot was even finished.

This shocked the veteran actor who enjoyed 22 years of rave reviews in theatre before The Birdcage made him a movie star.

GH: How do you deal with that as a human being, 'cause that's gotta hurt?

NL: Ultimately you have to say, "Lighten up. It's a TV show!" And if ti doesn't work out, I'll go on and do other things. You know, I can get a paper route.

GH: Absolutely.

GH (voiceover): That self-deprecating sense of humor developed early in Lane's life. Growing up with an alcoholic father, the budding actor learned to find comedy in the midst of every tragedy.

NL: I was embarrassed by his behavior. When he would come home he would be so drunk ... and I can remember telling a friend of mine that he wasn't my father, he was my grandfather. I lied to this friend of mine and I remember him coming to the wake, saying "I thought it was your grandfather," and I said " ... I lied." And, yeah, it was very difficult.

GH: You can look back and say, "Ok, through all those experiences ... this wasn't great ..." what seed did it plant to make you who you are today?

NL: It created the ambition and the desire to break free of all of that, of what I came from, and wanting to succeed.

GH (voiceover): And succeed he did. And that shy child became a bigger than life star of movies, theatre, and now television.

GH: Are you both shy and outrageous or is one a by-product of the other?

NL: Yes, I think I am shy. It takes me awhile to open up to people ... (laughing) except you!

GH (in studio): We had such a magnificent open lunch. He's such a talent. We wish him all the best with Encore!Encore!. It's tomorrow on NBC, catch it. It's hilarious, the best thing on television.

Shown during voiceovers: video clips of previously shown Encore!Encore! episodes, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Christing Baranski and Nathan outside an awards ceremony, The Birdcage, and stills of Nathan's yearbook picture.