KDKA’s Ken Rice anchors another ‘Off the Record’

friends, Stu Samuels [a managing editor, producer and reporter who has worked at KDKA and WTAE with Mr. Rice]. When I started doing “OTR,” I knew he’s hysterical and I needed his help.

So it’s really Stu, me and my wife, Lauren. My wife is like the punch-up. I give her a concept, and she’ll give me a great punchline, or she’ll cut. She’s great at cutting stuff. You need someone to be brutally honest.

Was comedy in your background growing up?

I came from a “funny” house. My mother [Marcia] was an actress and singer in community theater [outside of Chicago], and my dad [Sherwin], had a great sense of humor. If you could make someone crack up at the dinner table, that felt good.

Humor is how my wife and I have raised our kids; we love comedy.

Who were some of your comedy favorites?

They’re pretty mainstream: “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” Johnny Carson . ... I think John Mulaney is funny, too. He just won an Emmy.

Every year, you take jabs at [WPXI-TV anchor] David Johnson. Are you friends?

I think, early on, I realized I needed a foil. I thought it would be funny if I had this “arch foe” in town, and who better than a fellow anchorman? He’s the greatest. I’m very fond of him but just thought, “This would be great, if people thought we hate each other.”

Most years, I remember to send him an apology in advance.

Is there a favorite joke you want to share?

I said, “David Johnson’s ego is a little out of control. The joke over at Channel 11 is, if he ever has to announce a big story, it would go something like this: This is David Johnson. Enemy missiles are headed for Pittsburgh. I repeat — this is David Johnson.”

[Mr. Johnson replies, via email:

“It’s an honor just to be mentioned/made fun of . ... I’m going to be in attendance this year, so you better be good, Ken!”]

You’re making jokes about some of the people you report on, professionally. How careful do you have to be?

Everybody at KDKA understands the nature of the show. These are jokes, this is satire. You’re supposed to have fun at people’s expense, gently, that’s what [the audience] is coming for: to see something edgy, topical, with no sacred cows.

It’s the one night we take shots at newsmakers and newsmakers take shots at us. It’s proven to be a great formula because people come every year and support the food bank.

[Mr. Rice added that the notion of the news media under attack also is off the record.]

I normally keep all the references local.

How’s the audience at “OTR”?

I think it’s a great room because the people are all there sort of in the same spirit. We love Pittsburgh, but we’re not perfect. We can stand a little good-natured jab, and the show always has sort of a heartwarming ending.

Do you consider political leanings?

That’s never been my focus — I take equal shots at Republicans and Democrats. I just think about what’s funny. And if it’s a bit unbalanced one year, it’s probably balanced the other way the next.

I have no ax to grind; I just want to make people laugh.