His jokes are powered by a manic energy coupled with quick, acerbic wit.

To the casual observer, Todd Glass appears as if he could perform stand-up for days and never run out of topics.

Kmart. The dynamics of relationships. Being compared to famous actors.

I had a girl once tell me I look like John Goodman, Glass says as he sets up one of his more well-known bits.

I know it upset me because it happened 10 years ago and I havent shut up about it ... She goes, Oh no, a young, thin John Goodman. Young and thin. That doesnt make me feel any better.

Throughout his act, Glass, who begins a four-night stand at the D.C. Improv on Thursday, oscillates between different facial expressions and hand gestures, bringing each of his bits to life. He also has a penchant for launching angry rants, not afraid to call out societys faux pas, from racial insensitivity to bad personal hygiene.

Even infomercials cant escape his comedic wrath.

It seems like the later youre up, the more every advertiser thinks you have a problem, Glass says in another bit. Sometimes Im just up late. They come on with ads at four in the morning, Do you have genital herpes? ... No, Im just not tired.

Over the last decade, Glass, 47, has become a familiar name in the stand-up world, aided by two appearances on NBCs Last Comic Standing.

A native of Paoli, Pa., he began performing stand-up in Philadelphia while he was still in high school. After seven years on the Philly scene, he moved to Los Angeles in 1990 with just a car, his clothes and a thousand bucks. For his first two years out there, Glass stayed with the parents of a friend.

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Comic Todd Glass on stand-up, success and being true to himself