Rodney Carrington is getting older and he doesn't like it.

"Getting older ain't for sissies," the 42-older comedian/singer said. "I've got things that hurt that never hurt before."

He was heading down to the river near his home in Tulsa, Okla. There's a three-mile trail there, and he runs it several days a week.

"I know when I do run, I feel better," he said. "I absolutely hate dieting. It's like dating a woman you really don't like. Inevitably you go out one night and drink and end up cheating."

Carrington has been in comedy for 22 years. He's released seven comedy albums, beginning with "Hangin' with Rodney" in 1998.

The material fans will hear at his show Friday night at the Stranahan Theater is much different than the days of singing about body parts and accidentally dancing with a man.

He's happily married with three children, plus a niece who he is raising. Whereas before he would sing about hooking up, now it's more about being a regular family man and growing older.

"I want to live long enough to see my kids grow up, and grandkids, and experience all the things you're supposed to experience. It's like I want to go to school and graduate," he said. "I just want to get to the end and have the opportunity to finish strong -- be a good dad, be a grandpa."

He's done just about everything he's wanted to do in comedy, including starring in his own TV show, Rodney, which ran on ABC for 44 episodes from 2004-2006. He hates the snow and cold, and complains about the rough winter in Tulsa, but he said he'll never go back to Hollywood.

"There's nothing there but a bunch of fake people. There's no sense of community. Everybody is out for me, me, me. It's not what people think it'd be," he said. "I got the opportunity to do television, a movie [Beer for My Horses]. I've had offers to do other sit-coms, but the idea of living in Los Angeles just doesn't appeal to me anymore."

At this point, he's content running in the morning, golfing in the afternoon, going to his kids' games, having dinner with his wife, then telling his fans about those experiences on the weekend.

"I've got material about raising kids. Remember when you were 16, how stupid you were? You're at the age where you've got your driver's license, and you're like, 'I could leave home now, but I don't have a job and I'm scared,'" he said. "It's a funny age when you don't know who you are or where you are, and you're covering it all up, and pimples become a factor. You really want girls, but you look [terrible]."

His life now works for him just fine.

"I consider myself blessed beyond measure," he said. "To think you can make stuff up, and evoke an emotion like laughter and get paid -- wow."

Rodney Carrington will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Stranahan Theater. Tickets are $44.75 and can be purchased at the box office, at all TicketMaster locations, or online at ticketmaster.com.

Contact Brian Dugger at bdugger@theblade.com.

First Published April 28, 2011, 4:15 a.m.