Milwaukee native Eric Price steps into a brighter spotlight this week with an appearance on the July 12 episode of Comedy Central's "Reno 911," which airs in Milwaukee at 9 p.m.

Aiming at national exposure, Price hired a manager and traveled back and forth from Los Angeles for three to four months. Thanks to those trips and some solid material, Price met the right people and landed an audition for the show.

"My character on the show is a local street break-dancer who thinks he's African-American," Price says. "I came up with the character myself, and they loved it. It was all improv."

"My part could be five seconds or four minutes," Price adds. "I haven't seen the final product yet, but either way, I'll take it."

For those who are unfamiliar with "Reno 911," it's a comedy about cops in Reno, Nev. and their questionable professionalism while carrying out their day-to-day duties.

Or as Comedy Central says, they're "a group of cops who won't hesitate to beat you with your own shoe."

Born and raised in Bay View, Price credits his early years for his passion for comedy as a profession.

"I was the dork in school with the poop jokes," Price says. "I would always tell jokes, and I have AD/HD, so why not try to make people laugh instead of go insane?"

Since 1997, Price has been performing improvisational acts at Comedy Sportz and other comedy clubs in town and has loved every minute of it. He also occasionally does some stand-up work.

"I'm a lazy stand-up comic, meaning I don't really prepare too much before I go on," Price says. "It's sporadic, so it's never the same act. I'd recommend a comedy profession to anyone who can pull it off."