It’s time to have a party and everybody is invited. It’s at Howie’s house in Ames, a.k.a. Stephens Auditorium. Time: Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Why is it a party, you say? Well, there’s an audience and there’s Howie Mandel. Put two and two together and you have a formula for one hell of a good time. “I kind of see it as a giant party where I’m the center of attention,” Mandel said. “The audience is very much a part of the show.

“I’m up there having the best time I can, that’s what makes me do it. I wouldn’t be doing it if I wasn’t having fun.”

This year’s show doesn’t have a theme, but Howie was so kind as to come up with one during our little chat. “Before this interview is over I’ll think of a theme,” Howie asserted.

A pause and then, “Howie does Showgirls. The first half is comedy and the second will be lap dances.”

Which would fit his style perfectly, since his comedy is always on the move; he’s here, he’s there, and then he’s back here again. “Most of it improvised; I have the attention span of a gnat,” he explained. “I [can’t] concentrate on one thing.”

After hitting the big-time in 1982, playing the part of Dr. Wayne Fiscus on “St. Elsewhere,” a show in which Howie is “happy and proud to have been a part of,” Mandel went on to create “Bobby’s World,” an award-winning animated children’s show airing on the Fox network.

Besides still doing “Bobby,” he has also been lending his talents, among other things, to making educational CD-ROMs for children. The Great Word Adventure, a unique approach to language for kids ages six to nine, starring Howie Mandel, was released last summer and followed the highly acclaimed preschool title, TuneLand, which has been honored with numerous awards. “I love doing it,” Howie said. “They approached me because of the success of ‘Bobby.'”

Before the CDs are released, Howie tries them out on his three children. “They sit in front of the computer, then I turn it on,” Howie laughed. “I believe firmly in education; that’s why I do that work.

“It’s the wave of the future. It’s wonderful, entertaining and educational. It’s actually a lot of fun for all ages.”

With a couple of CDs under his belt, Howie set his sights on “Howie Mandel’s Sunny Skies,” a weekly Showtime series that airs Friday nights at midnight. “It’s a half-hour of everything, what’s going on in my mind,” Mandel said. Which pinpoints it to exactly everything.

“Stand-up wasn’t the forum for it. There’s a lot of improv and man-on-the-street,” Mandel explained.

When Howie hits the Stephens stage, he will be fast approaching his 40th birthday, one where he will celebrate with his family. “It’s weird that I do what I do for a living,” Howie laughed. “I’m going to have a luau. I love Hawaii.”

Let’s add this up. Two CD-ROMs, two TV shows, a constant touring schedule (“I’m always touring, 200 shows a year”) and an upcoming birthday. This tour would be more appropriately titled “Howie Meets Insomniac.”

But Howie doesn’t think he’s changed that much in the past 13 years. “I’m still wearing the same slacks; I should change though,” Howie chuckled. “I’m like Howie Pan; I don’t think I’m any different than I was.”

One sure sign that age hasn’t caught up with him is the little games he plays onstage. In particular, the one where he’ll ask your name and what you do, and make a reference to you an hour later. “I’m having fun playing games,” Howie said. “[Remembering names] is part of the fun of it for me.”

To join in on the fun, check out Mr. Mandel at Stephens Auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.50 and are available at the Iowa State Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.