Entertainment

Hellooo, Santa

My mother told me I couldn’t sing, and I believed her,” jokes Wayne Knight. If that’s the case, he might be in trouble, since he’s in the middle of a nine-week run of “Elf” on Broadway. The holiday musical, based on the 2003 Will Ferrell movie, is about a naive human raised as an elf at the North Pole before going in search of his real father. Knight plays Santa Claus, a role handled by an especially crotchety Ed Asner in the film.

Knight has appeared on Broadway before, in “Art” and “Sweet Charity,” but he’s best known for his turn as the nosy postman Newman in “Seinfeld.” The Post caught up with the actor during a rehearsal break.

How is your singing voice?

It’s kind of like natural childbirth — something comes out; we can’t guarantee what it looks like. But Santa is not a dulcet-toned character, so it should be OK.

What about the dancing?

The requirements on me are minimal, and I’m just barely adequate. I just kind of naturally, uh, suck. No. Everybody’s going through a tap number that Santa’s not part of. I told my wife, “Geez, I feel bad. I’m not doing enough in this number.” She said, “You should tell them. They’ll let you into that tap number.” I said, “Honey, we’re doing nine shows a week. Shut up.”

Have you spoken to Ed Asner about the role?

No, I didn’t think there were any tips he could give me. Like, “Remember, when you lift the sack, bend your legs.”

I read that you lost a little bit of weight.

You read this? What publication was this, because I’ll subscribe. I’ve lost some weight since, like, “Jurassic Park” and Newman because otherwise, I would be speaking to you from heaven.

Did doctors tell you that?

I think passers-by on the street told me that. It’s pretty clear information. I also have a young son, and I’m happily married, and I would kind of like to live.

Was “Seinfeld” a mixed blessing, in that becoming so synonymous with one character made it harder to get other work?

It makes it much more difficult when someone sees you as a particular character to disappear in a film. They see you as Newman. It is a mixed blessing in that sense. But in the sense that it’s brought me income and notoriety, no, it’s fine.

What do fans who approach you say?

You name it. Oftentimes they think they’re the first person to tell you, “Hello, Newman.” I think it was Steve Martin, when asked what it was like to be rich and famous said, “Try being rich first. I think it will suffice.” It’s just part and parcel of being a public person. It’s really not that bad. I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have anything better to do.

You played a cop in the infamous “Basic Instinct” Sharon Stone leg-crossing scene. Did you know then we’d be talking about it decades later?

It was kind of like a big deal even at the time. I remember being cast for that movie and director Paul Verhoeven taking a camera and getting it really close to my face, and he said [in Dutch accent], “Maybe you should do a lick. A lick with the tongue. A lick on the lip. Maybe you do another lick. You do two licks. Maybe you try three licks. Lick. Lick. Lick. No, that’s too many licks.”

Have you invited Jerry Seinfeld to “Elf”?

I ran into him at the “Night of Too Many Stars.” I mentioned that I was doing the show, and he said [imitating bored Seinfeld], “Yeah, I know.” So, there you have it. [laughs]

He’s Jewish, so maybe Christmas isn’t his thing.

Well, elves. It doesn’t matter if you’re Jewish or Hindu, I think everyone loves an elf.