Does “Encino Man” have his eye on “The Daily Show?”
Pauly Shore has snagged one-on-one time with some of the biggest names in the Beltway for his new Showtime special, “Pauly-tics,” premiering tonight.
The partially-scripted hour includes comic chats with Rep. Barney Frank, activist Ralph Nader, former presidential candidate Herman Cain and recent RNC chairman Michael Steele — as well as highlights from Shore’s current stand up tour.
“Most people who know me, don’t think of politics,” he admits. “But when the cameras aren’t rolling and I am not doing comedy, I am usually surfing from CNN to FOX…to Al Jazeera TV.”
Shore — best known for critically panned movies like “Son-In-Law” and “Jury Duty” — describes his newest project as “Bill Maher meets spring break — a political special for people who aren’t into politics.”
And politicians who aren’t afraid to look a little silly.
During one sequence — filmed at a stand-up performance in June — Shore entices Steele to dance for him on stage while he performs a pro-Obama rap:
“Romney hates the rich. Unemployment’s high
But voters still love you, Bitch.
I’m gonna tell you why. Obama got Osama!”
Steele — who appears to return to his seat as soon as he catches on — is seen throughout the special.
“He takes me to Georgetown to get dressed up like a politician,” Shore says, noting that Republicans dress differently than Democrats: “Their pocket squares are a little bit more stiff.”
Later the pair head to Ben’s Chili Bowl — a D.C. landmark — for lunch. But Steele abruptly walks out when the comic cracks a joke about conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.
In a different scene, the actor quizzes Cain about his “9-9-9” tax plan and why he dropped out of the presidential race.
“I was fishing around for, you know, the conversation of him getting out of the race because these girls came out of the woodwork,” Shore tells The Post. “But I let him say it as opposed to me saying it.”
Shore admits many politicos and talking heads — including Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper — politely declined an invitation to appear on the show.
“Ted Nugent and Jesse Ventura wanted to do it,” he says. “And we got close on Megan McCain. But at some point we just had to stop. The budget gets out of control.”
Shore — who donated to Hilary Clinton’s campaign in 2008 — would not reveal which candidate he supports in the November 6 election.
“I think I am part democrat and part republican,” he says. “I like country music, but I also like BET.”