Julia Sweeney, SNL alum known for role as Pat, speaks at CU-Boulder

S aturday Night Live alum Julia Sweeney (1990-94) said she's lucky she came to the comedy scene when she did -- otherwise she would have been blown out of the water.

"To me the comedians today are so much better than anyone who came before," Sweeney said, laughing. "I really feel that way to a certain extent. Not that I don't totally revere those SNL days, but from Tina Fey to Stephen Colbert, I actually feel like I would have never made it in a group with those people."

Sweeney, renowned for playing the androgynous "Pat" on Saturday Night Live, will speak in the University of Colorado's Glenn Miller Ballroom at 7 p.m. Wednesday, as part of the Conference on World Affairs Athenaeum.

The Athenaeum is an extension of CU's annual spring forum on international affairs and brings focus to distinguished guests throughout the semester.

"We are thrilled to have Julia Sweeney joining us for an Athenaeum," said Graham Gerritsen, a conference spokesman. "We've been trying to get her here for as long as I can remember."

Gerritsen said Wednesday's event "promises to be one of our best."

Sweeney is often grouped in the same category as the top women of Saturday Night Live, alongside Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon and Cheri Oteri.

But she still thinks they're better.

"I'm not being humble, but today's comedians now are really working at the top of their game," Sweeney said.

She said she enjoys watching young comedians now that she's not competing with them any more.

"I'm just enjoying it so much," Sweeney said. "They are reaping the benefits of all who came before, and now are better."

Sweeney had roles in films such as Pulp Fiction and Clockstoppers; television appearances on "Frasier" and "Sex and the City"; provided her signature voice in Mike Judge's animated ABC sitcom "The Goode Family"; and penned three autobiographical solo shows.

She said tonight's discussion will include excerpts from each of her monologues: Award-winning "God Said Ha!", a humorous account of painful personal traumas, including a bout with cancer; "In the Family Way," which chronicles the adoption of her daughter; and "Letting Go of God," a discussion on becoming an atheist that airs on Showtime in November.

The last part of the evening will be open for questions and discussion, she said.

Although Pat's image still follows Sweeney around, she said she doesn't mind.

"Part of me wishes I had done another thing that was bigger than the Pat thing that could have wiped out Pat," Sweeney said. "But I don't regret doing Pat at all. I really had fun being 'Pat.'"

Recently, Sweeney has been focusing on her collaboration with Denver-born singer/songwriter Jill Sobule (of 1995's "I Kissed a Girl") in "The Jill and Julia Show," a compilation of songs and stories.