‘Smoking’ comedian alarms Secret Service

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/04/eugene_grill.jpg caption="Eugene Mirman and friends visit the CNN Grill."]
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) – Comedian Eugene Mirman would have arrived at the “CNN Grill” earlier had he not been detained by the U.S. Secret Service for his pants – apparently puffs of smoke were pouring out of one of his pockets.

“I was wearing a helmet and some goggles, and then I had some instant food that when you pulled the cord, the food heated up. What I didn’t know about the food I bought, which is my fault, is that it starts smoking,” he explained.

Mirman is at the Republican convention producing a series of funny, original videos for a Web site. If you’re trying to place the face: think the landlord in HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.”

The comedian had rave reviews for the Secret Service, however, who he described as “extremely polite.”

The helmet and goggles are still a mystery.