On one of his comedy DVDs (I’m Telling You for the Last Time, maybe?), when he’s asked during audience Q&A to “do Newman,” he explains the origin of the “Hello, Newman” running gag. He said he decided that his TV alter ego had decided long ago that the mailman was his worst enemy in the entire world, devoted to his ruination and determined to end any happiness he might have. Of course he would be hostile to him! Hence his very unwelcoming greeting to a certain plump postal carrier… and then he said those immortal two words, his voice dripping with contempt.
The crowd went wild.