WITH AN EYE ON . . . : Jackie Guerra stands up and gets counted on her ‘First Time Out’ on WB

Jackie Guerra hopes to take her tremendous good fortune as far as she can.

Guerra, 28, joins the ranks of several other stand-up comedians as she heads up a new sitcom this fall, WB’s “First Time Out.” It’s a look at life in L.A. through the eyes of a young Latina.

Unlike other comedians who join the fall lineup with sitcoms--Drew Carrey, Jeff Foxworthy, Rondell Sheridan and Ellen Cleghorne--Guerra didn’t spend years honing her craft before she caught the attention of producers. In this case, Columbia/TriStar.

Why the confidence in an untried entity? Says Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president of Columbia Pictures Television, “She’s a Latina actress and stand-up who has incredible crossover appeal. She uses her roots, but isn’t also limited to them. She’s got a broad-based appeal.”

Still, Guerra never set foot on a stage until 1992, when she suddenly stepped up to the mike for amateur night at West Hollywood’s Rage nightclub and won the evening’s competition. The union organizer was hooked.

After much deliberation, Guerra took on comedy full-time in May, 1993, on the college stand-up circuit. Her comedy, she says, was “clean and motivational.” She realized that her voice was better heard on stage: “When I perform I always talk about issues that working people and immigrants have to deal with.”

While “First Time Out” may be on the fledgling WB network, in a not-so-fabulous Sunday-night time slot, San Fernando Valley native Guerra has high hopes that audiences will respond to “our stories that take them places they don’t normally go and where characters make choices they don’t often make on prime time.”

On a set break, Guerra cites an upcoming show where her character, Jackie, has a horrible toothache . . . and no insurance. “So she goes to Tijuana. That’s something I’ve done. It would be less organic for other sitcom leads to make that choice, but I’m comfortable with it.”

“I don’t look like the typical series lead,” the full-figured Guerra acknowledges. “I’ll talk about being Mexican-American, growing up bilingual, my weight, my ethnicity, dating and talking to friends in a more candid way that hasn’t been seen.”

Wachtel concurs. “She’s not the typically skinny pretty actress, but she carries herself in a very attractive and winning way. She has so much self-worth that life and social contact come so easily to her.”

In an earlier interview, late night at a Santa Monica Promenade bookstore, Guerra talks excitedly about “First Time Out’s” crew.

“It was incredibly important that the writers reflected as much diversity as possible. I interviewed people on every level, from the writers to the PAs [production assistants]. They are reflections of ethnic and sexual diversity.” She hopes that “one day, you’ll walk into our offices and our diversity won’t be a big deal.”

“First Time Out,” Guerra hopes, “celebrates life in L.A. and shows women of all shapes, sizes, creeds, backgrounds they can make it and not wait for some guy in armor to take them away. They can make active choices and still have relationships. I want to be able to hold my head up high and feel really good about this show.”

“First Time Out” premieres Sept. 10 and airs Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on WGN and 9:30 p.m. on WB/KTLA.