The downside to series television is that the schedule is ferocious. It constantly feels like you have a midterm due that you haven't started yet.

There are no Asian movie stars

There's that process of writing it - then you come out of your room into the sunlight, and you now have to complete the circuit and make the connection finally with the audience.

But HBO is less interested in how many people are watching than in how much the people who are watching are liking the show. They didn't set up their business model to make writers happy. It's just a nice unintended consequence.

I have a lot of respect for people who are great at ad-libbing, and for writers and directors who are able to create a scene in which that works.

I grew up in the theatre. It's where I got my start. Writing a television drama with theatrical dialogue about the theatre is beyond perfection.

The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one - America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.