It wouldn't kill you to watch a film or pick up a newspaper once in a while.

To use a basketball metaphor, West Wing cast was a group that liked to pass as much as they liked to shoot.

It's populated by people who, by and large, have terrific communication skills. Every day is an extraordinary day. For me, it was just a great area for storytelling.

When I write something, I want the best director to direct it. And that's not going to be me.

Tell me what you think and then tell me what the really smart person in the room who disagrees with you thinks.

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.

I've never met anyone who has said, "My goal is to make America mediocre." That's a kind of hard-right conservative fallacy.