I wanted to be a writer first, and I struck out in the world to be a writer first, and then found stand-up as a more creative outlet, as a 3D way to be creative.

I'm a believer in trusting the director.

Different people have different styles, but there is an opportunity as a director to be a writer in every moment, with every visual cue and every piece of production design. Everything is a decision, and everything can be obsessed over.

Mindy Kaling gets her own line in the acknowledgments, as previously negotiated by her representatives. Thanks, Mindy. I love you and you're the best.

I think it's better to not know certain things. It gives the world an extra bit of mystery, which is important to us as human beings.

Battered Women: sounds delicious. Doesn’t make it right.

'The Office' is less a comedy than so many other "comedies" that have been on the air. It's really about the balance between what is real and what is comic.