I never really wanted to be an actor. And that was the beginning of it, I began to write things down and eventually became a writer on a television show.

First of all, just to get Diner made would have been an achievement in that I got a chance to direct.

I got involved with an acting school and studied for a couple years. They used to have improv exercises that you would work on and you would do improvs.

We're never going to be the ultimate-insider look. You can do 50 insider looks at this Hollywood business, and the satire didn't intrigue me. I think others can do that.

I got a chance to work with Mel Brooks on two of his films: Silent Movie and High Anxiety.

I think certain movies work and that is part of the magic of it all. We can't truly define why something succeeds.

I don't see Sarah Palin suddenly spilling over to a wider group where suddenly they go, "Wait a minute, I've heard her message, and now I'm beginning..." It's not expanding it. A politician that doesn't expand from the base is not a good politician. So I disagree with all the talking heads that go "Well, she's a very good politician." She's not! Good politicians expand, and she doesn't.