I am very aware of the impact that television has on people, in changing perceptions.

Advertisers have become scared of talking about certain issues because they don't want to upset an American family. I think it's a shame because there are things we want to talk to our kids about. So to be able to talk about LGBT issues on our shows. To be able to to talk about sex on our shows. Now if you're like, "I'm going to do an episode talking to kids about sex," on a network that's hard to do!

Within the framework of something very dramatic, funny things happen. Organically, from them.

Some of the funniest moments I've had have been like, at a funeral. Somebody says something and everyone's laughing because you have so much pain, but you need that moment of levity.

There's a lot of talk about division right now in America, and I really want to unite people and go like: 'Those are my problems, too, I feel that, too."

Never for one minute am I like, 'My husband, the white man, and our biracial children.' I never think about it.

I am very aware of the impact that television has on people, in changing perceptions.