Even trying it as an actor, I never thought I'd actually make it.

When you become deeply involved with someone, their problems become yours, and vice versa. It's family.

In my cranky old age, I actually prefer recording alone now, on 'The Simpsons,' for example, because I find that the director can just focus on what I'm doing and I can do a lot of variations. A lot of times, when I record with a group, I'll stay after class for another hour or two.

I've been divorced and I had to get back out there be single again and do some of that in the genuinely miserable state where you really do wonder what the hell is going on. And you feel like trying to have casual conversation with someone you don't know on the surface of the moon or something.

I've always been a fan of plain writing. I hate metaphor-laden, heavily larded, lyrical writing.

There's no experience like on-the-job training.

I'm very happy I get to keep working - it's an insanely fortunate thing.