I don't return anybody's calls unless it's going to mean extra money for me. And I've completely cut off all relationships with any friends that I had before the show. And I've copped an attitude.

Why should every single character be an honor student who goes around helping others and never doing anything wrong? Is that like the rule or something?

It kind of hit me at some point during the process that most people in the film business - not just the executives, the people who make them, too - tend to come from pretty upper-class backgrounds. If they go work a job, it's to have that experience, that sort of thing. After they graduate college, they have time to go visit Europe and take some time off and get their heads together. That kind of thing, I sure didn't have.

You look at material a different way when your ass is on the line financially for it. You want to know where the big laughs are, and how we're going to sell this.

They don't make you pay for the humor. It's up and down, but they're trying to give you as many laughs as possible in 2 minutes. They are the most honest comedians ever.

It's amazing what we can get away with and what we can't. But it's not for me to decide.

I think I'm optimistic, yeah, especially in real life, but I think it's funny to be pessimistic.