I think comedy is no different now than it was at other points. It takes a long time to get good and know how to distill what makes you funny beyond the realm of standup, which is what I'm trying to do with 'Teachers Lounge.'

It always comes down to what the crowd buys coming out of your mouth, which differs from one comic to the next.

I belong to a gym now... well, let me rephrase that: I don't belong there at all, but I go.

Sometimes crowds start out not liking someone but then they shift and love them. Or vice versa. It can shift on a dime.

If you're funny, you can find a stage to get on. If you're good, you'll start to get work and eventually get paid.

I wasn't in the drama department, but I auditioned anyway and he not only cast me but also included a few sketches that I wrote, which really sparked my pursuit of comedy.

TV is a different animal. It's not a club set. As you said, you do short sets on TV - about five minutes. So you have to get that rhythm down and also be aware of the camera so you're connecting with the viewers at home as well as the studio audience. It's a different muscle to develop.