Chris Rock went from a guy whose name you knew from SNL to a legendary comedian by working his ass off.

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.'

Your stage persona is usually a version of yourself, to varying degrees. Some folks do a full-on character, so that's different. But most comics do some version of themselves.

I'll sit down for an hour or two a few days a week in a quiet place and brainstorm. The earlier in the day, the better, before the parade of distractions starts.

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

I've seen people who are not very likeable but hilarious. I think comedians get to a point where they know they're funny, so they don't care - in the sense that they know what they're doing. They have a skill.

A person riding a unicycle on a tightrope doesn't worry about being likeable; they're doing something amazing that very few people can do.