What's so fun about doing the same thing again and again? You can only slap the handcuffs on a guy so many times.

I've been involved with great scripts and so-so leadership, and it's clear to me that leadership is the most compelling factor.

Leadership is by far the most important quality when it comes to making a show that's going to last and of superb quality, something classy and fun.

My goal is to broaden and deepen the range of African-American characters on television, so I always try to show human beings.

My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's the reason I chose drama - to build a bit of self-confidence. I had a great teacher, and I won a few speech and drama competitions and just fell in love with it.

Much of education can and should take place in schools and other formally designated community institutions. But the world beyond the schoolhouse is crucial to education, and both traditional and new media are more important than ever.

There's no question that a great teacher can make a huge difference in a student's achievement, and we need to recruit, train and reward more such teachers. But here's what some new studies are also showing: We need better parents. Parents more focused on their children's education can also make a huge difference in a student's achievement.

Connecticut would not be Connecticut if we cut $3.5 billion out of the budget. We are a strong, generous, hopeful people. We'd be taking $800 million out of education. You can't do that in this state.