Armando Iannucci is one of my heroes. As I was growing up, he was probably the most influential comic voice that I had.

The disconnect between America and its military is shocking.

I've said yes to everything that Jon Stewart has asked me to do. That's been a pretty good career decision, I think.

Most stand-ups, once they have done it, think of it as their default job. I'm pretty sure Jon Stewart still feels that way now. You are a stand-up first; other things come and go.

The only thing I can ever do is make a film that I can respond to. I could not make a romantic comedy for college girls. I wouldn't know how that works.

The characters are likable. Even the villainous Plankton - he's still flawed, and you still root for him, in a way, and the style of humor is simple, and it's about human behavior, and everybody can identify with that.

How I've fed my kids over the years is by doing stand-up comedy in clubs.

What is satire if not a marriage of civil disobedience to a laugh track, a potent brew of derision and lack of respect that acts as a nettle sting on the thin skin of the humourless?