John Oliver

I've always been interested in socially political, or overtly political, comedy. And I guess I've always liked to channel some kind of personal element to that.

Stand-up comedy seems like a terrifying thing. Objectively. Before anyone has done it, it seems like one of the most frightening things you could conceive, and there's just no shortcut - you just have to do it.

People really have come for a dialogue when they go to a stand-up show in the U.K. They say, 'I understand that you have now finished your little comedy monologue; now I have something to say regarding what I've just heard.

Americans just don't understand dry wit.

I did sketch comedy, but I never did improv. So I've just tried to learn as I go.

We invented words; we'll tell you how they're supposed to sound.

I realize how desperate it sounds for me, as a comedian, to ask you to laugh at my jokes.

I feel more at home knowing I'm not really at home. It takes all the pressure off you trying to fit in!

Here in America, people come out to see what they've known you to do. In England, it's like everyone comes out to tell you exactly how well they think you're doing.

I get nostalgic for British negativity. There is an inherent hope and positive drive to New Yorkers. When you go back to Britain, everybody is just running everything down. It's like whatever the opposite of a hug is.

There is an inherent hope and positive drive to New Yorkers.

You just try to be true to your idea of what is funny and what is also interesting.