The end goal is to make a piece that everybody has ownership over and everybody's proud of because everybody contributed to it. I think there's a communist, socialist vibe to 'Portlandia' to make it work.

If you have, especially with siblings, something like the competition for mom's affection, it just never goes away.

I saw Sleater Kinney perform back when I was in college.

Different actors have different rhythms. My goal as a director is to let these guys get their best work out.

Humor is the affectionate communication of insight.

I don't do comedy so much although I would like to do a comedy.

I think, in storytelling, people want to see triumph, and so it's usually nice to start with failure and see someone somehow rise above it. People like to see people try. And they like to see people fail for comedy, and they like to see people succeed for the drama and emotion.

I make commercials and funny videos and T.V. shows or whatever, film projects that people will watch for ten minutes and go 'Heh' and get on with their day. I essentially... make comic books.