The logic was, there weren't too many female comedians, so I thought I might as well try a field that had fewer competitors than the field I was in, which was acting, singing and dancing.

I don't plan to grow old gracefully. I plan to have face-lifts until my ears meet.

You are always trying to please people before you get to the public whenever you do anything that requires a corporate body to sanction it.

Stand-up is my favorite thing I've ever done. There's so much independence.

We are all in favor of the U.S. taking an active and constructive interest in Asia.

I don't do well with my children leaving the nest.

If you watch 'American Idol,' and you close your eyes, you don't know who's singing because they all sound exactly alike.

We live in a moment and a culture when reading is really endangered. There's simply no way to write well, though, if you're not reading well.