I love sci-fi. Growing up, I was a big fan of the 'Alien' series, 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' etcetera. Plus, anything apocalyptic - 'I Am Legend,' '1984,' 'Battlestar Galactica.'

When I was growing up, we had cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, goats, chickens - a whole menagerie.

It's always nice when someone comes up to you and tells you they enjoy the show. At least they're not coming up and saying how much they hate it.

Female clothing seems to be extremely difficult and almost like a puzzle for a man to take off. But I think if you get there, you win. A kilt is the complete opposite. The kilt is so easy to take off.

Playing guitar was one of my childhood hobbies, and I had played a little at school and at camp. My parents would drag me out to perform for my family, like all parents do, but it was a hobby - nothing more.

Two children of same cruel parent look at one another and see in each other the image of the cruel parent or the image of their past oppressor. This is very much the case between Jew and Arab: It's a conflict between two victims.

Family is such a fundamental part of Islam, and women run the family. I had to force myself not to impose my own definition of political and social freedom on women in Islam, and approach each story objectively.

I think it goes back to whether or not race and class - that is, race and poverty - is not becoming even more of a constraint. Because with the failing public schools, I worry that the way that my grandparents got out of poverty, the way that my parents became educated, is just not going to be there for a whole bunch of kids.