The Rich Roll Podcast – Judd Apatow On Comedy, Creativity, And Embracing Your Inner Weirdo

Intro

In this episode of “The Rich Roll Podcast,” Judd Apatow, Emmy-winning writer, producer, and director, shares insights on comedy, creativity, and embracing your inner weirdo. Apatow reflects on his career and the friendships he formed with other comedic talents like Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Jim Carrey. He also discusses the importance of vulnerability, the power of storytelling, and the impact of mentors like Gary Shandling. Get ready for an inspiring and entertaining conversation with one of the industry’s most influential figures.

Main Takeaways

Comedy and Creativity

• Comedy involves spewing and assessing/editing separately.
• Authenticity is key to creating comedy that can stand the test of time.
• Comedy can be timely, but it’s rare for it to hold up over decades.
• Apatow relies on his instincts and trusts talented people when creating comedy content.
• There’s no end to what you can discover in comedy because there are no answers to anything.

Embracing Your Inner Weirdo

• Apatow likes to make heroes out of the weirdos or people in between.
• He relates to the everyday person and finds comedy in his anxieties and challenges.
• Apatow believes that the simple things in life have the most drama and are the most rewarding to explore in storytelling.
• Apatow writes about his own experiences and neuroses to develop characters in his work.
• Being part of something that everyone’s talking about is a fantastic opportunity.

Mentorship and Personal Growth

• Gary Shandling played a powerful role in Apatow’s life as a mentor and a force of nature.
• Apatow met Shandling doing standup and wrote him a hundred jokes for the Grammys, which led to a close friendship.
• Apatow provides a good hang and is a good sounding board for Shandling.
• Mentoring is natural for Apatow, as he enjoys collaborating and being impressed by creative people.
• Shandling’s legacy is the impact he had on people, inspiring them and investing time in them.

The Changing Landscape of Entertainment

• The conflict between the writer’s guild and the industry is about the changing technology and how writers get paid for their work.
• The lack of support for comedies in studios is leading to a shortage of the next generation of comedy stars.
• Streamers prioritize flashy, loud shows over more nuanced and subtle content.
• There should be more investment in content that doesn’t necessarily make economic sense, but is believed in by the creators and streamers, leading to more diverse and heartfelt offerings.
• The industry has become conglomerized and superhero-affied, which affects the kind of movies people go to see in theaters.

Summary

Comedy and Creativity

Judd Apatow’s obsession with comedy started at a young age and has continued throughout his career. He believes that comedy involves spewing and assessing/editing separately, and there are no answers to anything in comedy. Authenticity is key to creating comedy that can stand the test of time. Apatow relies on his instincts and trusts talented people when creating comedy content.

Embracing Your Inner Weirdo

Apatow likes to make heroes out of the weirdos or people in between. He relates to the everyday person and finds comedy in his anxieties and challenges. Apatow believes that the simple things in life have the most drama and are the most rewarding to explore in storytelling. He writes about his own experiences and neuroses to develop characters in his work. Being part of something that everyone’s talking about is a fantastic opportunity.

Mentorship and Personal Growth

Gary Shandling played a powerful role in Apatow’s life as a mentor and a force of nature. Apatow met Shandling doing standup and wrote him a hundred jokes for the Grammys, which led to a close friendship. Apatow provides a good hang and is a good sounding board for Shandling. Mentoring is natural for Apatow, as he enjoys collaborating and being impressed by creative people. Shandling’s legacy is the impact he had on people, inspiring them and investing time in them.

The Changing Landscape of Entertainment

The conflict between the writer’s guild and the industry is about the changing technology and how writers get paid for their work. The lack of support for comedies in studios is leading to a shortage of the next generation of comedy stars. Streamers prioritize flashy, loud shows over more nuanced and subtle content. There should be more investment in content that doesn’t necessarily make economic sense, but is believed in by the creators and streamers, leading to more diverse and heartfelt offerings. The industry has become conglomerized and superhero-affied, which affects the kind of movies people go to see in theaters.

Conclusion

Judd Apatow’s insights on comedy, creativity, and embracing your inner weirdo offer valuable lessons for aspiring comedians and storytellers. His emphasis on authenticity, vulnerability, and the power of personal experiences resonates with audiences and ensures that his work stands the test of time. Apatow’s mentorship by industry legends like Gary Shandling highlights the importance of guidance and collaboration in creative pursuits. Furthermore, his observations on the changing landscape of entertainment shed light on the challenges faced by writers and the need for diverse and heartfelt content. Overall, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a comedic genius.