Judd Apatow: Interview on The Sound of Young America

He spoke with Jesse Thorn from his Los Angeles office about his long career. As a high school student, Apatow used a radio show barely audible on the campus of his school to book interviews about a career in comedy with legends like Jerry Seinfeld, Henny Youngman and John Candy. He became a standup comic early, and was featured in the HBO Young Comedians special in 1992. Then he turned his attention to writing, working extensively with Garry Shandling, who became his mentor. In these early years, he worked on The Ben Stiller Show and on Shandling’s seminal The Larry Sanders Show, where he also got his first shot at directing.

This special edition of The Sound of Young America also includes two pieces from I Found This Funny written by Sound of Young America contributor Simon Rich. “My Mom’s All-Time, Top Five Greatest Boyfriends, by Jordi Stromson, Age 11” is read by comedian and writer Jen Kirkman; “My Friend’s New Girlfriend” is read by actor and sketch comic Paul Scheer.