Michael Schur

It's also the only place where we tell you what's coming up next week in exclusive. So subscribe at whyy.org slash fresh air and look for an email from Molly every Saturday morning. This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. Let's get back to my interview with Michael Schur, one of the people behind several beloved TV shows.

After writing for The Office, he co-created Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He created The Good Place and the new series A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson, who also starred in The Good Place. So many comics, when they're young, like they're the class clown. They're the ones who's always getting punished for acting up.

After writing for The Office, he co-created Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He created The Good Place and the new series A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson, who also starred in The Good Place. So many comics, when they're young, like they're the class clown. They're the ones who's always getting punished for acting up.

After writing for The Office, he co-created Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He created The Good Place and the new series A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson, who also starred in The Good Place. So many comics, when they're young, like they're the class clown. They're the ones who's always getting punished for acting up.

They're the ones whose parents have to come and explain their child's behavior. And they're misfits. And then they find comedy and, you know, often become celebrities and are very well rewarded for it. But it sounds like you through your life, you were always like... Playing within the rules and that that was always important to you.

They're the ones whose parents have to come and explain their child's behavior. And they're misfits. And then they find comedy and, you know, often become celebrities and are very well rewarded for it. But it sounds like you through your life, you were always like... Playing within the rules and that that was always important to you.

They're the ones whose parents have to come and explain their child's behavior. And they're misfits. And then they find comedy and, you know, often become celebrities and are very well rewarded for it. But it sounds like you through your life, you were always like... Playing within the rules and that that was always important to you.

So as perhaps one of the minority members of comedy who played by the rules, how do you explain yourself?

So as perhaps one of the minority members of comedy who played by the rules, how do you explain yourself?

So as perhaps one of the minority members of comedy who played by the rules, how do you explain yourself?

How has that code worked for you working at networks? Because, like, the new series is on Netflix, but most of your shows were on network TV, on broadcast TV, where there's standards and practices and rules you have to obey and, you know, executives you have to answer to.

How has that code worked for you working at networks? Because, like, the new series is on Netflix, but most of your shows were on network TV, on broadcast TV, where there's standards and practices and rules you have to obey and, you know, executives you have to answer to.

How has that code worked for you working at networks? Because, like, the new series is on Netflix, but most of your shows were on network TV, on broadcast TV, where there's standards and practices and rules you have to obey and, you know, executives you have to answer to.

And your creative instincts might not be their instincts, especially if what they're going for is, you know, the biggest hit possible and what you're going for is a vision that you have.

And your creative instincts might not be their instincts, especially if what they're going for is, you know, the biggest hit possible and what you're going for is a vision that you have.

And your creative instincts might not be their instincts, especially if what they're going for is, you know, the biggest hit possible and what you're going for is a vision that you have.

You've worked very closely with Greg Daniels, who created the American version of The Office, and you co-created Parks and Rec with him. What are some of the things that you learned from him, from watching him work and from working with him, that have stayed with you and helped guide you in your independent projects?

You've worked very closely with Greg Daniels, who created the American version of The Office, and you co-created Parks and Rec with him. What are some of the things that you learned from him, from watching him work and from working with him, that have stayed with you and helped guide you in your independent projects?

You've worked very closely with Greg Daniels, who created the American version of The Office, and you co-created Parks and Rec with him. What are some of the things that you learned from him, from watching him work and from working with him, that have stayed with you and helped guide you in your independent projects?

If you're just joining us, my guest is Michael Schur. He wrote for The Office and co-created Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and created The Good Place, as well as a new Netflix comedy series called A Man on the Inside. We'll talk more after a short break. This is Fresh Air. This is Fresh Air. Let's get back to my interview with Michael Schur.