Patton Oswalt

I liked, you know, there were certain things I wasn't good at math and science, very good at reading and history. So I'm like, okay, that's what I'm going to focus on.

I liked, you know, there were certain things I wasn't good at math and science, very good at reading and history. So I'm like, okay, that's what I'm going to focus on.

Once I got there, I was in the back room of this place called Garvin's in Washington, D.C., and we— watching comedians, like watching them form a bit. There's a moment like that, and I'm so glad this got captured on camera, in the Seinfeld documentary, Comedian.

Once I got there, I was in the back room of this place called Garvin's in Washington, D.C., and we— watching comedians, like watching them form a bit. There's a moment like that, and I'm so glad this got captured on camera, in the Seinfeld documentary, Comedian.

It's a good documentary, and it's also a really valuable documentary, and this is why, because there's a sequence where he's working on a bit about think tanks, and and he shows himself on stage with the early version of the bit and it's not working he hasn't found it but you can tell from his energy he knows something's there but he hasn't found it Then we cut to, he's at a table.

It's a good documentary, and it's also a really valuable documentary, and this is why, because there's a sequence where he's working on a bit about think tanks, and and he shows himself on stage with the early version of the bit and it's not working he hasn't found it but you can tell from his energy he knows something's there but he hasn't found it Then we cut to, he's at a table.

I think he's at the Olive Tree. George Wallace is there, Colin Quinn. And they're just batting. He's like, I got this thing about a think tank and how do you get fired from a think tank? And they're batting it around. And then George Wallace goes, you know, Frank, sometimes you don't think. And you just see the light go on for Seinfeld.

I think he's at the Olive Tree. George Wallace is there, Colin Quinn. And they're just batting. He's like, I got this thing about a think tank and how do you get fired from a think tank? And they're batting it around. And then George Wallace goes, you know, Frank, sometimes you don't think. And you just see the light go on for Seinfeld.

And I just had so many nights like that where I'm like, I'd go up and the bit wasn't working. And then someone would go, what about this? I'm like... That's where, yes, that's where it is. So like you add, and having that resource is always amazing, you know, with other comedians, hanging out with them and batting jokes around.

And I just had so many nights like that where I'm like, I'd go up and the bit wasn't working. And then someone would go, what about this? I'm like... That's where, yes, that's where it is. So like you add, and having that resource is always amazing, you know, with other comedians, hanging out with them and batting jokes around.

A lot of them are comedians, also other writers, other people in show biz. It's not that I'm only exclusive, but people tend to be friends with people who share their interests and share their mindset, so those are my friends.

A lot of them are comedians, also other writers, other people in show biz. It's not that I'm only exclusive, but people tend to be friends with people who share their interests and share their mindset, so those are my friends.

No, I imagined a career in writing. Then I stumbled into comedy and was like, this. And then comedy just led to acting. That's when people ask me like, Give me some advice. I can give people advice on how to act. I can't give them advice on how to get into acting because that just kind of happened without me realizing it. It just happened.

No, I imagined a career in writing. Then I stumbled into comedy and was like, this. And then comedy just led to acting. That's when people ask me like, Give me some advice. I can give people advice on how to act. I can't give them advice on how to get into acting because that just kind of happened without me realizing it. It just happened.

I mean, I was in the movie Magnolia because I came off stage at the Largo one night and went back into the kitchen and Paul Thomas Anderson was standing there. He was like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, yeah. And then, I mean, I knew who he was. He was hanging around at the Largo.

I mean, I was in the movie Magnolia because I came off stage at the Largo one night and went back into the kitchen and Paul Thomas Anderson was standing there. He was like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, yeah. And then, I mean, I knew who he was. He was hanging around at the Largo.

Yeah, I was just like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, fuck yeah, I want to be in a movie. So, you know. I mean, that movie, his movie... which I know he wanted to be called Sidney. I've seen that movie like 10 times. I think that is just, I mean, out of the gate that guy knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Yeah, I was just like, hey, you want to be in a movie? I'm like, fuck yeah, I want to be in a movie. So, you know. I mean, that movie, his movie... which I know he wanted to be called Sidney. I've seen that movie like 10 times. I think that is just, I mean, out of the gate that guy knew exactly what he wanted to do.

I was, I mean, I don't know. I feel like it was his first time on stage, but he says it wasn't. But the first night I went on stage at Garvin's in the summer of 88, Dave Chappelle went up that night. He was 14, I was 19. And he was one of those guys that I remember from the get, his, like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. Like he had that energy like he'd been doing it for 30 years, just killed.

I was, I mean, I don't know. I feel like it was his first time on stage, but he says it wasn't. But the first night I went on stage at Garvin's in the summer of 88, Dave Chappelle went up that night. He was 14, I was 19. And he was one of those guys that I remember from the get, his, like, oh, this guy's gonna be huge. Like he had that energy like he'd been doing it for 30 years, just killed.