Terence Winter

So I did that, went at night, worked for Merrill Lynch during the day as a legal assistant to one of the lawyers who counseled the trading people, and graduated. Got a job at a big Manhattan law firm, passed the New York bar, the Connecticut bar. And my first week there, I realized I had made a grave, grave error. I hated it. I didn't, I just couldn't give a shit about any of it.

So I did that, went at night, worked for Merrill Lynch during the day as a legal assistant to one of the lawyers who counseled the trading people, and graduated. Got a job at a big Manhattan law firm, passed the New York bar, the Connecticut bar. And my first week there, I realized I had made a grave, grave error. I hated it. I didn't, I just couldn't give a shit about any of it.

Within about a week and a half, I was sneaking out during the day, going to movies, bookstores. I just, two years in, I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I just didn't want to go there. So it was really, you know, it was very, you know, really- Yeah, yeah, it was great. I had everything I thought I wanted. I had an assistant. I had an office. I had a diploma written in Latin.

Within about a week and a half, I was sneaking out during the day, going to movies, bookstores. I just, two years in, I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I just didn't want to go there. So it was really, you know, it was very, you know, really- Yeah, yeah, it was great. I had everything I thought I wanted. I had an assistant. I had an office. I had a diploma written in Latin.

I was like, holy shit, look at me. I'm a lawyer. And was that, did you go to NYU Law School also? No, I went to St. John's Law School, which is the Harvard of Queens. Sure. And I was in the top 5% of the bottom third of my class. So I was very proud of that. Again, it was like, I wasn't even thinking in terms of, are you happy?

I was like, holy shit, look at me. I'm a lawyer. And was that, did you go to NYU Law School also? No, I went to St. John's Law School, which is the Harvard of Queens. Sure. And I was in the top 5% of the bottom third of my class. So I was very proud of that. Again, it was like, I wasn't even thinking in terms of, are you happy?

And, you know, it was, I was like 29 at this point. And I had that moment like, OK, you were going to either jump out a window in 10 years from the depression of working somewhere you just don't like. And you'll never be good at this because you don't like it. What do you want to do when you wake up in the morning? And I was like, all right, well.

And, you know, it was, I was like 29 at this point. And I had that moment like, OK, you were going to either jump out a window in 10 years from the depression of working somewhere you just don't like. And you'll never be good at this because you don't like it. What do you want to do when you wake up in the morning? And I was like, all right, well.

Maybe I'd be a salesman, you know, because I like to bullshit. And I was like, all right. And there's a little voice that said, come on, it's not salesman. What is it? And it's like, all right, well, an ad copywriter. Maybe I could do that. And then even the voice like, come on, go deeper. And then it's finally I want to go to fucking Hollywood and write sitcoms. And.

Maybe I'd be a salesman, you know, because I like to bullshit. And I was like, all right. And there's a little voice that said, come on, it's not salesman. What is it? And it's like, all right, well, an ad copywriter. Maybe I could do that. And then even the voice like, come on, go deeper. And then it's finally I want to go to fucking Hollywood and write sitcoms. And.

Once I said that out loud, it was like everything changed. But then I thought, all right, well, I remember this bit in Mr. Saturday Night with Billy Crystal, where he talked about the idea of you're either living room funny or you're really funny. You know, you can be funny with your friends. And yeah, I'm the funniest guy in the group. Can you do that for real?

Once I said that out loud, it was like everything changed. But then I thought, all right, well, I remember this bit in Mr. Saturday Night with Billy Crystal, where he talked about the idea of you're either living room funny or you're really funny. You know, you can be funny with your friends. And yeah, I'm the funniest guy in the group. Can you do that for real?

And I thought, all right, well, I think I can. And I thought the fastest way to figure this out is write my own material and do stand up. And if I can get people to laugh, then I'm legit. I wasn't particularly interested in being a stand-up, but I wanted to see, am I crazy or am I funny? Or I really am funny.

And I thought, all right, well, I think I can. And I thought the fastest way to figure this out is write my own material and do stand up. And if I can get people to laugh, then I'm legit. I wasn't particularly interested in being a stand-up, but I wanted to see, am I crazy or am I funny? Or I really am funny.

So for a couple of months, right around that time, I was doing stand-up at Catch a Rising Star. And this is what year? The comic strip.

So for a couple of months, right around that time, I was doing stand-up at Catch a Rising Star. And this is what year? The comic strip.

Yeah. Oh yeah. And it was interesting too, because it was like this young woman named Sarah Silverman. Sure. Holy shit. Chris Rock was still around, you know, I was, well, these are the real deal, you know, and I was doing open mics and watching these people and going, oh man, you know, like a young Sarah Silverman was just great to see that. And then to watch her career after that was great. Wow.

Yeah. Oh yeah. And it was interesting too, because it was like this young woman named Sarah Silverman. Sure. Holy shit. Chris Rock was still around, you know, I was, well, these are the real deal, you know, and I was doing open mics and watching these people and going, oh man, you know, like a young Sarah Silverman was just great to see that. And then to watch her career after that was great. Wow.

You know, I did OK. You know, I get on at two in the morning, the three people. And it's OK. I said something. They laughed. Great. That worked. This worked. And then once I once I said, OK, I'm not crazy. Then I was like, all right, I'm doing this.

You know, I did OK. You know, I get on at two in the morning, the three people. And it's OK. I said something. They laughed. Great. That worked. This worked. And then once I once I said, OK, I'm not crazy. Then I was like, all right, I'm doing this.