The 60 Minutes profile of Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow has been the biggest behind-the-scenes name in big-screen comedy for the past few years. But it’s only now, at the end of 2012, and the release of his latest semi-autobiographical film, This is 40, that CBS and 60 Minutes has served up a profile of the comedian-turned-filmmaker.

Anderson Cooper sat down with Apatow, and naturally also with his wife and daughters (Leslie Mann, Maude and Iris Apatow) since Apatow employs them all in his recent string of movies as a writer and director. But Apatow also has accomplices in this TV profile, with friends and business partners from former roommate Adam Sandler to Funny or Die partners Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, and actors Apatow turned into stars such as Seth Rogen and Jason Segel.

How does Apatow describe his comedy?

“Just trying to tell the truth about the struggle of being alive is funny. It’s just inherently tragic and also hilarious. In a fun way, and in a sad way…that just seems to connect with people.”

Apatow also explains why he casts his daughters as his wife’s daughters in his movies. In case you still had an issue with that. You see him back in the Syosset High School radio studio on Long Island where he interviewed Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld (among others) while still a teenager, a brief clip of him doing stand-up on TV and more.

“If you can make somebody laugh, you may not know they like you but you know they don’t hate you,” Apatow said.

Roll the full segment.

Here are some interview segments that didn’t make the cut for TV.

Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow reminisce about being poor comedians in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Sleep ’til noon, lounge around, work 15 minutes at night, eat cheap. Just like us!

Wonder how Apatow ended up marrying Leslie Mann? They recollect their first date.

In this clip, Apatow says he prefers casting “underdogs” in his movies to the “beautiful people.” Sorry, Hollywood.

And here is more with Seth Rogen, talking about his relationship with Apatow whom he has known and worked with since his audition as a 16-year-old for Freaks and Geeks.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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