One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Judd Apatow Addresses the Haters
Director Judd Apatow and actor Paul Rudd attend the Premiere Of Universal Pictures' 'This Is 40' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on December 12, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Judd Apatow is not a stranger to criticism, be it for something he's done himself ("This is 40") or something he's gotten behind ("Girls"). But the writer/director/producer/dude doesn't usually address the haters -- until now.
In an interview with The Huffington Post, Apatow explains that he thinks people don't like some of his work because it addresses uncomfortable aspects of humanity -- "Freaks and Geeks" looked at the funny and painful side of being unpopular, and "This is 40" addressed some of the more challenging aspects of trying to be happy in life.
Talking specifically about "This is 40," Apatow had this to say:
For some people, the movie might be scary. Because it is about people struggling to be happy and having a hard time. Some people go to the movies for an escape and some people go to the movies to feel more difficult emotions. What I'm trying to do is talk about things in a complex and deep a way as possible, while also trying to be hilariously funny. That is something that people don't try that often. Some people really dig it, and some people don't [laughs].
Apatow added that "Girls" runs into some of the same issues, addressing, as it does, the awkward and dark sides of love, life, and sex.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
