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And now, from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN Audio, the Ax Files, with your host David Axelrod.

It's fair to say Judd Apertau is a certifiable comic genius.

As a stand-up, screenwriter, producer, and director.

He's been the creative force behind a slew of blockbuster films, including the 40-year-old Virgin.

And breakthrough TV shows like Freaks and Geeks.

He's written and edited a series of best-selling books, including his latest, This Is Gary Shanling's book,

about his brilliant late comic mentor.

And he's been a force behind funny or die, but sit down with Judd Apertau and what you quickly learn is that he's also an amazingly thoughtful and insightful guy.

I love this conversation. We recorded late last year at his studio in LA.

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Judd Apertau, it is great to see you. To sit down.

I've admired you from a distance for a long time.

Thank you.

I'm fascinated by comedians, by people who work in that area.

And one of the reasons I'm fascinated is that, first of all, it turns out comedy is a very serious business.

It is very serious. Deadly serious.

But comedians, almost always, there's a story there.

And it's generally not a happy story.

And you would fit right into that.

And I read a poem that you wrote when you were 50.

It's called Divorce saying, for me, there was separation with lots of tears going out with my friends Marijuana and beers.

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