How does a boy from Chicago wind up studying filmaking at the University of Miami and how does that same boy wind up doing standup while he's there?

To be truthful I think the reason was a combination of being really funny and having ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). I would have liked to have finished school but at the time it would have been impossible.

Film, acting, standup... any chance you wanted to be the next Woody Allen?

Or Albert Brooks. That's still my goal. I'm about to make my first film as a writer/director/actor. It's called "I want someone to eat cheese with." I start filming in March.

The HBO website describes your standup style as being similar to Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman, Richard Pryor and other comic's of that era. How do you think the comic's of the '60's an 70's differ from the standup of today and why do you think you are similar?

I think that, just to use the three you mentioned, they were first and foremost concerned with being great. Most standups today are concerned with fame.

How long did you do standup before you arrived at that particular style?

About seven years.

Do you ever watch or listen to tapes of those early performances? Looking back, what do you think were your strenghts early on?

I told you I have ADD. Are you kidding? Although listening to a tape of myself forced me to change. When I was a young comic in Chicago I befriended another comic named Lew Schneider. He really liked me and thought I was very funny. Although he hadn't seen me on stage yet. One night we were sharing the bill at the Comedy Womb in Chicago. I went up and killed. I came off all cocky and said to him, "Well what did you think" He asked me if I taped all of my shows. I replied, "Yes." He said, "Do you listen to them?"

I said, "No." He told me to "go home and listen to that night's show. Really listen" and that "we'd talk tommorrow." So, that night, I listened and I discovered that, Holy Shit! I'm a hack! So the next day I called and thanked Lew and told him that I was starting fresh and that was throwing away my whole act. And that's what I did. I bombed for a long time after. But it was worth it. I found my voice.

At a recent comedy festival, we said to a younger comic, "Hey, there's Shelley Berman." To which he replied, "Who's she?" How important is it-- or is it important at all-- for a comic of the New Millenium to know what went on standup-wise in the previous millenium.

Very important. Shelly's CD's are available on the internet. A young comedian should listen to every comedian that he or she can. Comedians in LA and NYC are lucky because they can go to The Museum of Television and Radio and see Shelly and Pryor, Cosby, and hear or see Jack Benny. A ton of comedians. If you don't know your history then there is a great chance you will be a hack.

Did you leave college with a show business plan?

Not really. I was twenty. I thought I'd be a star in a couple of years.

Was standup a passion or just a means to a show biz end?

HUGE passion. Even when I was a hack, I wanted other comics to dig me.

From your bio, it looks like things starting clicking for you in 1997 with your HBO Half-Hour Comedy Special and appearences on "Mad About You." What happened in the years just prior to '97 that gave you this heat.

Actually at that point I already had a bunch of development deals. As a matter of fact I was under contract to ABC when I started doing Mad About You. Things really began to change when I found my comedic voice in the late eighties.

How did you hook up with Larry David?

Larry worked in a suite of offices at Castle Rock. There were three offices. One was Larry's and the others belonged to Alan Zweibel and Billy Crystal. I was writng a pilot for myself with Alan. Larry and I were acquaintances from standup. Larry asked me to lunch one day. At lunch we were talking about standup. I told him if he ever wanted to do an HBO special that I had a great idea. That's how Curb (Your Enthusiasm) came about.

Along with being an Executive Producer on Curb Your Enthusiasm you've also directed the show on occasion. What's it like to direct yourself and what's it like to have somebody else direct you after you've had the experience of directing yourself?

I wasn't on the episode I directed. It was called "The Thong." Larry sees his therapist on the beach wearing a thong.

The most fascinating part of your resume is that you directed both Jon Stewart and Denis Leary in their HBO specials. How is directing a standup performance different from directing a movie or television show? Does having standup experience help?

What I did was direct both Jon's and Denis' standup. I didn't direct the cameras. However I would say that if I have enough creative input, directing is directing. And, yes, having standup experience is a neccesity.

You worked with Eddie Murphy in "Daddy Day Care." Did you ever see him do standup? Why do you think the Eddie Murphy's and Larry David's of the world stop performing live after they become wildly successful?

First Eddie. I never saw him perform in person. That was until we did "Daddy Day Care." He did a million bits between shots. I mean really brilliant stuff that he could do on stage. I talked to him about doing standup again. He really doesn't want to. I think it would be really daunting for him to start again now. The expectations would be huge. And face it he's a man now. That last time he did standup he was a boy.

As far as Larry is concerned he still does standup. He picks and chooses when and where to perform. He probably does 2 to 3 shows a year. At some political benefit where he knows the audience is going to be good. He can't believe I still perform all the time.

Do you do much standup these days?

Yes, I do clubs, alternative spaces, concerts with Richard Lewis, and the occasional benefit. Right now, I'm on the road for the next month.

There's this notion in Hollywood that network TV folks are only interested in writers and actors under the age of 30. Is this true? If so, then why does HBO seem to be immune to this bias?

The notion isn't that true. It's a steroetype. If you are funny you can have a career. The networks are looking for the next big thing. Most of the time they think that the next big thing is going to be some kid who does 10 minutes at Montreal or Aspen. The next big thing in TV is always going to be the funny person with experience. Always. HBO is immune because they develop with the experienced performer or the proven performer like Ali G.

How do you envision your show business future? Do you get any contrary advice from the people around you?

I hope to be making films. And doing concerts. (The contrary advice question is a great setup. But, I figure, since I've taken this interview seriously so far, I'll finish that way.)

We noticed that www.jeffgarlin.com is currently under construction. When will it be uploaded and what can we expect to see?

I own the name. That's it. I have no immediate plans.

What do most people say to you when they recognize you on the street? What would you like them to say in the future?

As opposed to some comedians I know, who are more famous for being famous, I get great people who tell me how much they love Curb or how many times their kids have watched the DVD of "Daddy Day Care." I just want to continue to be recognized for doing good work. Not just for being famous. By the way, since that was your last question I just want to say to anyone who has read this whole interview that I don't know anything. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Thanks.