“One of the things I always believed in was my dad came to America and he was a very talented musician, but he couldn't make a living that way so he had to support his family as an auto mechanic which he also loved doing. He was also such a great dad because when I first told him I thought I wanted to go into show business, his response was okay, that's interesting.” WayFirstsShowsWantedAmericaInterestingSupportDadMusicianOkayResponseMy DadMechanicShow BusinessAlways BelieveGreat DadAuto MechanicTalented Musicians Author:Denis Leary
“I've only done two other TV shows [instead of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll], one was Rescue Me and the other was a show called The Job, which was at ABC and only on for two seasons.” TwoDoneShowsJobsSexRocksTvsDrugSeasonsRescueTv ShowsRescue MeSex Drugs Author:Denis Leary
“I was working with Peter Tolan, who was my writing partner on those two [Rescue Me and The Job], and he did The Larry Sanders Show with Garry Shandling, and he always said that the second season is better because you know the actors.” KnowsWritingSaidTwoShowsJobsActorsSeasonsPartnersPeterRescueLarryRescue Me Author:Denis Leary
“I certainly know guys in comedy, I know some actors, and I definitely know some musicians, who have survived to a certain age and make a good living doing what they do, but nobody knows who they are. They wake up every day and they have the ability to get paid practicing their art, but underneath it all, if you scratched the surface, you still get, "If I only had my own show . . .," or "If I only had my own band . . ." It's what people always do when they want to be their own star.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantArtStillsShowsAgeGuyCertainActorsStarsMy OwnAbilityComedyBandMusicianWake UpPaidSurfaceSurvivedNobody KnowsGood Living Author:Denis Leary
“My primary reason for bringing my son on was to have a voice on the show [Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll] that would bring a 25 or 26 year old point of view to it, and my son is very capable of writing that stuff.” WritingYearsReasonShowsSexStuffVoiceViewsRocksSonDrugCapablePoint Of ViewPrimariesMy SonSex Drugs Author:Denis Leary
“Bill Murray doesn't do anything. He barely shows up at the movies he says he's going to do.” ShowsBills Author:Denis Leary
“I really like 'Batman.' Not the TV show, but the dark 'Batman.'” ShowsDarkTvsTv Shows Author:Denis Leary
“Anybody who's done standup will tell you that there's nothing like it. The show starts at 8:00, the curtain goes up and there's nobody else except you and the audience, and you just perform for them for two hours. Nobody yells, 'Cut!' There are no retakes. That is still the most exciting medium for me, and I love it.” StillsTwoDoneShowsHoursAudienceCuttingExcitingMediumsCurtains Author:Denis Leary
“I learned a long time ago, if you want to keep your friends in show business, don't get famous. Because as soon as you get famous, a lot of the people you used to know, who didn't, become incredibly bitter and jealous. It's part of the territory.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantLongShowsUsedLong TimeBitterJealousTerritoryShow BusinessLong Time Ago Author:Denis Leary
“I went to school with Steven Wright who was the shyest guy I knew, and one day someone suddenly told me that he was in a club doing standup comedy. I went down to his club and he was great. Another friend of mine, who was pretty much a thief by trade, was hosting the show. So I thought if these guys can do it then so can I.” IfsShowsSchoolGuyCan DoComedyMinesOne DayTradeClubsThieves Author:Denis Leary
“My kids watch everything downloaded; they have no idea what the numbers or the names of the channels mean, except "FX makes the show that I see on my computer." So it's harder to get a show on the air, but at the same time, there are a lot of terrific shows.” MeanIdeasShowsKidsNamesNumbersWatchesAirComputerHarderNo IdeaTerrific Author:Denis Leary
“There are some guys I know for a fact, like Louis C.K., who always talk about how not-great of an actor he is, and he's terrific on his show. But I know Louis would play a fantastic dramatic role in something, too. He just needs somebody to grab him and say, "Come in here and do this."” KnowsNeedsPlayFactsShowsGuyActorsRolesFantasticDramaticTerrific Author:Denis Leary
