#565: Michael Schur, Creator of “The Good Place” — How SNL Trains Writers, His TV University at “The Office,” Lessons from Lorne Michaels, Wisdom from David Foster Wallace, and Exploring Moral Philosophy with “How to Be Perfect”

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Michael Schur (@KenTremendous) created the
critically acclaimed NBC comedy The Good Place and
co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine,
and the Peacock series Rutherford Falls. He is also an
executive producer on HBO Max’s Hacks and
Netflix’s Master of None.


Prior to “Parks,” Michael spent four years as a writer-producer
on the Emmy Award-winning NBC hit The Office. His first TV
writing job was at Saturday Night Live, where he spent seven
seasons, including three as the producer of “Weekend Update” with
Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon.


Michael’s new book is How to Be Perfect: The Correct
Answer to Every Moral Question.


Please enjoy!


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How did Michael get involved with The Harvard Lampoon, and what
did the audition process look like? How was the writing process
different during his time there than it might be in a comparable
publication today? [05:58]


How performing live comedy is like Roman gladiator combat, and
what Michael learned during his seven seasons as a writer for
Saturday Night Live. [12:53]


Michael shares his David Foster Wallace story, and his own
thoughts about adapting Infinite Jest into a miniseries. [20:03]


Why did Michael decide to leave SNL and continue his career in
Los Angeles? How did he wind up writing for the US adaptation of
The Office in spite of being unsure that such an adaptation was
even a good idea? [31:10]


Why does Michael consider the opportunity to work with The Office
showrunner Greg Daniels “the greatest stroke of good fortune”
that’s ever befallen him? What did he learn from the experience
that SNL didn’t teach him? [39:12]


What is the F = ma of sitcom writing, and how did this play into
character development on The Office? [44:35]


If Michael’s house were burning down and he only had time to
rescue five things, what would they be? [53:20]


How did Michael become a rare book collector? [57:45]


Where did Michael’s alter ego of Ken Tremendous (and Fremulon,
his equally fictitious place of employment) originate? [1:01:13]


With television networks often skittish about deviating from
proven formulas, how did a show as unique as The Good Place come
about? [1:08:10]


How the seed of the idea that became The Good Place was planted
by an outrageous car repair bill. [1:16:15]


Michael once joked that he would love How to Be Perfect to do for
moral philosophy what A Brief History of Time did for
astrophysics. If that’s a tall order, what would he consider an
acceptable takeaway for its readers? [1:27:58]


What qualifies the legitimacy of a philosopher? Is it when they
can get people to actually read (and understand) their work?
[1:32:58]


If Michael could have a drink or dinner with any philosopher,
living or dead, who would he choose? [1:39:53]


What two philosophers would Michael choose to have on speed dial
for his own personal instruction? [1:43:36]


What comics in my own collection do I most treasure? What kind of
D&D characters did I tend to play in my youth? [1:49:11]


Michael’s most worthwhile failures (and one recurring failure
that still gives him nightmares). [1:51:17]


Michael is sorry if his billboard offends you. [2:01:28]


Who are Todd May and Pamela Hieronymi, and how did they become
The Good Place writers’ room emergency contacts? [2:06:00]


Why Michael encourages us all to get educated about ethics by any
means comfortable (and if that includes reading How to Be
Perfect, so be it) where the proceeds of book sales will be
directed, and other parting thoughts. [2:10:12]


*


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