Did Reno 911! rip off Super Troopers? It was a case of bad timing with different people, and it was interpreted as intentional when it wasn't intentional. They were developing their show over at Fox while we were developing Super Troopers as a TV show at

Did Reno 911! rip off Super Troopers?
It was a case of bad timing with different people, and it was interpreted as intentional when it wasn't intentional. They were developing their show over at Fox while we were developing Super Troopers as a TV show at Jersey Films. But then they went to Jersey Films after we left and worked with the same people to develop Reno 911!. I think that some of the reason some guys got pissed off about it was that we set ours in Reno. Then they came to Jersey Films to the very same producers we were working with and said, "Hey, let's set this in Reno." There are elements and details of the show that we were like "Well, that's incredibly specific," and some stuff we came up with at Jersey 6 or 12 months prior. That show would exist regardless, so it's not like they stole anything from us. There were just a lot of the same ideas. Some guys have more beef about it than others.

[Reno 911!] would exist regardless, so it's not like they stole anything from us. There were just a lot of the same ideas. Some guys have more beef about it then others. I don't give a shitIn your crew?
There's guys in Broken Lizard who in interviews can't help but take a jab at those guys. I've met a couple of those guys and they seem like nice enough people. I don't give a shit.

I totally made out with Reno 911!'s Tom Lennon when I was on a Ritalin high in college. That's my celebrity name drop. Beat that.
[George] Clooney was one of the early supporters of Super Troopers. He had the kind of deal we have now at Warner Brothers where he was finding material and trying to find a way to get it made. He was just someone early on when we first came out to Hollywood who was supportive and helpful and cool and would meet with us and invite us to parties. So we always thought he was the coolest guy in the world.

Ouch. Any other suprising celebrity fans?
You know what's cool? I always hear great stories about what a big fan Tarantino is, which is nice, and I've met him. That was the most exciting—to be at a movie theater and to have him waving at me across the room trying to get my attention. It took like ten minutes because I was like, I know Tarantino isn't trying to get my attention, so who the fuck is he waving at?

MOVING VIOLATIONS The "meow scene" from Super Troopers has become a cult classic,
at least on college campuses

You were a page on Letterman, where you met a tight crew of guys who have all gone on to become successful executive producers for VH1 and writers on shows like Best Week Ever. Best job ever?
Letterman was a blast. You'd be a backstage page one day and escorting people to seats the next. It just allowed for a lot of goofing off. I don't know if another job exists where you end up working with 25 people all the same age a few years out of college who get to fuck around a lot of the time together and then get a drink. Everyone stayed in the business more or less. There's a dozen of us that still see each other as much as possible.

Okay, lightning round:
Jessica or Ashlee Simpson?
I'd say Jessica. She's a real sweet girl.

Beer or pot?
It's case by case.

Best goody bag gift?
A pair of Nike cross trainers.

Favorite movie?
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Favorite director?
Woody Allen up until Crimes and Misdemeanors

Favorite celebrity you've worked with?
Brian Cox

Favorite interviewer you've ever had?
You, Piper. Nobody's ever worn out my cell phone battery before.

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