Fresh Air Best Of: Judd Apatow / Misty Copeland
Nov 8, 2025
Judd Apatow, a legendary filmmaker and comedy writer, shares insights from his visual memoir, discussing his early obsession with collecting autographs, including a humorous story about Steve Martin. Misty Copeland, the trailblazing principal dancer at ABT, reflects on her challenging journey in ballet, overcoming injuries, and her transformative collaboration with Prince, who inspired her to embrace her uniqueness. Their candid stories highlight resilience and the power of creative expression.
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Early Fan Letters Shaped A Career
- Judd Apatow chased autographs and wrote bold fan letters as a kid to break into the comedy world.
- A Steve Martin reply to his threatening-apology letter proved especially formative for his confidence.
Comedy As Personal Problem-Solving
- Apatow views his films as attempts to 'work out' universal life events like marriage, illness, and mortality.
- Collecting scripts and journals helped him trace thematic through-lines across his career.
Family Divorce Fueled Curiosity
- Apatow described his parents' brutal 1970s divorce and how lack of emotional check-ins made him internalize feelings.
- That childhood confusion pushed him toward comedians who deconstructed family and society.
