How does it feel to be the reigning king of Hollywood comedy?
‘I’m glad I’m getting a chance to make the films I want to make. I’ve had a good time throughout my career, mainly because I’ve been allowed to keep working. That’s all that matters. The better I do, the more freedom I get. When people trust you, you can do better work and take more chances.’ You started out in the early ’90s with ‘The Ben Stiller Show’. Do you think the fact that you made a lot of contacts early on is one of the reasons for your success? ‘When I started out it was the end of the stand-up craze in America. There were an enormous number of stand-up TV shows, and the number of clubs had ballooned out of control. But there was a lot of talent and I met a lot of people who went on to be very successful. ‘It was a very vital time. When I lived with Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider lived across the street and at night I used to write sketches for Jim Carrey. He’d come to my house and pay me out of his own pocket. So it was a really fun time. It’s rare to meet people who are talen
