Judd Apatow Returns Home With His New Book Comedy Nerd and Reflects on His Lifelong Obsession With Stand-Up and Filmmaking

Comedian, director, and producer Judd Apatow, who grew up in Syosset and Woodbury, has released a massive 576-page book titled Comedy Nerd (Random House, $50). The book captures his lifelong fascination with comedy—something he developed as a teenager when he devoured every interview, performance, and behind-the-scenes moment he could find.

Apatow, now 57, fills the book with stories from his early days on Long Island, including his first exposure to stand-up at Westbury Music Fair, where he saw Totie Fields, a close friend of his grandparents. He also shares how, as a young teen, he interviewed legends such as Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield, moments that helped shape his understanding of the craft.

Although Apatow is known today for founding Apatow Productions—the film and television company behind major HBO, Universal, Netflix, and Prime Video hits like Freaks and Geeks, Girls, Crashing, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, and Knocked Up—he spent his early years learning comedy from the ground up. Over the years, projects under his name have earned more than $1.4 billion at the box office.

In an interview, Apatow spoke about returning to the West Coast after his first time performing on stage in Mineola. He recalled moving behind the camera because he was “probably not funny most of the time,” but he always wanted to be part of comedy in some way.

He said that watching people like Jerry Seinfeld made him wonder whether he could do something similar, even if not exactly the same.

Apatow’s first stand-up performance took place at Chuckles in Mineola, an experience he describes as far scarier than simply attending a comedy show.

He emphasized how doing open mic teaches aspiring comedians discipline and resilience: “You get five minutes and you’ve never done the jokes before. The host is usually 100 times better, and you learn quickly what works and what falls flat.”

His career shifted when he moved to Los Angeles, started doing stand-up, and eventually realized he was happiest writing jokes for others. That path led him to write for Tom Arnold and then for Roseanne Barr.

Later, he wrote for Garry Shandling on The Larry Sanders Show, a pivotal moment in his writing career. One of his earliest screen projects was The Ben Stiller Show, which he created with Ben Stiller, though the show was canceled before it had time to fully develop.

Apatow also reflects on the challenges of making comedy today. He explains that comedy films struggle largely because of the dominance of DVD sales in the past. When DVDs disappeared, studios lost a major revenue stream.

A movie that once made half its money after theaters now relies mostly on box office earnings and uncertain streaming deals. These shifting economics have made studios more cautious.

He also points out that audiences rarely pay $5 million for a mid-budget comedy anymore—especially when a ticket can cost $20–$30 in some areas. Streaming has changed viewer habits, making theatrical comedies riskier. If audiences don’t immediately connect with a new comedic voice, the movie can fail before word-of-mouth builds.

When asked which piece of his work he’s most proud of, Apatow says he is always proud to be part of Paul Feig’s show Freaks and Geeks. After working on it, he realized it gave him the confidence to take more chances. He notes that the show continues to hold up and means even more to people today.

For interviews, Apatow recently spoke with David J. Criblez of Newsday, who covers entertainment across music, stand-up, and festivals. More details about Apatow’s work and legacy can be found through resources like Random House and his long-running collaborations featured on HBO, Netflix, and Prime Video.