David Mirkin has done a lot of cool and odd projects over the years. Through serendipity, Mirkin’s first failure in showbiz turned into success when his script for The Ropers was rejected by the show, but led to him getting a gig on Three’s Company. This led to him working on Newhart, It’s Garry Shandling Show, The Larry Sanders Show, The Edge and The Simpsons. He was able to sit in the movie director’s chair to call the shots on Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and Heartbreakers. But for major culties, Mirkin is best known as one of the creators, writers, directors and producers on Get A Life. The show had Chris Elliott play a 30 year old man child living above his parent’s garage and working as a paperboy. The show helped spawn a generation of man-child shows created by Seth McFarlane.

David Mirkin called over to discuss the release of Get A Life: The Complete Series on DVD. Our conversation goes all over his career including his time with Don Knotts. We swap stories about James Taylor, Jackie Earle Haley, Monty Python’s Graham Chapman and Heather Thomas puzzles. He also explains his upcoming Richard Branson biopic.

Available at Amazon.com.

Tags: Bob Newhart, Bob Odenkirk, Brian Doyle-Murray, Charlie Kaufman, Chris Elliott, David Mirkin, Don Knotts, Dwayne Hickman, Garry Shandling, Gene Hackman, Get A Life, Jackie Earle Haley, Larry Sanders, Monty Python, Norman Fell, The Young Ones, Tony Dow