Should NYU faculty and their dependent children receive full tuition remission?
Actor and stand-up comedian Aziz Ansari was once an NYU student like the rest of us. He attended the Stern School of Business as an undergraduate, graduating in 2004. He now stars on NBC's "Parks and Recreation" and does comedy on the road.
WSN: I know you studied marketing at Stern. How did you transition from business school to the comedy world?
A: I had no clue about [what the] vibe at Stern was going to be and to put it mildly, it wasn't my scene.
W: How did your interest in comedy even begin?
A: I started doing stand-up the summer of my freshman year after some encouragement from friends and kept doing it throughout school. When I graduated, I just kept doing stand-up and never did anything with my degree.
W: If you could describe your experience at NYU in one paragraph, what would you say?
A: Getting a marketing degree at NYU was an expensive but easy way to procrastinate having to find a real job while I figured out how to make a career as a comedian.
W: I know you worked for NYU's Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning department. What was that like?
A: Whoa you really did some research! I just got a sense of pride every time I was in an NYU building that had cool air. And when it was too hot or too cold, I felt shame.
W: In other interviews and in your stand-up routines, you frequently talk about your love for Chik-fil-A. How do you feel about NYU's Upstein food court having the only Chik-fil-A in New York City? Did you ever eat there?
A: Once when we were doing season two of "Human Giant," I dragged the other "Human Giant" guys into Weinstein and we had some Chick-fil-A there. It was pretty weird because kids that knew the show saw us and couldn't figure out why we were eating at [the] Weinstein cafeteria. As far as the Chick-fil-A, I don't know what happened. It may have been sitting out for too long or something, but it wasn't as good as usual Chick-fil-A. I have asked fellow comedian/Chick-fil-A enthusiast David Cross to go to Weinstein and do further studies, but he has yet to report back.
W: Is there any chance we'll see "Human Giant" back again?
A: The TV show on MTV, probably not. They offered us a third season (we weren't canceled as some people think), but I decided on "Parks [and Recreation]," and we all wanted to focus on other projects for a while. The group still works together in different forms, though (Jason [Woliner], the director, did the Randy shorts with me, Paul was in "Parks and Rec.," etc.), and we could all come together if the right project presented itself.
W: How is the environment on the set of "Parks and Recreation"?
A: I really like everyone there and feel lucky to work with that cast and crew. I couldn't imagine doing a show like that without getting along with everyone. When the days are long, I try to keep spirits up by singing Boyz II Men songs to Amy [Poehler] or asking Rashida [Jones] random questions, like if she had to date one cast member from "NCIS: Los Angeles," would it be Chris O'Donnell or LL Cool J?
W: What new projects are you working on currently?
A: Putting together my stand-up special DVD/CD "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening," which will be out in January on Comedy Central. Working on some movie ideas. Filming "Parks and Recreation."
W: What is your biggest career goal?
A: I've always taken things one step at a time. Right now I'm trying to figure out a movie for myself to write and a new hour of stand-up to do a theater tour with once my album/special comes out. If I get that done next year, I'll feel pretty good.
W: Your character Randy in "Funny People" was hailed by many as the best part of the movie. Would you ever consider doing a movie based on Randy?
A: There's definitely been talks of it. Myself and Jason (the guy that directed and co-wrote the Randy documentaries with me) have discussed the Randy movie and some other non-Randy ideas for movies too. We'll see what we end up doing. I'm confident we'd make a very funny movie out of any of them. Maybe I'll do a movie where I'm a character named Brian, so when I walk down the street in one direction a guy yells "RAAAAAAAANDY!" and at the other end a guy yells "BRIIAAAN!" and people who don't know who I am would be very, very confused.
W: Being an alumnus, what advice do you have for current NYU students?
A: If you have the Chick-fil-A at Weinstein and aren't impressed, don't be too quick to judge. Try it at a real Chick-fil-A and see if you like it before rushing to form an opinion.
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