The 1960s was a heroic AGE in the history of the art of communication - the AUDACIOUS movers and shakers of those times BEAR no resemblance to the CAST of CHARACTERS in 'Mad Men.'

The philosophy of the COMMON man is an old wife that GIVES him no pleasure, yet he cannot live without her, and resents any aspersions that STRANGERS may CAST on her CHARACTER.

I started with Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee and Lou Gossett, Jr. and the rest of the wonderful cast of 'A Raisin In The Sun.' We were directed by the GREAT Lloyd Richards. The play was written by the wonderful Lorraine Hansberry, and it was produced by PHIL Rose. That's where my start was, so... not a bad WAY to start.

I was at Elon UNIVERSITY in North Carolina for two years pursuing my BFA. And after my sophomore year, I was cast in the Broadway TOUR of 'West Side STORY.' I just kind of - it always was my favorite SHOW growing up.

If I were to be cast as Cyrano or a Connecticut prep-school TEACHER or a gay boutique owner, it would only happen if some DIRECTOR I had WORKED with in the past said, 'Why don't we give Rispoli a SHOT at it?'

For some reason, it popped into my HEAD the NOTION that a lot of the Next Generation CAST in the long run of that SHOW managed to step BEHIND the camera.

In this WORLD, FULL often, our joys are only the TENDER SHADOWS which our sorrows CAST.

The NEIGHBOURS CAST is LIKE a SECOND FAMILY.

I think when you're dealing with very tenuous scenes and difficult and HEAVY SUBJECT matter, it's important to be close intimately with your cast as FRIENDS, and be able to diffuse a lot of that tension and trust each other with the WORK.

I'd like to work more, but I don't just want to do KIND of generic CHARACTERS. I want to do interesting characters, and I'd like to be CAST against TYPE.

I usually decide if I'm going to do a movie BASED on if I LIKE the script or not. I thought 'Pulling Strings' had EVERY SINGLE element that a CLASSIC romantic comedy needs to be a success. It's very well written. The cast was amazing. It was a decision I made based on the power of the script.

I'm a PRETTY UPBEAT person. I think I sometimes GET cast as these BROODING types because I BRING light and joy, which hopefully makes them more likable.

Who am I to pass judgment? Judgment has been PASSED on me, but I adhere to, 'Let him who is WITHOUT sin CAST the FIRST STONE.'

I directed the next-to-last episode of 'Parenthood.' I wrote three of the four last episodes. I had the cast to my HOUSE. Had a champagne toast with the writers. Had a huge cast and crew party. Drank eggnog in the camera TRUCK after we wrapped the FINAL day. All that, and I don't really FEEL like I've said good-bye to 'Parenthood.'

Hell, covering all with its GLOOMY vapors, has cast SHADOWS on EVEN the holiest EYES.