Watch Stephan Pastis’ Big Idea interview

Comments ⁸

1. Mike Lester

   If you can listen to this interview and NOT be enthused and believe in the triumph of the individual, the undeterred motivation of the human spirit and the drive to succeed -all with no expectation of outside assistance or interference, then keep buying into the empty promises of “hope”. PBS represents nothing so admirable than desire. This is a story molded entirely on actions that were designed to advance toward a goal. (I’m actually getting a little misty eyed.)

   Stephan and his feature’s successes are are greatly deserved and owed only to his work ethic and most honest efforts. PBS is the least derivative feature I’ve seen in years.

   But irony being irony, the same can-do spirit that brought success also demands that he’s now even MORE eligible to participate in the great gov. income redistribution campaign designed to demotivate that same spirt in it’s citizens -only on a more massive beaurocratic scale.

   Is this a great country, or what? (I’m going w/ “or what”.)

2. josh shalek

   I thought the interview was quite informative given its short length. It did have a real can-do feel to it; I was half-expecting them to talk about “this dream called America!” and “a new life for every man, woman, and child!”

   I was also surprised to find out how accurately Pastis draws himself in his strip.

3. Matt Bors

   A great interview! And as Mike Lester points out, a stealth parable against communism, taxation and Obama!

4. Charles Brubaker

   I taped this interview when it aired. I agree, it’s great. I was disappointed, though, that it was short.

5. Mike Lester

   Nothing “stealth” about it and if anybody should appreciate initiative, success in the marketplace and the pride in accomplishment, you’d think it would be a cartoonist.

6. Rich Diesslin

   Nice interview, great story.

7. Lucas Turnbloom

   Thanks for the post, Alan. I only caught the end of it when it aired.

8. Lawrence

   Great interview. It’s interesting that he talked about how he would try to meet Charles Schulz and read some of the Dilbert books on the floor inside of a bookstore, because I have done the same thing he did, only I’ve met Garry Trudeau, Berkeley Breathed, and, incidentally, Mr. Pastis last year at the LA Times Book Fair. He was very nice to me, and I showed him some of my own cartooning work (I’m just an amateaur at this point.) He chuckled a bit and said he liked the artwork I did. I do think that hope alone isn’t really enough, so I’m trying to learn about networking with other cartoonists, and I’m also entering as many cartooning contests I can find to get my foot in the door.