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Being a Rocktern has a lot of perks: soda that costs 25 cents, funny people around us all day, but the best part is starting your day with breakfast with Michael Showalter. When I saw him the first time, I got my usual heart-pitter-patter that lets me know I’m meeting someone I really look up to. This quickly faded away, when I realized Showalter was just a nice guy who wanted to share his experiences and advice with young writers. He was no longer the guy I remembered from Wet Hot American Summer or Stella, but a guy who chews on his straw, who’s still learning about the writing process and doesn’t claim to know it all.

To prove that I am not a narcissist, even though some seem to think so, I’ll let the other Rockterns share (after the jump) :

I really got a lot from the breakfast with Michael. Learning about his approach to sketch writing was really valuable. His method centers around getting to the premise within the first quarter page and after that, the more jokes the better. I’m definitely going to apply those lessons to my own sketches. I really loved him… I mean it!
– Grace-tern

Notes, notes, notes! Show discussed how he meticulously makes outlines of everything he does before he actually writes. Speaking of notes, it should be noted that my love for the Michaels is far more potent than the other Rockterns.
– Farhan-tern

Showalter talked a lot about mixing absurdist comedy with character work. I’m a big fan of The Baxter, so it was great to hear a makeshift director’s commentary on the film, an amazing film which none of the less-cultured Rockterns had seen…
– Frank-tern

I was blown away by the fact that Michael took the time to meet with us the day after his show premiered. Being the big fan that I am, I made sure to get there an hour early, unlike some people…
– Jae-tern

Sure, I was five minutes late to the breakfast. I guess that’s just because I’m a big fan of personal hygiene, unlike some people…
– Frank-tern

Sure, you took an extra 30 minutes to get all manscaped, Frank… but from what I could see, you could have used an extra fifteen.
– Grace-tern

Not all of us can take a mysterious “sick day” to pamper ourselves, Grace. Pretty quick recovery time. Are those new highlights?
– Emmanuelle-tern

Get off your unicorn, by the way…it should also be noted that I purposely told Frank that we were meeting at the wrong time.
– Farhan-tern

I love my interns.
– Jae-tern

I’m still getting the whole byline, right?
– Emmanuelle-tern

By Rockterns Frank Angones, Farhan Arshad, Jae Choe, Grace Edwards, and yes… Emmanuelle Leboeuf

[Learn more about Rockterns here.]