10 Questions: Harry Shearer
April 9, 2002 by Snowball, Film Force.

1. What is your favorite piece of music?

Probably Brahms’ second piano concerto.

2. What is your favorite film?

Dr. Strangelove.

3. What is your favorite TV program, past or current?

Sgt. Bilko.

4. What do you feel has been your most important professional accomplishment to date?

Helping to create This Is Spinal Tap.

5. Which project do you feel didn’t live up to what you envisioned?

Being in the cast of Saturday Night Live.

6. What is your favorite book?

Too hard to choose. I love a lot of books by the late Stanley Elkin.

7. If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

Rigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws.

8. Who – or what – would you say has had the biggest influence on your career?

Luck.

9. What is your next project?

I’m writing a comic novel called Not Enough Indians. I’m writing a film script called Community Service. I’m doing a pilot for FX.

10. What is the one project that you’ve always wanted to do, but have yet to be able to?

A full-on production of the musical comedy I co-wrote a few years back, “J. Edgar!”, about the life of J. Edgar Hoover.