Aziz Ansari has had the kind of career you'd expect to see from a guy who's 35 or so, not from someone who's only four years out of business school.

The 26-year-old comedian's profile has risen quickly over the last couple of years. From being an up-and-coming stand-up star playing the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York, the last three years have seen him do two seasons of MTV's 'Human Giant,' a half-season as lazy intern Ed on the eighth season of 'Scrubs,' a big role as awful stand-up comic Randy in Judd Apatow's 'Funny People,' a one-hour stand-up special on Comedy Central, and a season and a half as Tom Haverford on 'Parks and Recreation.'

I caught up with Ansari at NBC's all-star press party last month and asked him about how his character, who plays the scheming right-hand man of the earnest Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), has developed since the show started, and what's next for a guy who's done a lot in such a short period of time.

Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, 'Freaks and Geeks' is one of those rare television treasures that no one saw or appreciated until it was too late. Okay, that's unfair. Critics, the press and the loyal fans who did find the show on NBC immediately knew that it was something special. Unfortunately, it didn't find wide enough appeal to last beyond its first season.

Ironically, the show's cast of virtual unknowns now reads like an all-star comedy troupe, which is a testament to the brilliant casting that went on behind the scenes of the show. Finding such talented kids, and then coupling them with brilliant writing crafted on of the most revered television shows of all time.

It turns out that blaming all of the world's ails on Jay Leno didn't just become America's favorite pastime last week. It has been a rich and beloved sport way back when he first took over The Tonight Show.

Here's a clip from the short-lived but beloved animated sitcom The Critic featuring a rip on Leno as critic Jay Sherman and his boy make a visit to Hollywood. USELESS TRIVIA ALERT! Leno's voice was provided by one of the show's writers, Judd Apatow, before he found success in mining humor from the folds of Seth Rogen's body fat.

26-year-old actor/comedian Aziz Ansari is riding a wave most of his peers can only dream about. As the lecherous, sarcastic Tom Haverford on NBC's 'Parks and Recreation,' Ansari has received critical acclaim and helped dispel any thoughts of an 'Office'-type knockoff.

The former co-creator of MTV sketch comedy show 'Human Giant,' Ansari now shuffles his time between 'Parks,' movie roles and stand-up ('Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening,' his first CD/TV special, airs on Comedy Central Jan. 17.) Most recently, the writer sold three film ideas to Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures, including a spinoff of his popular Raaaaaaaandy character from last year's 'Funny People.'

We caught up with Anzari right before Thanksgiving from his family's home in Charlotte, NC, where he's "looking forward to my mother's cooking and hanging out with my cousins for a few days."

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• Live Free or Die Hard on Blu-Ray for $7.99? I'm there. Check out that and other Best Buy Black Friday movie deals.
• I know Funny People didn't exactly kill at the box office, but I loved it. It's coming out on Blu-Ray soon, and Cinematical scored an interview with writer/director Judd Apatow to talk about it.
• Forbes came out with a list of the 10 most overpaid actors in Hollywood, and number 1 may surprise you.
• Cinematical wants this clip of Kevin Smith talking about the Twilight saga to be the last word on the matter. I agree.
• What do you think about Bones becoming a giant Avatar promo?

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• I've never been a fan of all-nighters, and flat-out refused to do them in college. But movies about all-nighters are always fun. Check out the latest Cinematical Seven: Movies That Pull an All-Nighter.
• I saw Borat the night it opened and thought it was absolutely hilarious. So why do I have absolutely zero interest in seeing Bruno? Cinematical bit the bullet: you can read their review here.
• The summer of 1981 was the first summer I was alive, so I probably wasn't watching too many movies. However, there were some great ones that summer, like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Fox and the Hound! See what else came out when Cinematical continues to examine their favorite summers.
• Are you headed to Comic-Con this year? Check out the newly-released Comic-Con 2009 schedule here.
• I'm really looking forward to the new Judd Apatow movie, Funny People. You can check out the new red-band trailer here, plus a bonus Adam Sandler prank call circa 1991.

AMC's Storymakers returns this Friday with guests including Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, as well as film directors Nick Cassavetes and Judd Apatow. The show features a round table discussion with the guests and hosts Peter Bart, former editor-in-chief of Variety, and film producer Peter Guber.

I've never seen the show, but I'll definitely catch this Friday's episode. I can't wait to see what the dynamic is like between two great but very different filmmakers like Cassavetes and Apatow, and two pampered stars like Cruise and Diaz.

Russell Brand made his mark in England as a comedian before climbing up the ladder and landing roles in films. American audiences first got to know him as the aloof rock star Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and as the host of the 2008 MTV Music Awards. Sunday, America gets its first real glimpse of Brand as a stand-up comedian, when his first one-hour special, Russell Brand In New York City, premieres at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central.

Brand is going to be everywhere in 2009. His autobiography, My Booky Wook, hits shelves next week, and he's working on Get Him To the Greek, a new Judd Apatow-produced vehicle for the Aldous Snow character and a remake of Arthur. He's already got the Julie Taymor-directed film of The Tempest, with Helen Mirren as "Prospera," waiting for release. I caught up with him by phone as he was at the airport on his way to Los Angeles.

TVS: Do you feel you have to introduce yourself to America as a comedian because most people know you from movies or perhaps as a host?

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their latest musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• I don't have anything against Ali Larter as an actress, but I really hate her character(s) on Heroes,. It doesn't look like I'll like her character in Obsessed much more.
  
• Sure, there's 24 hours of A Christmas Story, but how about a fireside viewing of L.A. Confidential instead? Cinematical Seven takes a look at unconventional holiday movies.
• I really wanted the mysterious new Will Smith movie, Seven Pounds, to be good. Unfortunately, it does not look like I'll be getting my wish. Read Cinematical's review here.
• Want to be a part of the filming of Funny People, Judd Apatow's next movie? Cinematical tells you how to live the dream.
• Have you ever wondered what Star Wars would look like as a silent film? No? Well, some guy did. Check out a fan-made Star Wars silent movie.
  

Please excuse this late Daily Show review. Yes, another one. But, as usual, I have a legitimate reason for my tardiness, because you know I fly right. I'm still recovering from my journey to The Colbert Report's first night in Philadelphia, the full report for which will be posted very soon. Spoiler alert: I didn't get mugged.

Until that gets posted, enjoy this review and reruns of Sunday's Night of Too Many Stars autism benefit that Jon hosted (if you download from iTunes, proceeds go to the charity!). Jon briefly touched on a specific moment from the night, when Senator Chris Dodd made an appearance behind the phones, sporting a mysterious blue ear. The only logical explanation is that the senator is actually a secret Blue Man. Really, I don't know why he was rubbing his ear against a Blue Man backstage and, to be quite honest, I don't really want to think about it. This may or may not be because I'm imagining a body-painted David Cross in cut-off shorts as the Blue Man in question. Eww.

Apparently CBS isn't just screwing around with that Innertube thing on their website. The network has signed Michael Cera (Arrested Development) to do a scripted short-form series. The Good Life will be a mockumentary about two aspiring television producers who are convinced that their show is the next big thing. Unfortunately for them, it's not. Cera will be joined by Clark Duke, who you may remember from CSI, but I doubt it. He played Frat Boy #1 two years ago, if that helps. The pair will also both be in Judd Apatow's next film, Super Bad, next year.

This is a big step for the networks and new media. It's one thing to have a web only reality show, added bonus clips, or to burn off episodes of your failed series online. But it is an entirely different thing to hire known actors to create a series specifically for online distribution. Now let's see NBC answer by finally producing some more Nobody's Watching episodes.

This is why I love DVDs: short-lived yet critically-acclaimed/cult shows can get a new life and a new audience. I liked Freaks and Geeks more, but Undeclared was another good Judd Apatow show that deserved a chance. But fans can catch the show on DVD: the entire series was released yesterday. In this interview below, Apatow talks about the show and some of the problems it had.