James Lipton prepares for an interview for weeks

Larry King: Can you describe your style?

James Lipton: Well, I think Will Ferrell's already done that sufficiently. But, my style is preparation, it’s all in the preparation. You don’t do that so much, you are much quicker than I am in life. But everything is in the preparation, it takes me 2 to 3 weeks or more to prepare for every single guest and I work 7 days a week, yes sir, and I work 12 hours a day.

Larry King: And their actors, and directors…

James Lipton: And writers.

Larry King: And writers. When you research that much, then you know a lot going in.

James Lipton: Indeed I do. But, the guest is not because there is absolutely no pre interview. We go out there and we go up, it’s like a circus ,there’s a tight wire up there with no net. I’m on stage with them for 4 hours, It’s a master class of the of the Actors Studio drama school of Pace University. And so were up there on that tight wire with no net, 4 hours, and neither of us know what’s coming next. Isn’t that wonderful?