Patton Oswalt on AP Bio, Teaching, and Life After Loss

Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt joins the Neil Haley Show to discuss his role as the hapless principal in NBC's AP Bio, a character he describes as "an authority figure with zero authority." Drawing inspiration from Tim Meadows' masterful portrayal of the principal in Mean Girls, Oswalt explores the unique challenges of playing administrators who struggle to maintain control while genuinely caring about creating great learning environments for their students. He shares fond memories of an unconventional shop teacher from his Virginia high school who mixed engine repair lessons with profound life philosophy, and discusses how AP Bio writer Mike O'Brien brings his Toledo upbringing and SNL weirdness to this fresh take on the school sitcom format.The conversation takes a poignant turn as Oswalt discusses his late wife Michelle McNamara's groundbreaking true crime book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark," which investigated California's most notorious uncaught serial killer and helped reopen the cold case with the FBI. Oswalt reflects on the power of teaching as a profession, challenging the dismissive phrase "those who can't, teach" by explaining how many educators are deeply obsessed with their subjects and gain fresh insights by introducing material to younger minds. He shares his philosophy that great literature professors teaching James Joyce aren't just passing down knowledge—they're constantly downloading new perspectives from students, making teaching an endlessly fascinating exploration rather than repetitive drudgery.