Photo: Andrew Marantz

1. Moderator Virginia Heffernan (online media critic at The New York Times) wanted to push the notion that the Internet is fundamentally changing TV comedy, but the comedy writers were not having it. That impasse was reached within the first two minutes of the panel and then explored for the next two hours. “So, you guys really don’t think the Internet is changing the way you work?” said Heffernan. “No, not really,” said the writers. Over. And over.

2. “I don’t even have a computer,” said Jim Downey, and he was not joking. Having worked at Saturday Night Live since 1976, Downey is clearly qualified to talk about television writing. But as the last person in America to hold out on the computer fad, he had absolutely nothing to say about the “Internet” part.

3. The other three writers had some predictably cranky things to say about the Internet. Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) thinks it’s too democratic. Al Jean (The Simpsons) thinks it’s too negative. “Most of it is negative,” Rory Albanese (The Daily Show) agreed. “Except for the porn.”

4. The Simpsons producers were the ones who leaked the video of Homer trying to vote for Obama. I knew it!

5. Extrapolating from tonight’s four-person sample, we can deduce that 100 percent of comedy writers are white men; 75 percent of comedy writers dress in black sport coats; 75 percent of comedy writers wear black-rimmed glasses (the other 25 percent keep their glasses in the pocket of their sport coats); and 0 percent of comedy writers will read this post, because they don’t really care about the Internet.

We’ve been wondering too, after all those rumors early this year about the two teaming up. So when we hit the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs premiere last week (a flick equally enjoyable for kids and adults, by the way), we sat down with Hader, who voices the movie’s goofy inventor protagonist, and asked: What’s the deal? Time Out Kids got the full scoop on the project, plus some juicy details on his favorite cheeseburger and the horrific effect fatherhood will likely have on his comedic routine (okay, maybe not so horrific).

Ricky Gervais entreats you to attend his November 5 New York Comedy Festival show at Carnegie Hall.

Sam Morril has a restaurant idea.

What it is: An eight-week introductory-level improv or sketch comedy class at the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center.

Why it’s awesome: Want to follow in the footsteps of UCB founders Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Matt Besser? Taking a class at the theater’s Training Center, where you’ll learn long-form improv or how to write short, comedic scenes, is certainly a good start. So long as you’re committed to comedy: Skipping class and tardiness are no laughing matter, as both are grounds for getting kicked out (no, seriously!). Upcoming classes include Improv 101 (Tuesdays 2:30–5:30pm, starting July 14) with Ari Voukydis, who’s appeared on VH1’s Best Week Ever and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Enter to win here.

Local comedians Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello blow your mind along with those of eight unsuspecting dinner guests.