OVER the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up) has shown that nothing is sacred. Now he directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in FUNNY PEOPLE (15), the story of a famous comedian who has a near-dea

OVER the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up) has shown that nothing is sacred.

Now he directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in FUNNY PEOPLE (15), the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

Apatow addresses the question: If you had the chance to start all over again, would you be the same jerk you always were?

He says: "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!"

Apatow has had a lifelong fascination with stand-up comedy.

In high school, he created a radio talk show and interviewed comic performers he admired, including Howard Stern, Steve Allen and John Candy.

He asked them how they did it...how they wrote jokes, performed and other secrets of their trade. Inspired by their guidance, he began performing stand-up by the end of his senior year.

Now he's using that inside knowledge for his third movie.

Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman and newcomer Aubrey Plaza also star.