At the top of episode #60 of the ScriptMag-sponsored TV Writer podcast, Toronto-based host Gray Jones reminds that he will soon be headed to Los Angeles. And that he’s looking for donations to support the move.

When he does finally arrive here, perhaps he will make his own good luck like guest Devon Shepard. The veteran writer of such shows as Weeds, Everybody Hates Chris, Mad TV and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air started out after CSUN graduation as an intern on Entertainment Tonight. He was later working as an aspiring stand-up and hanging out at a certain establishment at 43rd Street and Crenshaw Blvd.:

His big break came when he met Rob Edwards (The Princess and the Frog) at a barbershop in South Central LA. Because he was always cracking jokes on whomever sat in the barber chair, Rob thought that he was funny and asked him to interview for a writer’s trainee job on Out All Night starring Patti LaBelle, Viveca A. Fox and Morris Chestnut. Devon was hired for the job and has been working in television ever since.

Another interesting revelation shared by Shepard is that even though he is now sitting on more than two decades of stellar success, he continues to occasionally attend writers’ workshops as a student. Just to make sure his storytelling techniques continue to evolve with the times.

To bookmark/listen to this great podcast conversation click here.