What do you need to know about Mark Katz? For starters, he was the White House joke writer for Bill Clinton (and we bet you thought those jokes wrote themselves) and now he runs the Sound Bite Institute, a creative think tank for humor-writing projects. He’s penned essays for every big-name publication under the sun—here’s a Shouts & Murmurs piece from The New Yorker, “Near-Deathbed Requests”—and not surprisingly, there’s no shortage of respect for him in political circles.

“Mark Katz, who enjoys more face time with Clinton than some Cabinet secretaries, may go down in history as this administration’s Peggy Noonan.”
-Arianna Huffington, syndicated columnist

“Mark Katz is a White House rarity: someone who is funny on purpose. He is a true professional, producing tons of top-quality work on short deadlines for up to four humor dinners each spring. His skill helps the President shine.”
-Michael Waldman, former White House Director of Speechwriting

He’ll be at Makor Thursday night with Larry Getlen, editor of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes and Brian Kiley, longtime staff writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien for a discussion: “Is the Joke Dead?” Larry answered these questions first, now it’s Mark’s turn.

How many years, apartments and what neighborhoods have you lived in NYC?
15 years, 7 apartments, neighborhoods: UES, UWS (twice), Murray Hill, Chelsea

What era, day or event in New York ‘s history would you like to relive?
Brooklyn, 1940’s

What’s your New York motto?
If you feel something squishy under your shoe, don’t look back and just keep walking.

Describe that low, low moment when you thought you just might have to leave NYC for good.
The day my car was towed.

Who do you consider to be the greatest New Yorker of all time?
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

What was your best dining experience in NYC?
Shopsin’s—before it moved.

With a nod to Milton Glaser, how much do you really love New York?
Enough to put up with it.

Of all the movies made about or highly associated with New York , what role would you have liked to be cast in?
Oscar in The Odd Couple

What happened the last time you went to L.A.?
I learned that I should have rented a GPS years ago.

If you could change one thing about New York , what would it be?
The smell of garbage in the streets on hot days in August.

The End of The World is finally happening. What are you going to do with your last 24 hours in NYC?
A double-header at Yankee Stadium.

[Is the Joke Dead? 11/2/06]

Previous 92YQs: Larry Getlen, Dawn Eden, Carly Fiorina, Gary Panter, Peter Hyman, Michelle Goldberg, Arianna Huffington, Francis Morrone, Sydney Pollack, Francesca Harper