How has the show changed since it's first performance? Have you been tweaking it with each outing?
PAUL: When we first did a preview show back in March, our characters argued with each other a lot more. And we got rid of all that. In our opinion, it's funnier to see two people be really nice to one another than be mean and cruel. Somewhat related, we eliminated stuff like "he's the one who always goofs off" and "he's the one whose always serious." Cuz that can grow predictable and boring. For the audience and us.

NEIL: Since we "officially" began performing it, the show has pretty much remained the same. We've tweaked it here and there -- adding a joke or two, tightening up specific moments, etc -- but it hasn't undergone any major changes.

PAUL: Yeah, we've been tweaking the material with each performance. The UCB is really great about letting a show grow and take shape over time. Our director Owen is awesome at continually suggesting new ideas - making the show tighter and more cohesive and funnier. He'll let us try out a new idea... so we can find out later that it's a dumb one. Like, y'know, maybe a scene ISN'T funnier when Prince's "Batdance" is playing during it.

NEIL: We've tried -- unsuccessfully -- to get "Batdance" into the show several times.

What was the writing process like for Growing Up is Tough and what are the strengths that each of you bring to team Neil and Paul?
PAUL: Like our last sketch show "Let's Go!" our writing process is coming up with a bunch of ideas and then slowly whittling them down. In the case of "Growing Up Is Tough," we brainstormed around 50 sketch ideas, then wrote 25, revised 15, rehearsed 10, and then ultimately performed 8. Neil and I are together throughout every step of the process - pitching, developing beats, writing, revising. At no point is a scene written without both of us in the room. Teammates!

NEIL: We also generated some scene ideas through improv rehearsals, thanks to our awesome director, Owen.

PAUL: One of Neil's strengths is structure. He can take a confusing premise and lay it out, so that it's easy to follow and each beat feels heightened and new and gratifying. Or if a scene isn't working, he can write the one line to have it all click. Clarity, in general, is one of Neil's strengths. I'll write a line and think it makes perfrect sense, then Neil will read it from an outsider's standpoint and see how component A and component B are missing, so it's confusing or unfunny. Then he'll add this word and edit that sentence and in the end, I can't imagine the line any other way. Whenever I have to write a sketch by myself (for a class or some individual project), I always wish Neil was writing it with me. He brings my "B-" to an "A."

NEIL: Two best things about working with Paul:
1) He's the funniest person I know.
2) We can be completely honest with each other. No ego struggles.

The writing I do with Paul is always much funnier than the writing I do alone. I think we just get along really well and we can make each other laugh.

What's next?
NEIL: Well, after our time in the Big Apple, we'll return LA, where we'll continue to run Growing Up is Tough. And we're always writing and performing, working on something.

PAUL: Neil, Scott Aukerman, and I co-wrote an episode of Adult Swim's "Moral Orel" that will be aired sometime.

Neil and Paul will also be performing individual stand up and a duo sketch at Here's the Thing Sunday, July 23rd and their Harold team Last Day of School is performing July 30th at 1 AM during the Del Close Marathon .

Ben Kharakh is the creator of the online humor magazine One Trick Pony , which features interviews with comedians such as Todd Barry, Paul F. Tompkins, and Neil Hamburger.