The psychological root behind this competitive streak is that I was an athlete when I was young and took sports really seriously. I look at directing as a sporting event. It's a race, a marathon. It's great when it clicks - which is why I push my crews so hard so we can excel.

It's one of those unfortunate things that happen in sports, ... We weren't playing well and a change had to be made. It wasn't necessarily [McClendon's] fault. We've all been playing bad lately but it usually falls on one guy -- that's always the manager or coach, unfortunately.

I allow a lot of room for improvisation and funny stuff. I always feel planned.

There are things that I invented - the creaky geriatric robot that is always grumpy, for example, or the little wheelie guy, he's not in the Hasbro lore. But kids love that stuff - this little guy as a pet on a chain. They gravitate towards it.

Fast cars are my only vice.

What I look for in a script is something that challenges me, something that breaks new ground, something that allows me to flex my director muscle. You have got to think fast in this business, you've got to keep reinventing yourself to stay on top.