Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter on "Michael and Michael Have Issues."

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There's a certain disappointment journalists get when we have to conduct an interview via e-mail. Questions must be worded precisely, there's no chance to follow up and there's always the chance that the interviewee isn't actually the person answering the questions.

But when I learned my interview with Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, the comedians behind "The State," "Stella," and, most recently, "Michael and Michael Have Issues," would need to occur through e-mail, I had little to fear. You see, Black and Showalter are as good at writing as they are at performing .

In our e-mail conversation, Black discusses depression, Showalter talks about his ski sweater and both talk on their current standup tour, and express their mutual love - ahem, admiration - for each other.

Q: This one's for Michael Ian Black: On your blog posts, you're writing about taking anti-depressants and feeling like the best days are behind you - why come out with such honest and open posts?

BLACK: Because I feel like, especially around all things involving show business, there's such a high level of (expletive) out there that I wanted to write about what is actually going on. Yes, ticket sales have been slow and yes I've been depressed. All the more reason to come out to the show and see a bipolar guy get funky.

Q: What do you attribute to the sales slump?

BLACK: Two main reasons: the first is the economy. Obviously when you don't have a job, going to see a couple of jerks from Comedy Central isn't going to be high on your to-do list. Also, I suspect a lot of people aren't familiar with our new TV show that we're promoting, "Michael and Michael Have Issues." It came out this summer and I think people haven't had a chance to find it yet, so they might not be real tuned in with Showalter and myself.

Q: "Michael and Michael Have Issues" paints you two as having a complicated relationship: you're always arguing and antagonistic toward each other - does this happen in real life?

BLACK: Constant. Unending. Circular. Yes.

SHOWALTER: I wouldn't call them arguments. I'd call them tiffs.

Q: Where does the conflict stem from?

BLACK: Primarily the conflict comes from two distinct people with slightly different sensibilities trying to make the best show they can make. Our arguments are never personal. They're always about trying to do what we see is best for the show. Comedy can make people pretty angry. At the end of each day, we always have a big hug. (Not true.)

SHOWALTER: Since we're both playing versions of ourselves on the show there's a lot of times when one or the other of us will say, "I wouldn't do that." This usually leads to a long debate.

Q: You both seem to be the constants in each other's lives. As a pair, you two are a vehicle you always return to. What has kept you working together for so long?

BLACK: First and foremost we have a long friendship dating back 20 years. So we are very comfortable with each other, we have a real shorthand and we still make each other laugh. Showalter is a very, very funny man, and I like to work with funny people.

SHOWALTER: We're both Jersey boys. As different as we are there's also a ton of middle ground. Mike has always made me laugh. Though it kills me to say it, I respect his talent. Ugh.

Q: What's the status of the second season of the show?

BLACK: We're still waiting to hear. The network says they love the show so we're optimistic they'll bring us back. But we also know that people sometimes kill the things they love.

Q: Is the stand-up tour an extension of the exaggerated caricatures of yourself you play on the series?

BLACK: Not really. We're more ourselves on stage. There's less bickering and back-stabbing, although we do make fun of each other a lot. Showalter has been wearing a horrendous sweater lately that's been getting a lot of attention.

SHOWALTER: It's a great sweater. It's a "ski sweater." It has reindeer and snowflakes on it, which apparently is shocking to people.