A lot of comics aren't their on-screen personas; Chris Rock isn't always ranting and raving. What I do is make myself this over-the-top character that people either find endearing or they think is a joke. Then I can do anything I want.

I couldn't just get up every day and be miserable and complain.

It was pop culture, entertainment, Hollywood, award shows - these are the things that really captivated me as a kid. I would watch the Oscars and every award show with my parents. I would make lists of who was going to win.

Every actor-performer says this, and it sounds so irritating, but I'm not the most outgoing person.

It's one thing to be struggling and not really making money in your early 20s and figuring out your life. Early 30s, you start to wonder, is this ever going to happen?

I think New Yorkers - they're media savvy. People have a sense of humor.

I've had a lot of arguments with people, but it's never really gotten physical.