Louis CK went from a writer/comedian to winning Emmys for his own show because he works his ass off.

If you're funny, you can find a stage to get on. If you're good, you'll start to get work and eventually get paid.

Some comedians are silly or goofy or straight joke writers who avoid anything subversive or political. Others are drawn to it. The beauty of standup is there is room for everyone, and years of performing in front of crowds will dictate what you can or can't do.

It always comes down to what the crowd buys coming out of your mouth, which differs from one comic to the next.

I have a lot of friends who are getting married. I try to avoid talking to them about their sex lives now 'cause it's so depressing. One guy told me it had been six months since he had gotten to second base with his wife. Yeah, I don't know which one was more pathetic: that he used the phrase 'second base' or that he hadn't been there in six months?

I also do a certain amount of talking through material on stage, to see what happens and allow interesting ideas to manifest.

Chris Rock went from a guy whose name you knew from SNL to a legendary comedian by working his ass off.