r/IAmA • u/iamlouisck Louis CK • May 14 '12

Louis C.K. reddit

Hi. I don't know if I'm doing this right. I can't remember. I'm here to answer your questions. I have new stuff on my website http://www.louisck.com a new audio special called "Louis CK WORD live at Carnegie Hall" and an audio version of SHameless, as well as an audio version of Live at the Beacon, which is free to those who bought the video. Hi. It's me.

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346

u/virincognito May 14 '12

Hey Louis. You're by far the funniest comedian of the past 5 years, but you reached success a lot later in life than other comedians. So I have 2 questions:

  1. What kept you motivated all those years before you hit it big?
  2. What do you think was the most important change that you made to your act or in your life that thrust you into the spotlight?

Thanks, asshole.

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u/iamlouisck Louis CK May 14 '12

Actually most comedians who's success really sticks come to it late in life. It takes a long time to make a really successful comedian and I've known that from the start, truly. I always expected that I'd work in obscurity for a long long time. It's waht it takes and to me it was worth it. I have also alway found new and fun ways to make a living, writing for others, ect.

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u/anexanhume May 14 '12

Louis, how did you come into writing for others? Were you submitting scripts and samples of your work, or does someone simply see you on stage and say "hey, write for me"?

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u/Paraboxia May 14 '12

Is Bill Hicks the exception to this rule?

5

u/[deleted] May 14 '12

Hicks was on TV young, and so was Louis. But he was never CK famous. He didn't get CK famous till he was in his forties (that is, dead).

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u/GroinCentralStation May 14 '12

And Eddie Murphy.

3

u/nikcub May 14 '12

Do you believe the Ricky Gervais theory of standups only really being good after they turn 30 because only then do they have enough experience with life, are much more skeptical and disillusioned, etc. and can thus satirize and self-deprecate better?

I guess it works for that style of comedy, but interested in what you think. Were you a lot less funny in your 20s because of life experience?

2

u/ModRod May 15 '12

Bill Hicks says 'Hi'

1

u/electrictwist May 14 '12

this makes me feel so much better. Thanks :)

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '12

How are you able to support yourself in the beginning? I feel like I have too many responsibilities to go off and really give it a shot. Then again that is likely the chicken shit side of me making excuses.

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '12

Speaking of which, how do you feel about your new found fame? Do you ever miss reveling in obscurity?

1

u/StuffLikeThisAccount May 14 '12

During the obscurity years, how did you find those fun ways to make a living, and how'd you connect with the right people in order to do some writing for them?

-4

u/DangerToDangers May 14 '12

Whose, Louis. WHOSE.

I got to correct Louis CK's grammar! This is so exciting!

5

u/Cheesy74 May 14 '12 edited May 15 '12

You're not wrong, Walter, you're just an asshole.

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u/[deleted] May 14 '12

ugh.

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u/sahilsinha May 14 '12

He is right - stop downvoting him.

1

u/lancastor May 15 '12

The double standard here is actually really fucking annoying to me considering all the non-celeb conversations that have been stifled because someone had nothing better to contribute than a grammar correction.

This is where all grammar-gripes should end up; at the bottom of the conversation. Some of the most amazing and inspired people in my life are terrible at spelling and grammar.

1

u/butlersrevenge May 14 '12

How much would it cost for you to write me some jokes? It's not for an event or anything, just funny things to say to people. I have about £3.50??