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Louis seems to be able to stay grounded despite his 'real' self being incredibly successful (and rich!) at this point. Hope he can stay that way.

Seems like so many comedians start off drawing from a real place with their comedy, become super famous and rich, lose that source, and their work suffers for it.

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I hope so too, but I don't know that many great comics that fall off like that. Carlin was true to himself to the end, Seinfeld still tours and works relentlessley on his act. Chris Rock may have lost a little bit but is still one of the best standups alive.

Here's 10 mins or so from Louis CK at a tribute to Carlin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R37zkizucPU

He says his first hour of comedy took 15 years to build up, and he hated all of it. Then he heard an interview with Carlin where he said every year he threw all his old jokes away and would have to come up with a new hour of material, forcing him to get to the core of what was important and real (or something)... And that's when Louis says his career took off.

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