Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: "Louis CK Is The Greatest Standup"
Date: November 6, 2025
Podcast Host: Audacy | Guests: Louis CK

Overview

In this highly anticipated episode, Dana Carvey and David Spade welcome one of comedy's most revered and discussed stand-up artists, Louis CK. Spanning topics from the rigors and science of stand-up, the realities of childhood and broken homes, to the creative process behind both stand-up and writing fiction, the episode serves as a deep dive into the mind of a comic who is relentlessly honest, innovative, and beloved by his peers. With classic banter, comic discoveries, and a showcase of mutual respect, the trio discusses legacy, process, risk-taking, and the enduring awkwardness and glory embedded in the craft of comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dana Carvey Show and Early Comedy Careers

• Nostalgia and Education:
  Louis, Dana, and David reminisce about the Dana Carvey Show, with Louis reflecting on his time as head writer and the immense pressure and learning it offered.

  • (32:07) “He watched. We watched it. And I was proud of the set. And Dana stood next to the TV and he pointed at the TV afterwards and he said, do you understand that when I was out there ... if you had a set like that back in ... the 70s or 80s ... You would have been a huge. Never to look back again.” — Louis CK

• Discovery of Talent:
  Anecdotes surface about the group of now-famous comics (Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, etc.) employed on that show and the energy of working with hungry, generational talents.

  • (28:32) “Carell’s. Oh, Colbert now. Oh, they’re... movie stars are incredible. … Oh, Louie... Louie became the greatest stand up potentially.”

2. Louis CK's Novel ‘Ingram’ and the Art of Fiction

• Outside the Comedy Box:
  Both hosts are astonished at how "Ingram," Louis's new novel, is such a marked departure from standard comedian memoirs—evoking American literary giants.

  • (08:34) “I was astonished that it’s one more different move that… would never know it was Louie, it would just... This is a... well-written, interesting. Yeah. Riveting book.” – David Spade

• Authenticity in Storytelling:
  Louis discusses how writing fiction is an act of caretaking for his protagonist, how he draws on the American literary voice, and likens the process to “carving a sculpture.”

  • (14:46) “It’s kind of like carving a sculpture. It’s like the rock is there. You can try to find something in it, but it’s not up to you what’s really there.”

3. Childhood, Single Mothers, and The Comedy Instinct

• Shared Experiences:
  The comedians share their own stories of growing up with single mothers, financial struggle, and how hardship influenced their comedic worldviews.
  • (23:06) “She was the best phone call I would ever have. I still. She’s the voice I reach to.” — Louis CK (on his mother)
  • (24:03) “Hey, don’t let them get you down that bad. We love you here at home. You’re loved. That’s how she sent me out the door.”

4. Stand-up, Risks, and Comedy as Emotional Warfare

• The High Wire Act:
  The heart of the episode is a deep, passionate exploration of stand-up as a science—how tension, discomfort, and honesty produce the best material.

  • (36:38) Louis describes experimenting with breaking tension in a bit: “For me the worst... well, besides one of my daughters dying and having to tell the other one... And I just stopped talking and the place just went… awkwardness... It’s so interesting to watch a room change like that.”

• Carrying Discomfort and Playing with Silence:
  Louis advises the importance of not rushing through discomfort, letting moments breathe for greater comedic effect.

  • (45:58) “The most dangerous thing for a comic is: I don’t like the way I feel when they’re not laughing... Study what happens.”

• Comedy Growth and Mastery:
  The more a comic is willing to be uncomfortable and not chase "what works," the more the comedic spectrum grows.

  • (39:34) “The more you do it, the spectrum grows of what you can see, what is possible. As long as you’re willing to be uncomfortable…”

• Advice from Dennis Miller:
  Spade shares that Dennis Miller encouraged him to stick true to his weirdest, most authentic material, regardless of audience reception.

  • (44:59) “Do that. … And if it doesn’t work, then you’re not supposed to be a stand up. But don’t try to second guess it.”

5. Touring, Pauses, and the Science of Timing

• Translating Authenticity to Big Rooms:
  Louis talks about learning from Jerry Seinfeld, and the difference in delivering material to 3,000 people as opposed to a club.
  • (48:44) “Stay in the bit. Stay in the moments, keep inhabiting that moment that got you that applause.”

6. Direct-to-Fan Approaches and Anti-Establishment Moves

• Pioneering Distribution:
  Louis details how he became one of the first major comics to eschew traditional ticketing and media intermediaries, selling specials and tour tickets directly to his fans.

  • (53:26) “What would happen if I sold it myself? ... I did it, and it made a shit ton of money right away. And then I had all these emails, and so I was able to--when I toured--blast out and sell tickets.”

  • On battling Ticketmaster, Louis describes exploiting industry loopholes not out of resentment, but ingenuity and a desire to be closer to fans.

    • (56:24) “I just was like, let’s see if there’s another way. ... So I created an alternative... Our tickets were way cheaper, and we hired people who were ex scalpers to keep our stuff off the secondary market.”

7. FX, ‘Louie,’ and Artistic Autonomy

• Negotiating Total Creative Control:
  One of the classic comedy lore stories is confirmed: Louis taking less money for full control over his show at FX.

  • (62:39) “I said, the only way I’m doing that is if I hand you a DVD... and we don’t talk between those two things. He’s like, done.”
  • (63:18) “I had this. The power I had was joyful… I don’t feel like it, so let’s just not do the show. I’ll give you back the hundred thousand dollars.”

• The Importance of Structure and Play:
  The group discusses Louie’s innovative format—half-sketch, half-memoir—illuminating the evolution of traditional sitcoms.

  • (64:35) “He... helped me come up with what the show was and…”

8. Comic Icons, Technique, and Personal Style

• Analogies to Greats:
  Discussion of Woody Allen films, mid-century American fiction, and lessons from other stand-up legends pepper the episode, showing how inspiration crosses generations and genres.

• Signature Moves and Physicality:
  Dana and David dissect Louis's stage toolkit, with Louis noting self-awareness and the tendency to want to evolve or abandon familiar voices and mannerisms.

  • (51:22) “Some of them I would try to get rid of... I have a voice that when I hear it, I go, get out.”

9. Mentorship, Legacy, and Comedians Helping Comedians

• Paying It Forward:
  Throughout, the hosts and guest display the unique way comics support each other, from Dana encouraging Colbert and Carell as “such gentlemen,” to Louis challenging young comics to risk failure.
  • (42:10) “That moment is everything... Getting past that panic without doing something safe... that’s gonna make all the difference for you.”

10. Memorable Anecdotes and Quotes

• David Spade’s Role in Louis’s Early Break:
  (68:39) “He saw me, and I saw him do this. Oh. Oh, this guy. Come here, sit down. He’s made them all sit down and said, yeah, watch him. Watch this guy. ... I didn’t get the job. But the next day, Jim Downey called Robert Smigel and said, I’m not going to hire this guy, but you should. And he gave me... Conan.”
  • (69:43) “So I appreciate it. Thank you.” – Louis CK to Spade

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On tags and laughs:

  “Tags are different because tags are. They're like extra farts. They're just like, you know what I mean?” — Louis CK (35:34)

• On tension and discomfort:

  “The most dangerous thing for a comic is: I don't like the way I feel when they're not laughing. … For me … if I put something out there that confuses them or upsets them, I've just changed the chemistry in the room.” — Louis CK (45:58)

• On 'Ingram' and authenticity:

  “He just tries to do better... The way I can take care of him is give as honest and accurate an account of what he's feeling.” — Louis CK (12:14)

• On comedy legacy:

  “Louie became the greatest stand up potentially.” — Dana Carvey (28:44)

• On helping young comics:

  “Getting past that panic without doing something safe is ... everything... That's gonna make all the difference for you.” — Louis CK (42:10)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Louis on ‘Ingram’ and the writing process: 10:00–16:00
• Childhood adversity & the single mother experience: 17:00–24:00
• Working on the Dana Carvey Show, Carell/Colbert: 27:00–33:00
• Deep dive on stand-up risk, tags, and tension: 35:00–46:00
• Touring, timing, and the challenge of big rooms: 47:00–51:00
• Ticketing innovation and anti-legacy industry moves: 52:00–57:00
• The birth of 'Louie' on FX and total creative control: 62:00–65:00
• Louis’s big break, Spade’s assist, and comedy lore: 68:00–70:00
• Final advice and thoughts on comic presence: 71:30–74:00

Tone & Flow

Lively, candid, and deeply analytical, the tone is both reverent and irreverent—the hosts and guest swapping philosophical insight and hard-won real world lessons with quick asides, inside jokes, and plenty of warmth. The episode succeeds both as a loving comic reunion and as a masterclass in the subtleties, science, and soul of comedy.

For New Listeners

If you’ve never listened, this episode offers a front-row seat to legends breaking down not only their craft, but each other’s impact. You’ll come away with stories behind stand-up’s hardest rooms, the ethos of risking failure, and what it means to spend a life in comedy—plus actionable advice for writers, performers, and anyone who cherishes artful honesty.

Books & Plugs:

• Louis CK’s debut novel Ingram is out now.

Tour Info:

• Louis is currently touring internationally, with recent and upcoming dates that highlight the global appeal of English-language stand-up.

“As long as you keep trying, as long as you're willing to be uncomfortable, as long as you're willing to have discomfort in the room . . . that’s going to get narrower 'til one day you're going to go, I can't do this.” — Louis CK (39:34)