W. Kamau Bell

I think that the biggest thing I've done is like, don't feel like you're supposed to be places, like don't feel like, sort of like go where you're invited. You know what I mean? So CNN goes, do you want to do a show here? That doesn't make any sense. I'm a comedian. That's not gonna work. But let me go have that meeting. Oh, Bourdain's here. Oh, Morgan Spurlock's here. I like them. Oh, Lisa Lee.

Oh, they want me to da-da-da-da. Anybody alive? Go on. Lisa's still with us. Lisa's still with us, thank God. But yeah, so, but yeah, like, the idea of, like, I sort of, like, maybe I should have, like, moved to L.A.

Oh, they want me to da-da-da-da. Anybody alive? Go on. Lisa's still with us. Lisa's still with us, thank God. But yeah, so, but yeah, like, the idea of, like, I sort of, like, maybe I should have, like, moved to L.A.

and started auditioning for stuff, but I'm like, and the CNN show at the beginning especially wasn't, like, it was paying good money, but it wasn't, like, network TV money or anything. Yeah. So, like, it was, like, I was still having, I was still working outside of it, but, like,

and started auditioning for stuff, but I'm like, and the CNN show at the beginning especially wasn't, like, it was paying good money, but it wasn't, like, network TV money or anything. Yeah. So, like, it was, like, I was still having, I was still working outside of it, but, like,

So basically, if somebody's inviting you a place and you feel like you can do what you do there, don't question all the like, but is this the, but maybe I should. So there was a run where I was on the CNN crawl, Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and me. And it was like, nope. Nobody one of these things does not belong here, but like I figured out my way there.

So basically, if somebody's inviting you a place and you feel like you can do what you do there, don't question all the like, but is this the, but maybe I should. So there was a run where I was on the CNN crawl, Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and me. And it was like, nope. Nobody one of these things does not belong here, but like I figured out my way there.

And so I think for me like Following my nose has been the best thing to do instead of like saying like like free I I never moved to LA I should have moved to LA I have friends, you know, all my friends like for one. I mean based on looking back It's like well, no, I also knew that LA was not gonna be I was just like that's not gonna work for me I just knew and so

And so I think for me like Following my nose has been the best thing to do instead of like saying like like free I I never moved to LA I should have moved to LA I have friends, you know, all my friends like for one. I mean based on looking back It's like well, no, I also knew that LA was not gonna be I was just like that's not gonna work for me I just knew and so

I sort of always knew that, like, I got to do it my way. And then if you're going to do it your way, then just expect it's going to take longer. Or it's going to be a different journey. Or it's not always going to make sense. And so I think even the bands I liked sort of taught me, like, all my favorite bands had careers that they achieved less than they should have. You know what I mean?

I sort of always knew that, like, I got to do it my way. And then if you're going to do it your way, then just expect it's going to take longer. Or it's going to be a different journey. Or it's not always going to make sense. And so I think even the bands I liked sort of taught me, like, all my favorite bands had careers that they achieved less than they should have. You know what I mean?

But they created great art. And so I feel like, well, look, you don't like Aerosmith. You know what I mean?

But they created great art. And so I feel like, well, look, you don't like Aerosmith. You know what I mean?

No, like if you're a big fan of like... Pearl Jam's a fine example where it's like they're still around and they're still vital and all that stuff. They're still packing stadiums. But like you don't know it unless you look for it. You have to be a fan. Yeah. But they're all paying their mortgages on their multiple houses every month. Yes. But like...

No, like if you're a big fan of like... Pearl Jam's a fine example where it's like they're still around and they're still vital and all that stuff. They're still packing stadiums. But like you don't know it unless you look for it. You have to be a fan. Yeah. But they're all paying their mortgages on their multiple houses every month. Yes. But like...

Like, you know, but like the bands I like, it's like they're they just go through a lot more. And so I'm like, then that's probably your path. Yeah. You know, so I think but having three kids, it's also like, all right, so I can't just go back to stand up and fool around with it. If I'm going to stand up, I got to start booking some gigs because I need to sort of like this has to generate income.

Like, you know, but like the bands I like, it's like they're they just go through a lot more. And so I'm like, then that's probably your path. Yeah. You know, so I think but having three kids, it's also like, all right, so I can't just go back to stand up and fool around with it. If I'm going to stand up, I got to start booking some gigs because I need to sort of like this has to generate income.

So, yeah.

So, yeah.

And I also think that, like, I recognize being smart for a comedian doesn't mean you're actually smart. And we live in a time where a lot of comedians think they're actually smart. I don't know what you're talking about.