in a relatable manner. Yes, they refine bits based on what works in certain shows, but they write based on their perspective on life and of society.

Comics that get hugely successful for a short period just reflect the audience back. And that might get you doing a shitton of HBO specials, or playing Madison Square Garden, but it doesn't guarantee shit beyond the time that you're popular. The audiences change, and you can't turn that mirror fast enough or make it big enough to fit everybody after they've gone their separate ways. It's like Maron said on the Patton (or was it Rollins) episode- eventually, you realize that not everybody has a little bit of you in them.

Gallagher had a chance to be the former- the original sledge-o-matic bit was every bit as satirical as Carlin's early "radio-man" bits. However, rather than focus on doing better satire, he just went to the damn hammer every show. And after a while, there's only one way you can go with the hammer- hit a bigger watermelon, or buy a bigger hammer. There's a fine line, to be sure.