Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Season 8

Nichols:
You wanna make it, right? I mean, really, really make it.

Hank:
Doesn't everyone?

Nichols:
Well, exactly. How many people come to New York every week trying to be rock stars?

Hank:
I dunno.

Nichols:
Well, 100, easy. If they're poor enough, at the buses at Port Authority. You probably get nearly that many at that rat's nest where you live.

Hank:
Okay...

Nichols:
So, 100 a week. That's 5,000 a year. Another 5,000 go out to L.A. Another 5, stick around, you know, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, working out there. That's 15,000 a year. That's conservative, it's probably more like 50.

Hank:
What's your point?

Nichols:
My point is, how many are going to to make it? 45,000 never get anywhere. They don't get a break, knock up some girl, take a job driving a bakery truck. Maybe 4,000 become professional musicians, playing the hotel lounge at the airport. The cream of the top, the top 1,000, get to be in a Zeppelin tribute band or 18th runner up on American Idol, but really make it, be a star? 10 people. 10 people yearly. Worldwide. 10 out of 50,000.

Hank:
So there's 10.

Nichols:
Will you be one of them?

Hank:
Why not? I can play, I'm willing to work.

Nichols:
Still gotta get those breaks.

Hank:
Some people make their own breaks.

Nichols:
People like you?

Hank:
People willing to do whatever it takes.