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NORFOLK - One night, Norfolk native Liam Sullivan was at a party listening to a woman talk about her obsession with shoes when an idea for a video hit the Los Angles-based comedian.

"She was telling me her big problem is how much money she spends on shoes. The shoes she was wearing cost $300. That struck me as odd and funny," he said.

The conversation inspired him to write a song and tape a video called "Shoes" that just won a People's Choice Award.

The video is a hit on the Internet. Sullivan said it has enjoyed millions of views on YouTube. He sells the song on iTunes, helping him to earn a living off the idea.

The video stars a valley girl-type character named Kelly who is played by Sullivan himself. "I got my friends together and we went a little crazy" making the video, he said.

Sullivan said he had used the Kelly character in his stand-up comedy routine, but it never went over well without the clothes, wig and makeup.

The character has been so popular in video that he has spun it into a series.

Sullivan does not neglect his local roots in the video: His old King Philip Regional High School jacket is shown in the background.

The only disappointment in the whole process is that the big annual ceremony showcasing the People's Choice Awards winners was canceled because of the strike by the screen writers.

The son of Geff and Nancy Sullivan, Liam Sullivan said his parents are fine with his outrageous comedy and female impersonating.

"They're old radicals from the '60s," he said.

His father is a retired engineer from WCVB television and his reaction to the video was, "nice editing," he said.

The success of the video has opened doors for Sullivan in other forms of entertainment.

He said he will be taking his comedy routine on the road this spring. In the process, Sullivan is learning the public relations aspect of show business.

He said a reporter friend told him to make sure to mention he is a former Sun Chronicle paperboy when being interviewed by his hometown newspaper.

"I attribute all my success to delivering The Sun Chronicle. It taught me discipline and how to make a living," he joked.