Top 153 Quotes & Sayings by Wanda Sykes
Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American comedian Wanda Sykes.
Last updated on September 17, 2024.
A woman would pitch a joke. Nothing. Then a guy would pitch it and everybody would laugh.
The first time onstage, a light went on. 'OK, this is my thing. I'm comfortable here. This is my thing.'
The government shouldn't be involved in this because it's very simple. If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry somebody of the same sex.
I guess because of my act, people think that I say things they want to say, and that they can just come up and say anything to me.
People are getting careers from YouTube and uploading videos. And they're totally different - you can't necessarily be funny on a video, and then all of a sudden you're live in a theater. You don't have the tools yet. It's a lot more involved to go from being funny on a little iPhone screen to being live in front of people and being funny.
My worlds collide. When one things happens, it just starts a domino effect - everything else goes on.
It wasn't until I became more confident with myself and I put myself forward instead of the jokes; at first it was put the jokes out there and I'm just behind the jokes.
Actually, I majored in marketing and I have a bachelor of science.
If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage it a little and not be as cutting, come behind it with a joke: Hey, I cut you deep, but now let me put a couple of stitches in you.
I'm here today because I hated everything else.
I noticed recently, in the last few shows I did, that I'm starting to get people - not a large group, but quite a few people - who come to see me because they love Curb Your Enthusiasm.
If I did a talk show, this would allow me to speak on what's happening at that moment. I can be current, and I get to flex my stand-up muscle but stay at home without doing the traveling.
Then you had people who wanted to get into comedy just to get a TV deal.
I enjoy stand-up because it has the biggest reward: instant gratification. You can hear the people laughing.
I work hard. The staff and crew see how much energy I put into this project, and it makes them step up.
I was funny around my family. My family, they're pretty funny, too.
Some government workers are dedicated and work hard, but most of them are just waiting to retire.
It's hard to get fired from the government. You have to, like, kill people.
I have problems with YouTube and things like that, when you catch it mid production. If I'm doing a show and I'm working on a bit and someone's there with a phone, they record it and put it online - it's not the finished product.
That's why I talk about the breast cancer: because I want women - and everyone - to stay on top of things and get checked. I know how scary it can be. When I dealt with it, I was like, 'Oh my God.' And I have so many other friends who have gone through it or have suffered a loss.
I have a funny family, but none of them are remotely in show business.
There's obviously a group who enjoys what Tyler Perry is putting out there. And why fault them? And there's a group that loves the things that Spike does. So they should enjoy that, too. Is it my taste? Maybe not, but I'm not going to fault anybody for doing what they're doing as long as people are showing up.
I tried snowboarding, and that scared the hell out of me.
Men are dogs. Men are dogs. We got to stop it. Men are not dogs. Uh-uh. Dogs are loyal.
And then also I think it's harder for women because comedy is so opposite of being ladylike.
If you're passionate about your work, it makes the people around you want to be involved too.
But I think funny and talent will always win out; I mean, of course there are hurdles, but I think if you're funny you will get over all of that.
I'm a huge Sia fan. I love Sia, I have just about all of her stuff.
People are going to label you anyway, but the one that bugs me the most is when they say, 'One of the funniest female comedians.' There's s no 'funniest male comedians.' You're either a funny comedian, or you're not!
I really can't pinpoint the one moment when I said I want to be a comic.
Don't bother me while I'm eating, or when I'm coming out of the crackhouse or something. Just let me get going.
Back then, I was doing more of my impression of what a comic is supposed to do.
I always want to go back and do stand-up; I like the freedom.
It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are.
I like doing a bunch of different things, being all over the place.
When I'm not on T.V. or working on a movie, I'm on the road doing stand-up. That's my roots.
Usually, there's nothing being thrown toward the stage or at me. Then I feel pretty good about it.
I'm really funny now.
Men don't hear women.
In '87, I used to do this awful, awful James Brown impression.
I watch Jay. I watch 'Letterman'. I flip back and forth between 'Conan' and 'Letterman', especially the top of the show for those guys.
I'm shy. I am. I mean, if I get around, you know, in a room of a bunch of people especially I - you know, I don't know or - it takes me a while to warm up. I'm - and the real me, I'm not as witty as, you know, as the comic Wanda. The comic, she's had time to work on some things.
I don't understand why people really get upset about something that doesn't affect them at all.
I knew I was outspoken when I was a kid because, whenever my parents had company coming over, they would pay me to leave. 'Go see your grandmother. Get out of here.' That was my first paying gig.
I'm here today because I refused to be unhappy. I took a chance.
I have a sidekick, Keith Robinson, who's very funny. I've known Keith for over 20 years; he's my best friend.
It's easier to rip somebody to shreds while you're making them laugh.
I love Costas. He's knows too much, but he's a good guy.
What drives the creative person is that we see it all.
My shows and my material are grounded in reality. It's pretty much something that's either happened in my life or in the news, and I start there and give you my take on it.
I'm always thinking of stuff; I just don't sit down and write it. I come up with material more as I go along; if something funny happens, I'll make a note of it on my phone.
It seems like when I first started, people got into comedy because they wanted to be good comedians.
I think it's because my comedy is in your face, and it comes from a place that's real.
Sometimes black people really want to hold onto our oppression - 'This is ours! This belongs to us.' You can't just talk about equality for somebody else. Let's pass it on. Let's pass it on to somebody else. At the end of the day, it is all about inequality.
I don't like doing the same material over and over again. It's not fun.
If you feel like there's something out there that you're supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.
I couldn't believe that Donald Trump won. I couldn't believe that we elected an orangutan to front the country.
I watched a lot of comedy growing up.
I'm finally just relaxed and comfortable with who I am.
But sometimes the women writers will pitch something and I'll hear it, but the men will keep talking.
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