Tommy Chong (Thomas B. Kin Chong) Quotes
When they put me in jail, that's when they turned me into an activist. Up until the time I went to jail, I was just a comedian.
Quotes to Explore
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The comedian can put the punchline out there, but it's the audience that receives it - and has to get it.
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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!
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Most people figured I'd be in jail. I've been proving people wrong my whole life.
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I've been a comedian, hosted travel shows, explored world religions, started improv troupes, given keynote speeches at conferences around the country, and had a milk shake named after me called the Handicappuccino.
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I always wanted to be a stand-up comedian, even as a kid. Me and my dad would watch 'Evening at the Improv' on A&E.
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Carlos, on paper, and Carlos, the guy who was in jail, is known to be a cultivated guy, the guy who handles big amounts of information, and for me, that was very important.
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As soon as I got out of jail, as soon as my trial was over, first of all, during the time I was in jail, there was an organization called the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis, and I insisted that it be called National United Committee to Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners.
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I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage as a stand-up comedian with untested material. I was saying it out loud for the first time that night. It didn't go how I expected, but in the best possible way.
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Once you become a comedian, you accept that people are just going to yell stuff at you.
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A comedian is not funny unless he is taking his demons out for a walk.
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I've already produced one hour specials for other comedians and I have a TV show called Stand Up Revolution where I showcase new talent and so I'd like to continue to do stuff like that and help out the next guy.
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Comedians on the stage are invariably suicidal when they get home.
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And don't worry, if I get thrown in jail in Manila, Beyonce will just bail me out. Sold out night 2 in the Philippines. I love it here!
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People were threatened, folks was put in jail just because we wanted people to try to register to vote.
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So much of my work is as Yara, not as a character. If you're attacking my work as a philanthropist or activist, you're attacking Yara. But because of "Black-ish" and this national audience we have, I get to have a larger or louder voice.
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That's why when I send a postcard I quiz people. "Hey, did you get that postcard?" "Yeah, yeah yeah." "Well what'd I say?" "Uh, you were havin-" "I was in jail"
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There is this false perception that comedians can never be serious. It's like from like the era of court jesters.
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I believe that comedians do what they do, and then they get credit or criticism for doing it. There's nothing planned about this.
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My favorite Hollywood star is Johny Depp!
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I was never really a writer, I was always more of a performer.
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My job - and it's really true - is that it's constantly evolving and changing. When I was doing the Chet Baker movie I was obsessed with playing the trumpet, and to my absolute shock I haven't picked the trumpet up since we wrapped. It was so much work. I thought I was going to keep playing the rest of my life, 'cause it was fun, it's just a lot of work. And it's a really unique job that exposes you to a lot.
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If you are going to be a champion, you must be willing to pay a greater price.
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When they put me in jail, that's when they turned me into an activist. Up until the time I went to jail, I was just a comedian.
