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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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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The tone is set at home. If parents know their kids are skipping classes, they are our biggest ally to get them back into class.
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My personal favorite is Woody Allen, who is just amazing as a comedian.
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I think comedians should focus on what makes them happy, what art form fulfills them the most. Don't be calculated about it and say, 'Okay, I'm gonna tweet, and I'm gonna podcast, and I'm gonna do standup, and one of those things is going to lead me to my own TV show.' I don't think that should be the goal.
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I considered myself a professional comedian because the club would pay me $20.
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How about Proust's In Search of Lost Time?" Tamaru asked. "If you've never read it this would be a good opportunity to read the whole thing." "Have you read it?" "No, I haven't been in jail, or had to hide out for a long time. Someone once said unless you have those kinds of opportunities, you can't read the whole of Proust.
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Every collaborator, everyone that is a songwriter, has ideas that are mediocre.
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Without a functioning hippocampus, names, dates, and other information falls straight through the mind like a sieve.
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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.
