The Breakfast Club - Breakfast Club Classic: Wanda Sykes Talks 'Undercard,' Comedy Career; Chris Rock; Oscars Slap

Episode Date: June 30, 2026

Best of 2026 -Wanda Sykes Talks 'Undercard,' Comedy Career; Chris Rock; Oscars Slap. Recorded 2026. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You're all finished or y'all done? Morning, everybody. It's DJ NV. Just hilarious. Shalameen the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lorna Roses here as well. We got a special guest in the building.

The legend. Rhonda Sykes, ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Thank you. Good morning. How are you feeling? How are you feeling? How's your energy? My energy, I got good energy right now, you know.

Is it right now? Right now. Yeah, I'm sure I'm going to crash in about an hour. Why, you've been up all night or them? All night. But, you know, I had a little thing last night of a screening of the movie. Oh, for undercar. Undercar.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so we, I may have had a few drinks. So, so did they. Oh, yeah, so did that. We went to the Cardi B content. I know you best. You had that word to be last night?

Yeah, we did. And she had a part of her. Did she have a little Kim? Little Kim come out? No, not little. That was the last night. She had partisan Fontaine and a hoodie with the hoodie.

But she had a part where she gives out $5,000 to the person who can shake their ass the best. And so you won? No, I didn't want. He tried. He tried. You know, in these trying financial times, they was out there shaking that ass to get that money. Well, $5,000, yeah. But I was upset because.

I was upset because. I'm gonna slip the disc. Damn! That's right. I got upset because it was all women and then this guy came out there popping ass better than all of them and he won.

And I'm like, y'all, of course. I ain't like that. Charlemagne's eyes on him all night. No, you're taking money out of the women's pockets. Like, you ain't had to do that. Yeah. Ass his ass.

Well, this is one of this first time on the show. Welcome. It is, wow. Yes. Oh, man. I don't think I've never been in studio. I think you did it one time on Zoom.

I think you called on Zoom. Yeah, during the COVID years. Yes, yes. Wow. I did. I did a Zoom. Before we get into Undercard, I want to start from the beginning, if you don't mind. For people that don't know, Wanda, from the 757.

Okay. How did you get into the arts? What made you want to get into the arts and comedy and acting and all of that? You know, I grew up in that time where it was all variety shows was on, you know, like, you know, Flip Wilson and even Ed Sullivan all back then. So, and my family, you know, we watched all that. You know, watched all that. all those shows and I just remember sitting together and laughing.

And so that always stayed with me. But, you know, my dad was in military and also I grew up where you go to school, you get a good education, you get a good job. And that's what I was doing, working for the government. I worked at NSA when I came out of our beloved Hampton University. I ended up at NSA. And I just got to the... point where I was like, this is not where I'm

supposed to be. I'm like, you know, the job is great. Security and all, but I know something else I was supposed to be doing. I was like looking at my high school yearbook and everybody had written things like, you're so funny. Even teachers were like, you should be on stage.

I was like, you know what? I'm going to write some jokes. And I just wrote jokes and went to a radio station was having a a talent competition and comedy was a category. So I was like, all right, let me try.

I audition. And they said, okay, yeah. And I got on stage and did it. And just like the lights came on for me. From right away, they knew you were. I knew it. I knew it. I didn't even win, but I just knew, like, ah,

I felt like I was in my skin. Like, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Wow. Was the Chris Rock show? One of your first big breaks? Absolutely. Okay. When you were writing on Chris Rock show?

Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Right on the Chris Rock show was my first. my huge break. Yeah. Chris, you know, he was doing, bring the pain.

And I opened for him at Carolines while he was working on that. And he said, you know what? He just remembered me. So when he got his show, I got a, somebody calls like, hey, can you submit some writing materials?

I was like, yeah, yeah. So, yeah. Y'all had a dream team. It was Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Ali Leroy, Lance Crowler. What? Yeah, yeah.

What were those rooms like? Oh, man, I was the only woman in there, but it was, it was great. Those guys were, those guys were funny. And Chris, what I love about Chris is he, he just, you know, he, you know, he, he, he, he, he's a great general manager. You know what I'm saying? He put together a team and just let everybody be themselves. Like, it's, it's quirky and out there, you know, and we were able to produce our own fits. You know, he, he would look at some.

put his thing on it and hey all right you know do this do this but just let us just let us go are you ever intimidated being an only woman um a little bit you know a little bit I just I felt like okay I can't I can't mess this up because they were they ain't gonna hire another woman right right right you know what I'm saying that's that's how it works with us like you get in the door you got to make sure you leave it open yeah and or open it wider for somebody else to come through, like leave your mark. So a little bit, but they were very supportive. All the guys were real supportive.

Especially Louis. Louis was real cool with me. I mean, he didn't jerk off him from it. I guess I ain't shake that ass enough. When you heard about that, do you feel left out? You was like, damn. You know what? I was like, God damn. That motherfucker was like right down. It was like two doors down.

Two doors down. It was my office, Ali, Lance, and then Louis, right Nothing. But I mean, y'all used to be on the phone, so sometimes you got quiet on the phone. But the thing I used to love about the Chris Rock show, it was just full of uncomfortable truth. Yes.

Even that whole era was full of uncomfortable truths, right? Do you think comedy is still allowed to be that honest? I'm wearing an era now where everybody wants jokes, but they don't want the truth that comes. No, you know what? I think you're allowed to do it, but it's just who wants to do it. you know what I'm saying?

It's like I think it's there but I think people are you know if I'm trying to fill an arena you can't you don't say you can't be that common you gotta appeal to the masses

and sometimes right now what the masses want to hear it's it's ugly you know yeah so So, yeah, so, but I think you can do it, though.

You still can do it. Yeah. All right, good. I'm glad you said that. I'm going to do it. Do what? Do it. Let me just do it.

Just do it. That's what I'm going to do. Exactly. I mean, you're funny. Thank you. Just do it. Yeah, but when I do me, when I do funny, people will be getting mad. Who gives a shit?

You can't do it for them. You got to do it for you. You got to say what you want. And, hey, if what I want to say and what makes me feel, you know, good about my gift that I have if I'm only going to get maybe 600 people then those are the 600 people

that you're supposed to be speaking to. But do people get offended too fast? You know what I'm saying? But if you want or I want to you know then you got to compromise. But do people get offended too fast where it's like you know back then jokes just flew it didn't matter you made fun

to everybody. Exactly. It could be the crippled person it could be to this person. It doesn't matter. People laugh. Now it doesn't seem like they laughed, they look for a reason to say, you know what, we're going to boycott your next show. Oh, yeah, everybody wants to, you know, I hate using, you know, like everybody. But a lot of people like to be the critic.

They want to be the police. And, you know, so it's like you say something and it might offend you, but you got to look at where that person is coming from. You know, maybe their life, their perspective is different from what, you know, you're offended, but you're not staying in my shoes. You don't see it from

my perspective. So I think that's what we've gotten away from is seeing it from, I got to you know, see where you're coming from. I got it. Yeah. And I think it's empathy, really.

It's empathy. We've gotten away from that people don't get that. Yeah, and there's more than one perspective on one thing, you know. Do you think there's a, like, when you talk about, like, empathy and people, you know, having an opinion about jokes, I feel like the punching up, punching down conversation gets brought up a lot in that, right? Right. Do you feel like there's a fine line between that? Like, do you think somebody can punch down?

People still respect what they're saying, have empathy and they have actual take, or do you feel like that's always going to end in somebody being upset and you being trying to be trying to cancel you? I have no problem. Like me, I always try to try to punch up. Yeah. I always try to punch up because I feel like, um, But that's me. I know the, and I always call it a gift, the gift that I have. And so I try to use that for not just myself, but for, I mean, naturally,

I'm in a position where I'm a black woman and queer. So I'm always coming from, you know, going up. I got to go up, you know. I didn't know you were queer. I have a lie. You're a clown. you took them serious did you take them serious

did you take them seriously like how she was looking like how I said always moisturized beautiful skin moisture oh I know you as quick I'm sorry

Jesus okay continue I'm sorry yeah but yeah I think but if you if you plunge down if this funny I'm going to laugh.

It's a difference. It's a difference of punching down and coming from a perspective of, I hate you or it will be mean. You can punch down and be funny, but if it's coming from a place of love, you know, like one of Chris's good jokes, one of my favorite jokes is punching down,

but when he says, about I had my money in books you know, niggas ain't going to look at it. But it's also true. My daddy told me that forever growing up. You want to hide something from a black brother put in a book? Yeah, exactly. But it's a funny joke.

And it's also like, hey, a little message there. You know what I'm saying? A little message there. So start reading. And you want to read a note for a reason. Have you ever held back a joke in today's climate? To date, no. Uh-uh. I know I did a, I wrote a joke on Chris, on Chris Rock Show, and it's like, oh, God, what was that?

It was bad. Damn, it was bad in the 90s. I got to hear it. Yeah, it was bad. It was bad. It was bad. Remember Ray Carouse? Yeah.

Yeah. Play for the Panthers. Yeah. And he shot his girlfriend who was pregnant. and he had the baby and I was like, yeah, you know it was raised baby because it had his,

his, his mama's eyes and his daddy's bullet. Jesus. Damn. Jesus. Right. That might have been a little too far back. That was a horrible joke.

But did the room laugh? The kill at rehearsal and Chris was like, you know I ain't I ain't gonna do that joke I was like and you shouldn't he's like damn good joke

you know I ain't gonna do that I'm like and you shouldn't I was like and you shouldn't but you know what else I love about you on do you rep women's basketball so strong like you got a WMBA shirt on

right now have you always been a fan of women's basketball yes okay yeah yeah I always love basketball and then when the women's game kicked off

yeah I always been a fan Did you play basketball? I did, and then I stopped growing. You know, I was like, oh, I guess it's the band. She said, I guess it's the band. Yep. I played the drums, played drums in the band. You always supporting the gamecocks.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, come on, Dawn Staley. That's my, yeah, yeah, yeah, love Dawn and that, that whole squad. And what she's doing, her program is just incredible. She, you know, she's like the, the ground, She grooms them for, yeah, for the WM. She's the feeder to the WMBA. So, yeah, she's amazing.

Now, you got the new movie Undercard, right? Yeah. And it's a drama. Mm-hmm. You know, you've been making people laugh your whole career. Right. What made you say, let me stop joking and give them some pain? Let me step into this pain real quick.

You know, I was not looking for the role at all, but the director and co-writer Tamika Miller, She came to me and she was like, look, I got this project. I want you to check it out. I want you to do this role. And I read the script and I was like, it's a drama. And I was like, so it was good, you know? And I just called out.

I said, so what, Queen Latifah said no? Stupid. That must be. That was right. And she was like, no, I really want you to play this part. So I didn't believe it at first. Like, ooh, can I pull this all? And, yeah, she just talked me through it and how she wanted to shoot it

and the cast that she, you know, was going to build around me. And I felt like she made me believe I could do it. Do you still audition for roles or no? Oh, God, I'm the worst at auditioning. I can't. Really? Yeah, I can't. Like my agent's always like, hey, they want you to, for this part.

I was like, okay, and it's like, so the audition, I was like, oh, no, it's a past, man. What about auditions? I don't know. I suck at auditioning. Really? I have actually, like, been in a situation, casting people and, you know, holding the script and auditioning. And they've actually taken the pages out in my hand and say, thank you. Really?

Yeah, well, I'm like, I'm like, I am like, like, now. What was that? That's recent? Early on. No, no, I'm like, ah, no, audition is not for me. And what is like, is it? Is it memorizing lines

will get nervous in front of the people? Or is it stiff? I don't know. I just, I'm just horrible at it. But if you give me the part, you know, it's a real job and I got to show, I'm going to bring it. Because I'm like, hey, you know,

I got it, I got to deliver. But if it's like, I'm not good at trying out. I don't know. How are you before you take the stage then? Because I would feel like, That's kind of the same thing a little bit? No, not really.

Because, yeah, I don't know. I mean, I get a little butterflies before I go out, but that's good. That's good. I mean, it made something, yeah. But I don't know, you give me a script. I got audition. In this movie, Undercar, were you fighting the natural urge? Does it be funny?

Or was it? Yeah, a little bit. I mean, there was like some moments where I was like, oh, man, this would be real funny if I said this right now. Like there's a scene, a beach scene where the little girl, she runs out, you know, to the, to the water. And I was like, hey, you know, I was like, Mika, wait. And, you know, I want to say, you know, I can't swim. Like, you know, you ain't go out there if you want to.

You know, but. But, no. And also, you know, it's really, you know, tight budget and tight, you know, on time. So it was like, there, there was no room to, like, you know, play around. Yeah. Was there anything that you took from this character and portraying this character that you're taking back to the stage

which even though was a drama? Oh, that's a good question. Yeah, I think it's her where you have to like forgive yourself. You know, her character. She had to get to a point to where she had to really like forgive herself

and to be accountable, you know. And so there's this, so there's moments on, on stage with my comedy where, you know, I find ways to use that, I think. Where are you forgiving yourself about for right now, like currently on stage? Like what are those thoughts? Um, I think it's more about, um, you know, like, like you want to do better or, or, you know, be a better person, you know, a better wife, a better mother. That Rekker Roof joke. That too.

Yep, absolute. Yep, that. I can't even believe I said that. Yeah. I repeated that. But yeah, it's just those moments. But, hey, that's why we keep going, though. Because there's always the opportunity to do better the next day or the next with the next minute, you know?

When you saw the script for Undercard and you see it's not really no jokes, like, did that scare you or excite you? Scared me. Yeah. I was like, there is not one funny moment in yet, not at all. You know, yeah, yeah, it was a little scary. It was a little scary. But I knew what I was signing up for, and I wasn't going to, I had too much respect for the writer and director. So I wasn't going to try to, you know, maybe make it wander.

No, I don't want to do that. Were you into boxing? Were you boxing fans? I started, yeah. No, actually, I always love boxing, you know. I remember listening to fights on the radio. You ain't that old now I'm 62

62 ain't Yeah They had TV back then Miranda come on now No we listen to Yeah we listen to the We listen to the We listen to

I listen to Cassius Clay Fight on Yeah on radio Yeah Yeah But yeah I always been a fan of boxing And now I'm like really into it

So I still still train You train? Yeah How often you train? When I'm home When I'm in Philly if I'm home for a week, I go in maybe four days a week. And do you spa?

You spore? Yeah, that's what's work out. I spar. With the young people or, you know, the elder? He'll throw me in a couple times with some younger people. Yeah. Yeah, I ain't going to spar with a, not a 62-year-old person. I'm not going to fuck out.

I will beat that ass. I can beat anyone my age. what did this movie bring out of you that that you didn't know you had any before you did it? I didn't know I could do drama. I didn't know. I didn't know I could go, you know, go places where this movie required me to do.

I didn't know I could like actually step into a role and feel that, you know, and be that character. You know, I think losing my dog, really help me to be able to get emotional. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. How long would you lose it though?

How long ago? Riley passed what, like, maybe six years ago, five, six years ago. Wow. Yeah, but I had them for like almost 18 years. Wow. Yeah, that was my guy. Yeah. Did doing drama force you to sit with emotions you usually joke your way out of?

Hell yeah. Hell yeah. Because that's what comics do. You know, we, you know, we, I mean, and even just as, as, as, as black people, we do that. We, you know, you get, we always find a way to, you know, make something funny. You know, get to get out of it, and not to just sit with it. Um, but yeah, that's, that's absolutely. Was that the first time you grieved your, your dog probably, right?

Hmm. You know, I hate, oh, man. You know, because I, I've, no, because I, you know, I've, you know, I've, you know, I've, lost grandparents. I'm blessed that both of my parents are still alive. You brought the dogs up first?

I know, I know, man. But you're like, so this is the first time you actually somebody. So this is the first time you actually

I'm like, damn. I got the other family members, Solomon. I got grandparents. Yeah. Jesus. It's like my parents

still living, though. He makes me, she's lonely. No friends. No family. Just that dog. Jesus.

Oh my God. But yeah. Now, you mentioned your parents, and I read something that at one time you and your parents, you all didn't see eye to eye. No. They didn't even come to your wedding. So how did y'all get back to where they would understand what was going on?

And how was those conversations? They realized that I was moving on with my life. Pride is like love. You feel it in your heart. IR Radio. Canada's number one streaming app for radio and podcasts, including IHeart Pride Canada, your favorite hits and must have party bangers, plus personalized and curated playlists like back in the day pride.

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it was with my life and and I knew who I was and and they were missing out. So they had to, you know, kind of like meet me where I was. They reached out to you or you reached out to them. How was that coming? I mean, we never like stopped talking. Because if they didn't come to your wedding, I figure you'd be like, you know what? I'm not speaking to y'all again. No.

You're not parents. I can cut them off. Like, I'm just what I'm saying, I never, like, cut them off. I would call, but when, you know, the conversation would shift to, you know, you shouldn't, I would go, okay, I love you. I'm not going to have this conversation again with you, but I love you and I'll, you know, talk to you later. But they were real religious? Yeah, I mean, but, you know, I'm not going to say I'm, so am I. I mean, it's like, yeah, I love God and I'm a Christian,

and I think they saw that also that, oh, wow, she's, you know, her faith hasn't changed. Not only that, my faith was stronger. It really, I'm, like, very close in my walk with God. And so I think they saw that too. I'm like, oh, you know, we, you know, we're trying to put God in this box and yeah yeah and and she's over here living her life and god is blessing her and she's you know loves and they had to get to that place so yeah you know what is they people are

more concerned about what other people think instead of what they they feel they were more concerned about oh what what's my what's my church gonna say what's my folks going to say when um and and it took those other people like i think god sent them people in their church saying, oh, my God, your daughter, I love what she's doing. I love this. You know, and sent people in their lives. Like, you know, I had, my child is gay and struggling, but what your daughter is doing really helped us or whatever.

So they, they had to hear these messages. So I think God was sending them people to make them go, oh, okay. And, yeah. I'm glad you said that because I think about people who, you know, I guess are, are deemed homophobic are there against the gay lifestyle. I wonder if they really truly feel like that or they just feel like that because society and religion

tells them they should feel like that. If they actually thought about it, do you really care if she would have a woman? Do you really care if you would a man? And why? Why do you care? That's the only thing. It's like, why do you care? Like, how does that affect you? Yeah. How does it affect you? How would it with your kids,

with their grandkids at first? Oh, man. My mom, my whole family, yeah, everybody. They love the kids. Everybody was lovely, okay. Yeah, love the kids. It's so funny. Like, early on, you know, with kids like, you know, like babies, like one or two, whatever.

And my mom was visiting, and Olivia was crying. And I picked her up or whatever and was like, hold her, and she stopped crying. And she, like, put her arms around me. And my mother was like, well, she, she just, it's like, she just, just, it's like, just, like, just calm right down with you. I'm like, I'm her mother. You know, she's like, look at that little white girl. Just, yeah. I mean, like, you see in her face with her views and like, that little white girl just, she just grabbed on to you.

Like you're not raising her or anything. Oh, man. I'm like that. I'm her mother. But you got to see her perspective, though. How old was she? My mother, what? My mom's almost 90.

Okay, so she went through, she didn't even see segregation. She went through schools when they weren't segregated. Yeah. Oh, God. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that's a big deal to her.

Yeah. Yeah. She probably get real in depth, like, at certain points. When you're trying to explain certain things, not explain, but just like, when moments like that happened and then y'all talk through, or do y'all just laugh about it and move on? I mean, we kind of laugh. Yeah.

You know, my mom says something. And at the time that she said it, I was like, you know, the throwback anti-bellum, south shit is that? But she, she, she, they, you know, in Virginia, and they bought a house. This was, this was back in, like, maybe the 80s, 90s. Yeah, whatever. They were house right on the water, right?

And, in a portsmouth. and she said, you know what, I look around. And they were the only black families on that street. And she's like, I look around at these white people. And I think, I feel sorry for them. I said, what do you mean? She said, because, you know, they're probably looking like, it's a lot for them.

Because they're, like, looking at us, like, you know, we used to clean these homes. and now we're living here. That's a lot for them. And, of course, I'm like, well, good. In your face, yeah, good, good. But she's right. Because you look at the situation we're in,

and what she was saying, what her empathy was feeling their fear. And that's what we're dealing with now, a lot of fear. Like these folks, they feel like they're losing their place but I mean it's assholes with them to feel like that this should be their place like they own everything

but what is she saying she don't like living around niggas either no oh my god she was saying that it must be hard for like white folks to see you know like you had it all and now we're right next to you and that must be

scary and that was the time we didn't have it all and now we didn't have it all and now we did do and a lot of times more than they have. Right. And so, yeah, I get what you said. Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you, Jess. Got you. Got you. I noticed like when you're struggling that somebody is really, really supposed to help you. Right. Yeah, we're quick.

Three people. They do that to me every day. I hope you a lot. Sometimes you do. Exhausting. Yeah. What are your conversations about, like, because you're also very outspoken when it comes to politics, right?

You don't hold back against Trump and administrations. But your mom comes from an era where it's like, Hold on. Oh, yeah. It's scary for her. She goes, Wanda, babe, I know you, you know, I just get nervous you out there saying stuff. Please don't, you know, don't go too far. She will say that.

Yeah. And you know what? I think I do hold back some stuff because of. Really? Yeah. I mean, yeah, I do. I think I hold back thinking about about, I do. I think about my family.

I think about my kids. I hold back some. But then again, it's like it's, yeah. You know, it's who I am, but I know where the line is. You know, we've always, you know, you've always mixed comedy with politics, but now it's like it seems too ridiculous to even do satire on, and it seems too dangerous. Right.

Is there funny in it? You know, there is, yeah, there's funny there. And I think people, they want to hear it because they need to laugh. I mean, I think when I go on stage, a lot of, people are like, just give me some relief. Help me get through this. I need somebody, I mean, if it's not just to make it funny, but to give me some explanations.

I need to see a way out where there's the light at the end of the tunnel. But yeah, it's, you know, there is a fine line. And it's hard. It's hard. Like, some funny used to use words satire. Who's doing satire anymore? Yeah, because, you know, Daily show is supposed to be like the satire, but they're actually probably one of the most factual honest.

I know. John's one of the most factual honest news journalists out there. Yeah. Yeah. What led you to donate 100% of your online sales to support immigrants right? And my voice is gone because I saw I called you last night. I'm sorry. I used up there shaking that ass.

Yes. No, she was too, though. She really was. I really was. Yes. I should have wanted $5,000. But anyway, yes, you donate 100% of your online sales to immigrants. immigrants rights

because I you know it's it's what's needed you know they're out there just snatching people snatching people man for um

this was supposed to been a you know the campaign whatever for getting violent criminals off the street what violent criminals show up

for their court hearings you know what I'm saying like they They hiding out at, you know, Home Depot. Schools and stores. Home Depot. Because, you know, violent criminals, they love a good, uh, DIY project. That's what they, you know, you know what I'm saying.

It's, yeah. So it's, no, yeah. So I, the, um, the, um, ACLU, they, uh, you know, they, they, they, they, they need the funds to, um, defend these people. Because right now, you know, it's, there's, there's no. oversight. There's nothing it's so illegal what they're doing. I'm like, come on.

How are you going to jump out of forward focus and go snatch people up? Come on, man. It look more official when it's to SV. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I would ask you about identity too, right? Because, you know, you talk about, we were talking about what people think and what people feel.

Even when I look at the character, Cheryl, and the undercard, does she have to be called a butch? Because it says a butch retired boxing champion and recovering alcohol Couldn't it just be retired boxing champion and recovering alcohol? It said plays a jackbutch A jack bush in the news school's drama

Oh you didn't know that? Oh you didn't know that. A lumber jack bitch I know that's right Come on Come on Michelle Let's go What's the point of the butch?

I mean, do we need that? I mean, that doesn't bother me I guess That doesn't bother me her character, you know, she was a former boxer. So I guess it's the, you know, if that's how the writer saw the character, then I'm like, okay, so yeah, I'm here,

she was in shake. I say to that, thank you. When does it, for you, right, with playing characters, when does it go too far when people try to portray characters that are in the community, right? because we had Mike Epps here, and he had told us when he was here that the upshaws, the ending of it

was because they tried to write a storyline for your character where there was, like, something, like, gay that would come into your character, and we know that she wasn't gay. And I know that you've said that you didn't want, you wanted her to be straight for the full entire show. Yeah, I think, I, you know, I love Mike. I love Mike dearly.

And, um, I think it was, like, I like misunderstood what he was saying. I think, um, because, yeah, that, because that didn't happen. I think what Mike was saying, honestly, I'm not going to say what I thought. But I know, I think the show just kind of like ran its course.

The kids got older. We, you know, Mike is, the show was his idea. He came to me and was like, hey, I want to do the show about a working class family in the Midwest and that's what we delivered. I think yeah I mean you know with with the writers and the showrunner Regina

we yeah every it was all it was all love but everybody's going to have a difference of opinions and sometimes you know voices get you know we raise our voices when you're passionate about what you're doing. So I think overall we all wanted to to make the best show possible. We just wanted to,

but it was just a difference of opinions, that's all. But I think what we delivered, everybody was happy with it. Oh, they live and breathe by that show. Yeah. My mom, you can't tell her. I love that show. I love that show. I love everybody worked on that show.

I love what we did and hated to see it in. But really, I mean, it was, I thought we did a good job. and I'm happy with the way, you know, we finished it. So you wanted to keep it going? If we could have done another season, I would have, yeah, I would have signed it for another season. Everybody said it was your fault.

I don't think nobody said that. No. I made that up. I'm like, I'm going to say, I know, absolutely no one said that. It is, you know. But, but no, yeah. Yeah, but no, I think Netflix, they were a great partner, and I think it was, and we knew, we knew going into that last season, that was the last season. So we got to, we got to end it the way we wanted to end it. Yeah. Can you please tell your engineer to stop yawning like that? He died. He was all last.

Oh, yeah. It's not you. Yeah, it ain't you. They get up early. Yeah, they get up early. It's not true. They got to turn the lights on. No, no, it's not true at all. Now, you filmed your comedy special at Hampton University. How was that Ogden Hall? How was that? I was cursing in Ogden Hall. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, it was amazing.

It was amazing. I, um, it, it was so much pressure. Um, but it was, yeah, I, I, because I didn't know, you know, and, and I had, um, I was doing a show in, in Jersey. Um, and I had, had, you know, some, a lot of my sorrows came to the show. and I was so glad that they came out. I said, y'all, this is going to work in Hampton, right? It was like, yes, it's going to kill it after. So that made me feel a little bit more confident.

Yeah, yeah, because I had a little test run. What was the actual pressure about, though? Like going back to my school, you know, in Hampton. And I didn't, you know, who's going to show up? And, you know, is this material going to work? Because my audience, I would say my audience is probably like 60% white, maybe 70, maybe 70. Yeah, you know. But I'm going back to my home at my HBCU, you know.

Is this going to work with them while they're going to, you know. And, man, I mean, killed it. Healed it. Hilled it. It was beautiful. And Julie Dash directed. Yeah. So, yeah.

Yeah, so, because I wanted it to be special. I was like, this special. I need a challenge and what could make it, you know, better than the last one. And I was like, let's go home. Let's go home. Whose idea was it to do what happened? Actually, my producing partner, Paige Hurwood, she said, she was like, you should go back to your school. I was like, shh, got your mind.

She's like, no, you really should. And I was like, nope. And then I thought about it. And the way this administration was attacking HBCU. And then it made it, you know, it gave it more of a reason for me. And that clarity. Yeah. That's so this why I said, okay, now it's not just going to be this.

You know, now there's a connection for me with the material and the place. How do you make a special special material-wise? I know. You told us how you made it special. in that way, but how material was? Push it. Push the limits. Don't go up and just do a...

Chris Rock always told me that from the jump. Like, from my first special, which was a half hour, he's like, don't go up there and do a set to make it special. So you got to push yourself, polish it, you know, just go to a place where, you know, challenge yourself. Go to areas where... people are going to be a little bit on this on their seats or or like oh damn she said that i've been wanting to say that you know um so yeah that's i don't think people realize how close

you and chris are i remember that night of the osk's you were hosting and i remember you saying you were physically sick and everybody's like why she physically sick and i'm like but y'all don't realize how close one than yeah chris are right right no people people don't that i caught a lot a flat from that, like, because I said, you know, about how I felt. Wow. But I'm like, y'all got realized I was working that night. You're also. Yeah, and I watched my coworker get popped, you know, at work.

You know what I'm saying? So it's, it's, you're not, that's not supposed to happen. And so, yeah, so I really, I was upset, like physically upset by that. And then it just even sickened me more watching everybody just sit out there and, you know, and not react. And then to give that man an award afterwards, I was like, I'm done with y'all. I really would. I was like, I'm done with all this. I know Will Smith reached out to apologize to you, too, for overshadowing that night.

Yeah, he did. He called. He called. But you know what? I was actually physically sick. I had a nasty, like, sinus infection, so I didn't even pick up, but he left the message. And, yeah.

Have you ever had an extensive conversation after? Oh, sorry. Oh, maybe. I just wanted to need you called back. Yeah, same question. You know what? I was like, I received it. I accepted.

I'm good. Yeah. What did your mama say about seeing the black people who act up in front of all them white people? Oh, my God. Oh, you see. Exactly. Exactly.

Lord Jesus. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? at Wanda, I was like, I know, Ma, I know.

All the white people just looking at them. My God. They ain't never going to give us nothing else. Did you see when those fake reports were circulating that Will Smith and Chris, Chris Rock were supposed to sit down together and do like a one-on-one? It was fake, though. It was fake, and I cleared it up and reported. But I was wondering if you saw it and if you were like,

there ain't no way hell that's going to happen. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was like, nah, no, no. No. Yeah, I knew that. I mean, I know Chris. I'm like, that's not going to happen. So you would never really host the Oscars again? I'm not going to say I would never host again, but I probably will never host again.

Why? I'm going to say, I'm a big model security next time. I love it. You traumatized like in real life? I'm not going to say I'm traumatized in real life, but it's a thankless job. Nobody. Yeah.

Yeah, and, you know, It don't seem like there's no upside to it. Exactly. There's no, yeah. There's no, yeah. I mean, it would have to be some, like, maybe, you know what, maybe if somebody, you know,

did, you know, uptown Saturday night, did a remake, and that's, you know, and that's up, maybe I'll host. Yeah. It's like up for best picture. Okay, that makes it. When it's all said and done, what do you want,

Wanda Sykes to me? to comedy? Hmm. I want Wanda Sykes to mean that, you know,

she was a voice for for those who didn't have a voice that she was, you know, common sense that she gave it her all. Yeah, and funny.

Hell of funny. Well, you there already then. That's right. Right. Appreciate y'all. Real quick. I love to say I know you produce and you create so much. And I know that you said recently that you're very intentional about hiring women. Absolutely.

Or women, especially black women. I be acting sometimes, you know. And if you got anything coming up, I got, I love to audition. You don't. But I do. Okay. Yes. Actually, I don't.

But I will. I will. I'm not going to ask you because you don't be lying to us. So, yes. I don't like auditioning, but I'm really, really good at it. And I will do that. There you go. Okay.

So yes. I will be looking. For real. No, for real. No, I think. No, I think you're very funny. You are. You're really funny.

And you told me that 10 years ago. I saw you. Oh, my God, I was in L.A. It was that some, this is after I did REL, but I had like, no, it wasn't 10 years ago, like eight years ago, whatever. And you told me that, like, you're very funny. You know, I'm going to see you again and all that. And I was like, she's never going to call me. But.

Did she call? No, she didn't. But she's here now. And timing is everything. And I'm way better than I was then. So, boom. Won't you tell her where your real is? Huh?

Go find your reel on Tooby. She can watch your reel on Tooby. She's being serious. I am. I'm saying. It's true. I know. I know.

I know. I, but I act. And I want to get back in front of the camera. Okay. All right. And I'm very serious. No, for real. I mean, you got ideas?

Let me, yeah. Yes, I do. Okay. All right. Yeah. Well, definitely check out undercard. It's out right now. And we appreciate you for joining us.

Yeah, it'll be on video, what's that, video on demand? Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Definitely check it out. I know. I know. What's that on man?

What's that on that? What's that? Yeah. I'm at that age with my flashlight is always. Oh, my. I had that thing. I ain't need to touch nothing. My kids are always

taking my phone. The flashlight is on all. Oh, shoot. I ain't need touch. It's Wanda Sykes. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Thank you.

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. You all finish or y'all done? American soccer is exploded. The knockout rounds are here. The U.S. won their group. And now every match is winner go home.

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