The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Wanda Sykes Talks 'Undercard,' Comedy Career; Chris Rock; Oscars Slap, Mike Epps + More

Episode Date: March 30, 2026

Today on The Breakfast Club, Wanda Sykes Talks 'Undercard,' Comedy Career; Chris Rock; Oscars Slap, Mike Epps. Listen For More!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. You know Roald Dahl. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, The Secret World of Roll Dahl, I'll tell you that story, and much, much more. What?

You probably won't believe it either. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. I was a spy. Listen to The Secret World of Roll Dahl, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

wherever you get your podcasts. How could this have happened in City Hall? Somebody tell me that. A shocking public murder. This is one of the most dramatic events that really ever happened in New York City politics. I scream, get down, get down. Those are shots.

A tragedy that's now forgotten. End of mystery. That may or may not have been political. That may have been about sex. Listen to Roershack, murder at City Hall on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Bailey Taylor, and this is It Girl.

This podcast is all about going deeper with the women's shaping culture right now. Yes, we will talk about the style and the success, but we are also talking about the pressure, the expectations, and the real work behind it all. As a woman in the industry, you're always underestimated. So you have to work extra hard in a way that doesn't compromise who you are in your integrity. You know, I like to say I was kind of like a silent ninja. Listen to It Girl with Bailey Taylor on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're trying to keep up with everything happening on and off the court, we've got you covered on the podcast, Plagrant and Funny. You want to start with the first pleasure for the Big Ten Coach of the Year? Oh, whatever. Would you like to? So you're a Spartan, is that what I'm getting? Exactly.

So whether your bracket is busted or you just want the real talk on what's happening during the tournament, open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Plagrant and Funny with Carrie Champion. Jamel Hill and listen now. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Owens, correct?

I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg Alespian. Michael Mancini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped.

Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every day I wake up. The Breakfast Club. 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. Legend. Wanda 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 something? Not all night, but, you know, I had a little thing last night, a screening of the movie. Oh, for undercar. For undercar. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is out right now.

Yeah, so we, I may have had a few drinks. So, so did they. Oh, yeah. So did. We went to the Card to B concert. I think you had that. You 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. 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, I ain't like that. Shaldemand'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.

Yeah. You call it 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 the, 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.

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, a, 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 the stars. No booed.

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 right on Chris Rock show?

Absolutely. Yes, absolutely. Right on the Chris Rock show was 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. Y'all had a dream team. It was Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Ali LaRoy, you. Lance Crowler. What were those rooms like? Jeff Wilson, oh man, I was the only woman in there, but it was great. Those guys were, those guys were funny.

And Chris, what I love about Chris is he just, you know, he, you know, 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 quirky and out there, you know. And we were able to produce our own fits. You know, he, he would look at something, put it. this thing on it and hey, all right, you know, do this, do this. But just let us, just let us go.

Are you ever inseminated being an only woman? A little bit, you know, a little bit. I felt like, okay, I can't, I can't mess this up because we ain't going to hire another woman. Right, right, right. You know what I'm saying? That's how it works with us. Like, you get in the door, you got to make sure you leave it open

or open it wider for somebody else to come through. Like, leave your marks. 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 there. It was like two doors down. Two doors down. It was my office, Ali, Lance, and then Louis, right there. Nothing.

Y'all used to be on the phone, so you get, 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 know what I'm saying? You can't be that common. You got to be, you got to appeal to the masses.

And sometimes right now what the masses want to hear, it's, it's ugly, you know? Yeah. So, yeah, so, but I think you can do it. though you still can do it yeah yeah all right good i'm glad you said that i'm gonna do it do it do it do it just do it just do it that's what i'm gonna do you exactly i mean you're funny so just thank you just do it yeah but when i do me when i do funny people be getting mad who who gives shit yeah you can't do it for them you got to do it for you you got to say what you want and hey if if what i want to say and what makes me feel you know good about my 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, oh, 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 laugh. They look for a reason to say, you know, 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, you're a friend. 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. Yeah.

And I think it's empathy, really. It's empathy. We've gotten away from that people don't get that. Yeah, and it's more than one perspective on one thing, you know. Do you think there's a, like when you talk, 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 but i always try to try to try to punch up yeah i always try to punch up because i feel like um but 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.

You have a lie. You're a clown. You took them serious? Did you take them serious? Did you take them to the family? Like how? She was just looking like how. I said they always moisturized.

Always beautiful skin, moisture. Oh, I know you as quick. Are you? Jesus. Okay, continue. I'm sorry. Yeah, but yeah, I think, but if you, if you punch down, if this funny, I'm going to, 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 a,

I had my money in books. You know, niggas ain't going to look like that. That's, that's, that's, that's. 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 I make you want to read, no, for a right? Exactly. Have you ever held back a joke in today's climate? To date, no. Uh-uh.

I know. 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 Caruth? 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 what was raised. baby because it had his, his, uh, his, uh, mama's eyes and his daddy's bullet. Jesus.

Damn. Damn. Jesus. That might have been a little too far back. Yeah. That was a horrible joke. But did the room laugh? The, she killed at rehearsal.

And Chris was like, uh, you know I ain't gonna do that joke. I was like, I know. I was like, you're saying. I was like, I was like, And you shouldn't. He's like, damn good joke. You know I ain't going to do this. I was like, and you shouldn't.

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. 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, yeah, love Dawn and that whole squad. And what she's doing, her program is just incredible. She, you know, she's like the, the ground, the, the, the, the, the, she grooms them for, yeah, for the WMA. She's the feeder to the WNBA. 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 and stupid that must be that that was right and she was like no

I really want you to 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 say, 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 did. Like early on or like now? What was that? That's recent? No, no, no. Oh, early on. I'm like, no.

No, audition is not for me. Is it memorizing lines, don't 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 yeah 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 the beach scene where the little girl she runs out you know, 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 can't swim. 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 was no room to, like, you know, play it around. Yeah. Was there anything that you took from this character and, like, portraying this character that you're taking back to the stage,

which you even know was a drama? Oh, that's a good question. Yeah, I think it's her where you have to like, you know, 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 stage, with my comedy where you know I find ways to to use that I think where are you for giving yourself about for right now like currently on stage like what are those thoughts

I think it's more about you know like you want to do better or you know be a better person you know a better wife better mother that Rika Roof joke that took

Just in case. Yep, absolute. Yep, that. Just in case. 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 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 it's like, scare me? Yeah. I was like, there is not one funny moment in it. 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 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 into boxing? I started, yeah. No, actually, I always loved boxing, you know. I remember listening to fights on the radio.

You ain't that old now. I'm 62. 62. They had TV back then, Miranda. Come on now. No, we listened to, yeah, we listened to the, we listened to the, we listened to, I listen to Cassius Clay, like on, yeah, on the radio. Yeah, yeah.

But yeah, 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, I, I, if I'm home for a week, I go in, I, I, if I'm home for a week. I go in maybe four days a week. And do you spa? You spore? Yeah. Really?

I sparr. I spar. With the young people or, you know, the elder? There's a, he'll throw me in a couple of times with some younger people. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I ain't going to spar with a, nothing 62-year-old person. I'm not going to fuck out. I will beat that ass. I can beat anyone. Right. My age. What did this movie bring out of you 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 helped me to. to be able to get emotional. Yeah. Yeah.

Wow. How long would you lose it though? How long ago? Yeah. 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, and,

And even just as black people, we do that. We, you know, 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. But yeah, that's absolutely. Was that the first time you grieved your dog probably, right? You know, I hate, oh, man. You know, because I'm, no, because I, you know, I've lost grandparents. I'm blessed that both of my parents are still alive.

You bought the dogs up first. I know, I know, man. But you're like, so this the first time you actually miss somebody? So this is the first time you actually... I'm like, damn. She said I got other family members, Solomon. I got grandparents. Yeah.

Jesus. She's like my parents still living, though. He's like, you're 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? How was those conversations? They realized that I was moving on with my life. And they realized that I was happy and that I was confident. And Canadian women are looking for more.

More out of themselves, their businesses, their elected leaders, and the world are at them. And that's why we're thrilled to introduce the Honest Talk podcast. I'm Jennifer Stewart. And I'm Catherine Clark. And in this podcast, we interview Canada's most inspiring women. Entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, politicians, and newsmakers, all at different stages of their journey. So if you're looking to connect, then we hope you'll join us. Listen to the Honest Talk podcast on IHart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You know, Roaldol. The writer who thought up Willie Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Our new podcast series, The Secret World of Roll Doll, is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans.

What? And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. I was a spy. Did you know Doll got cozy with the wrong? Roosevelt's, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman.

And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids. The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to The Secret World of Roll Dahl on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Bailey Taylor and this is it girl.

You may know me from my It Girl series I've done on the streets of New York over the years. Well, I've got good news. I am bringing those interviews and many more to this podcast. Yes, we will talk about the style and the success, but we are also talking about the pressure, the expectations, and the real work with the women's shaping culture right now. As a woman in the industry, you're always underestimated. So you have to work extra hard and you have to push the narrative

in a way that doesn't compromise who you are in your integrity. You know, I like to say I was kind of like a silent ninja. Each week, I have unfiltered conversations with female founders, creatives, and leaders to talk about ambition, visibility, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in the public eye. Because being an it girl isn't about the spotlight, it's about owning it. I think the negatives need to be discussed and they need to be told to people who maybe don't do this every day just so they know what's really going on. I feel like pulling the curtain back is important. Listen to It Girl with Bailey Taylor on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or Roll. wherever you get your podcasts.

If you're trying to keep up with everything happening on and off the court, we've got you covered on the podcast, flagrant and funny. You look at the top four number one seeds. What do you think UCLA is going to do? Break down that for me, my friend. Obviously, Yukon is the overwhelming favorite in this tournament. But I'll be honest, I think people are kind of sleeping on Texas. Experts are suggesting that UCLA is the number one challenger to Yukon

and that right after that would be Texas. S&C is so deep and so thick and just about everything. It really is annoying. So it's UCLA, Texas, South Carolina, LSU. Only ones that could possibly upset Yukon. On Flagrant and Funny, we're giving our unfiltered takes on the biggest moments of the conversations everyone's having. So whether your bracket is busted

or you just want the latest on the tournament, we got you. Listen to Flakron and Funny with Carrie Champion and Jemail on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. A shot fired in City Hall building. A silver 40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.

From IHeart podcasts and Best Case Studios. This is Rorschach, murder at City Hall. How could this have happened in City Hall? Somebody tell me that. July 2003, Councilman James E. Davis arrives at New York City Hall with a guest. both men are carrying concealed weapons and in less than 30 minutes both of them will be dead

now everybody in the chambers a shocking public murder I scream get down get down those are shots those are shots get down a charismatic politician you know he just bent the rules all the time I still have a weapon and I could shoot you

and an outsider with a secret He alleged he was a victim of flat down. That may or may not have been political. It may have been about sex. Listen to Rorschach, murder at City Hall on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, it was my life and I knew who I was and they were missing out. So they had to, you know, kind of like meet me where it was.

where I was. They reached out to you or you reached out to them? How was that? I mean, we never, like, stop talking. But. 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. Parents. I ain't cut them off. Like, I'm just 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.

Mm-hmm. 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 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, you know what is? people are more concerned about what other people think

instead of what they feel. They were more concerned about, what's my church going to say? What's my folks going to say? And it took those other people. I think God sent them people in their church saying, oh, my God, your daughter, I love what she's doing. I love this.

And sent people in their lives. Like, you know, my child is gay and struggling. but what your daughter is doing really helped us or whatever. So they stay at 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 deemed homophobic are there against, you know, the gay lifestyle. I wonder if they really truly feel like that. Are 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?

Right. really care if you would have made. And why? Why do you care? Yeah. All right. You know, that's the whole thing. It's like, why do you care?

Like, well, how does that affect you? Yeah. How does it affect you? How would it with your grand, with your kids, with their grandkids at first? Oh, man. They, uh, my mom, she, yeah, my whole family. Yeah, everybody. They, they, they, they love the kids.

Everybody was loving, okay. Yeah, love the kids. It's so funny. Like, early on, uh, 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 just, it's like, it's like, just, like, just calm right down with you. I'm her mother. You know, she was like, look at that little white girl. You just, I'm like, I'm looking at her face with those views and like, that little white girl just, she just grabbed on to you. Like you're not raising her. Oh, man.

Oh, man. I'm like, I'm like, I'm her mother. What do you? But you got to see her perspective, though. How old is 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. Damn. So that's a big deal to her. Yeah.

Y'all conversations 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 happen and then y'all talk through, or do you all just laugh about it and move on? I mean, we kind of laugh. You know, my mom says something. And at the time that she said it, I was like, you know, the throwback antelm's, how shit is that? but she, she, um, they, they, uh, you know, in Virginia and, um, they bought a house. This is, this was back in like, maybe the 80s, 90s, yeah, whatever.

They were house right on the water, right? And, uh, Portsman. And, um, and she, she said, you know what? I look, I look around. And it was like, like one of the only black families on that street. And she's like, I look, I look around at these white people. 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. You know, that's 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 of 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. Oh, my God. What she was saying that it 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 do. And a lot of times it's more than they have. Right. And so I get what you say. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jess. Got you. I noticed like when you're struggling that somebody is really, really supposed to help you. Right. Yeah. Thank you. Three people. They do that to me every day. That must be exhausting.

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 the administration. But your mom comes from an era where it's like, who, hold on. Oh, yeah.

It's scary for her. She goes, Wanda. 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. And you know what? I think I do hold back some stuff because of... Really?

Yeah. I mean, 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 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, too, 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's the light.

at the end of the tunnel. But yeah, it's, it's, you know, there, 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 the one of the most factual honest news journalists out there. Yeah. Yeah. What led you to donate 100% of your online sales to supporting immigrants, right? And my voice is gone because I saw a call you last night. So I'm sorry. I was up there shaking that ass. Yes, I was.

No, she was too, though. She really was. I really was. Yes. I should have won at $5,000. But anyway, yes, you donate 100% of your online sales to immigrants. Immigrants rights. Because, you know, it's what's needed, you know.

They're out there just snatching people. Snatching people, man, for, you know. This was supposed to have 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 hiding out at, you know, Home Depot. Schools and stores. Home Depot.

Because, you know, violent criminals, they love a good DIY project. That's what they, you know, you know what I'm saying. it's yeah so it's no yeah so the the ACLU they

you know they need the the funds to yeah defend these people because right now you know

there's there's no oversight there's nothing you know it's so illegal what they're doing come on how are you going

jump out of out of forward focus and go snatch people up I mean come on man It look more official when it's the SUV. 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, did 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 says, plays a jackbutch.

A jackbush in the news gross drama. Oh, you didn't know that? Oh, you did that? Yes, that's the description. 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. if 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, 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 I think it was like I misunderstood what he was saying. I think, because, yeah, because that didn't happen,

I think what Mike was saying, honestly, I'm not going to say what I thought, what Mike, 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 the writers and the showrunner Regina we

Yeah, 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 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. 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 I 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 up for another season. Everybody said it was your fault. I am. I don't think that. Anybody said that? No. I mean that. I'm like, I'm like, I'm saying.

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.

Yeah. Can you please tell your engineer to stop yawning like that? He died. He was all laughing. It's not you. Yeah, it ain't you. They get up early. They get up early.

It's not you. They got to turn the lights on. No, no, it's not true. It's not true at all. Now, you filmed your comedy special at Hampton University. Yes. How was that? Wow.

How was that? I was cursing in Ogden Hall. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, it was amazing. It was amazing. I, um, it was so much pressure. Um, but it was, yeah. Because I didn't know, you know.

And I had, I was doing a show in Jersey. And I had, you know, 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 an after. So that made me feel a little bit more confident. Yeah, yeah, because I had a little test run. what was what was the actual pressure about though like going back to going back to my school you know

in hampton and i didn't you know and who's going to show up and how you know is this material going to work because my audience i would say my audience is probably like 60% white yeah maybe maybe 70 you know um but i'm going back to my my home my my hbc you know is this going to work with them while they're going to, you know, and man, I mean, killed it. He killed it. Killed 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, you know, it 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, out 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 HBCUs, and then it made it, you know, it gave it more of a reason for me. And that's clear.

Yeah, that's why I said, okay, now, It's not just going to be this. Now there's a connection for me with the material and the place. How do you make a special special material-wise? You told us how you made it special in that way, but how material-wise? Push it. Push the limits. Don't go up and just do it.

Chris Rock always told me that from the jump. 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 go to a place where, you know, challenge yourself. Go go to areas where people are going to be a little bit on this, on their seats or like, oh, damn, she said that. I've been wanting to say that, you know. So, yeah, that's. I don't think people realize how close you and Chris are.

I remember that night of the Oscars you were hosting and I remember you saying you were physically sick and everybody was like, why is you physically sick? I know, but y'all don't realize how close one than Chris Hart. Right, right. People don't, I caught a lot of flat from that because I said, you know, about how I felt.

Wow. But I'm like, y'all got realized I was working that night. You were hosting Oscars, yeah. Yeah, and I watched my coworker get popped, you know, at work. You know what I'm saying? So it's, it's, you know, 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 not. I'm done with y'all. I really were. I was like, 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 want to need you called back. Yeah, same thing. No, no, you know what? I was like, I received it. I accepted. I'm good.

Yeah. What did your mama say about seeing them black people who hack up in front of all them white people? Oh, my God. Oh, you see it. Exactly. Exactly. Lord Jesus.

Why? Why they do that wonder? I was like, I know, Ma, I know. All the white people just looking at them. Oh, my God. They ain't never going to give us nothing else. Did you see what those fake reports were, 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. 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? Honestly, I'm a big, my old's a kid. 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. Don't seem like it's no upside to it. Exactly. There's no, yeah. There's no, yeah. I mean, it would have to be some, like, 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 sense. When it's all said and done,

what do you want Wanda Sykes to mean 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. You there already then. That's 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 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 gonna lie to 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 For real 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 was in L.A. It was at some This is after I did REL But I had like

No, it's what 10 years ago Like eight years ago Whatever And you told me that Like you're very funny You know I'm gonna see you again

And all that And I was like She's never gonna 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 She is So boom Won't you tell her What your real is Huh? Go find your reel

On Toobie She can watch your reel on Toobie. She's being serious. I'm going to. I'm saying it's true. I know. I know.

I can. But I act. And I, I want to get back in front of the cameras. Okay. All right. And I'm very serious about it. 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, video on demand. That's right. Definitely check it out. I know.

I'm at that thing. I know. What's that on now? I'm at that age with my flashlight is always. I don't know. I didn't have that thing. I ain't even touch nothing. My kids are always taking my phone.

The flashlight is on all. Oh, shoot. I ain't even touched it. It's Wanda Sykes. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. There you go. Every day I wake up.

Wake your ass up. The breakfast club. You're all finished or y'all done? You know Roll Dahl. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, the secret world of Roll Dahl, I'll tell you that story, and much, much more. What?

You probably won't believe it either. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. I was a spy. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. How could this have happened in City Hall building? Somebody tell me that.

A shocking public murder. This is one of the most dramatic events that really ever happened in New York City politics. I scream, get down, get down. Those are shots. A tragedy that's now forgotten and a mystery that may or may not have been political, that may have been about sex. Listen to Roershack, murder at City Hall on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Bailey Taylor, and this is It Girl. This podcast is all about going deeper with the women's shaping culture right now. Yes, we will talk about the style and the success, but we are also talking about the pressure, the expectations, and the real work behind it all. As a woman in the industry, you're always underestimated.

So you have to work extra hard in a way that doesn't compromise who you are in your integrity. You know, I like to say I was kind of like a silent ninja. Listen to It Girl with Bailey Taylor on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're trying to keep up with everything happening on and off the court, we've got you covered on the podcast, flagrant and funny. You want to start with the first pleasure for the Big Ten coach of the year? Oh, whatever.

Would you like to? So you're a Spartan, is that what I'm getting? Exactly. So whether your bracket is busted or you just want the real talk on what's happening during the tournament, Open your free IHeart radio app. Search Playground and Funny with Carrie Champion and Jamel Hill. And listen now. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports.

In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Owens, correct? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the first. the same thing. Greg Gillespie and Michael Mancini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences.

Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.