I've introduced myself with comedy, and once you've introduced yourself as something, that's where people keep you. That's where people like to hold you.

The two sides of Bernie - that's a quiet weapon that I have.

Hugs aren't like pieces of pie. Plenty of hugs to go around.

I was a street performer for two years.

Why I was so intrigued with Red Skelton was because he was able to make you cry and laugh and the same time. That was power.

I came from a place where there wasn't a lot of joy.

I was born October 5, 1957, on the South Side of Chicago, in the Woodlawn area, a neighborhood that hasn't changed much in forty-five years. Our house was on 66th and Blackstone, but the city tore it down when the rats took over.