What ignited the rocket that sent you up into the vast regions of comedy, and why? I would say, for me, that philosophical treatise about having black beginnings and wanting love to compensate for that, wanting audiences and wanting attention - I say, "Au contraire." Completely opposite. I want the continuation of my mother's incredible love and attention to me.

Not only should we laugh about Hitler. We must laugh about him. Especially in Berlin.

My job is to go out and entertain the most people possible. The job is to make people laugh. I don't have a mission. I don't have a torch to burn.

Comedy is serious - deadly serious. Never, never try to be funny! The actors must be serious. Only the situation must be absurd. Funny is in the writing, not in the performing. If the situation isn't absurd, no amount of joke will help.

It would be hypocritical of me to take issue with anything in questionable taste, seeing that I invented bad taste in films.

I don't know what to say so I'll just say what's in my heart...badoom, badoom, badoom.

Critics can't even make music by rubbing their back legs together.