When you see U2 or the Rolling Stones, after years of knowing each other, they don't have to look at each other to connect. Jerrod Carmichael More Quotes by Jerrod Carmichael More Quotes From Jerrod Carmichael I've laughed hysterically, just trying to hold it in, at every funeral I've been to, because everyone's so serious. And there are a lot of people speaking publicly, which makes you understand why it's people's number one fear - because everyone shouldn't do it. Jerrod Carmichael you serious fear people I didn't choose to like Chik-Fil-A - I was born this way. Jerrod Carmichael i-was-born choose born way To say it very honestly, removed from ego, standup is just a thing that I understood, a God-given ability. Jerrod Carmichael say just ability ego I think there's a responsibility more as an artist to try and push in the direction you think comedy should go... The biggest thing I could do for the art that I love was keeping it art: keeping it special, keeping it honest, keeping it truthful. Jerrod Carmichael you responsibility love art I don't like the idea of being a human being, existing, talking to my friends, and having these real human conversations, and then getting to work on a sitcom and turning that part of my brain off. Jerrod Carmichael friends brain work talking I think people respond to truth. 'Straight Outta Compton' made $60 million over the weekend, right? That's not just a black audience. 'Empire' grew every single week. That's not just a black audience. Black culture is American culture, you know what I mean? They're becoming more and more one in the same. Jerrod Carmichael you truth culture people If you've ever liked an artist or someone who then does something or is accused of something extremely corrupt, and your moral conscience won't allow you to accept that artist, the truth is then that creates a void in your life. Because then something you loved was taken from you. Jerrod Carmichael loved you truth life I knew I wanted to do a show on NBC - it's rooted in its history; it's part rooted in nostalgia and part rooted in the potential of it. For me, there was no other choice. Jerrod Carmichael choice me nostalgia history I work by instinct. You never hear anything new; when you hear advice that makes sense, it's something you already know. Jerrod Carmichael new never you work I use a note-taking system I learned in history class in eleventh grade. Jerrod Carmichael system use class history A lot of times, us within the industry, we can put this bubble around ourselves and create what a show is supposed to look like and sound like, and we're seeing so much content. The best compliment is, 'I finally found something to watch with my family,' or, 'This is how I really feel, and I can't believe they're showing this on television.' Jerrod Carmichael best look family believe As an artist, the most important thing and the most special thing is when your intention shines through on the work. Jerrod Carmichael important artist special work Performing for Dick Van Dyke once was fun. Jerrod Carmichael van once performing fun I'm inspired by people who are unapologetically themselves, from Bill Cosby to Fahim Anwar. Just funny people. Jerrod Carmichael just who funny people I want that Sinatra type of fame. It's not the 'Whoever's the hot pop star at the moment' fame. It's the 'Walk into a room and everybody just kind of politely nods their heads' fame. Sinatra fame. Jerrod Carmichael walk moment hot fame I grew up in what my mom will always dispute as 'the hood.' She just doesn't like the name. But it had its similarities to any neighborhood like that. The all-black neighbors and the all-black problems and the all-black happiness. And I really loved it. Jerrod Carmichael name problems mom happiness Being very, very honest, I've watched more Bill Clinton speeches than stand-up specials. Steve Jobs commencements. They're just great orators. I love people who boldly share their point of view. Jerrod Carmichael view great love people Eddie Murphy did '48 Hrs.' because that was the only movie offered to him. And he killed it. Bill Cosby did 'I Spy' because that was the TV show he was offered. But now, there are networks dedicated to comedy, and the Internet... it's so easy for comedians to not do things that aren't true to them. Jerrod Carmichael true internet comedy easy I look at Seinfeld - he looks like he's having fun. He's just enjoying being Jerry Seinfeld, you know, on 'Seinfeld.' Jerrod Carmichael look you having-fun fun You know, 'Cheers,' you didn't have to leave the bar because what they were saying in the bar was important. 'All In The Family' is the same rule. On 'The Golden Girls' they didn't have to leave the table. And 'Friends' - the coffee shop. You can contain it if it's interesting. Jerrod Carmichael you friends family coffee