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Cedric the Entertainer: Missouri to Hollywood
Cedric Kyles, better known as Ced the Entertainer, sits down with Coach Mark Gottfried to discuss his journey from Cape Girardeau Missouri to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Ced has appeared in Film, sitcoms and is a world renowned stand up comic. Ced shares his journey and the decisions along the way that has led to his successful career
0:00 – The FIRST EVER PODCAST (thank you, Cedric Kyles)
0:32 – Intro to Cedric and some of his more popular works (e.g. Comedy Def Jam, Stand Up Comic, Barbershop the Movie, Who Wants to be a Millionaire) but there’s a lot of work that people don’t know as much about – e.g. voice overs in Madagascar and Charlotte’s Web (with Oprah).
1:12 – The #1 sitcom on CBS “The Neighborhood”
1:30 – Cedric talks about he early days (80’s) starting in St. Louis and how he got started in stand-up comedy.
2:08 – The popularity of black comedy clubs, starting in Los Angeles and then traveling the USA and ultimately make a living with comedy.
3:40 – “A friend of a friend” helped Cedric and “taught me how to be a comedian” – “I won $500.”
5:00 – To get from Missouri to Los Angeles – “How did you get the courage?”
5:40 – The danger of “doubting ourselves from even trying…”
6:50 – Working at State Farm – how Cedric made the jump from “get a good job, get a corporate job and work your way up…” – the strategy (save some money) and how it all went down.
8:00 – Booked a comedy club (and got to quit State Farm)
8:45 – Mark’s observation with people with success there’s a person or a time (a step, a first step) – “was there anyone” that helped you along the way? Steve Harvey comes to mind for Cedric.
9:25 – Cedric talks about how Steve Harvey was the significant mentor and help to him as he got his start in the comedy world.
10:50- “First $1000”
11:45 – Coach talks about the man who gave him his first big break.
14:35- Coach applauds Cedric for his consistent authenticity throughout his career and how he has always been “a guy’s guy.”
18:00- Cedric talks about how he fully realizes he “has it all” when it comes to his wife, kids, and success in his career.
22:20- Cedric talks about overcoming butterflies and as soon as he gets on stage, he “knows who I am and what I do.”
22:35- Cedric talks about doing a comedy show for the White House Correspondents Dinner.
23:28- Cedric was nominated to put his hand prints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
26:36- Coach asks Cedric what 3 or 4 characteristics he wants to instill in his children.
34:30- Coach asks Cedric how he navigates “Cancel Culture.”