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Keenen Ivory Wayans To Oprah: Funny People Are 'Innately Disturbed' (VIDEO)

WATCH: ‘People Who Are Innately Funny Are Innately Disturbed,’ Says Keenen Ivory Wayans
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Is being funny something that can be learned? When Keenen Ivory Wayans and his siblings Kim, Shawn and Marlon sat down with Oprah for “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” the funny family shared their thoughts on whether or not comedy and humor are innate qualities.

“Aspects of comedy can be learned, but I think that most people who do comedy are just naturally funny,” Kim says in this clip.

“I think you learn humility first,” Marlon says. “Then you can take the journey to learn comedy.”

Elder Wayans brother Keenen digs even deeper. “What people don’t understand is that comedy is the mask for pain,” he says. “People who are innately funny are innately disturbed.”

“We’re just a mess, Oprah,” Shawn quips. “We all need a hug.”

In the clip, the Wayans siblings explore Keenen’s assertion about comedy, reveal whether or not they view themselves as naturally funny and open up about what they were each like as children attending public schools. (Guess which Wayans sibling was the straight-A student rather than the class clown?)

“Oprah’s Next Chapter” airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.

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Before You Go

10 Influential Black TV Comedians
Dave Chappelle (01 of10)
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Dave Chappelle revolutionized the comedy world with his eponymous hit sketch series. His impressions of icons like Prince and Rick James and hilarious social commentary will never fail to make us laugh until we cry. (credit:Getty)
Mo'Nique (02 of10)
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Before Mo'Nique left us in awe by her role in the film 'Precious' she provided us comic relief in the sitcom 'The Parkers' as Nikki. Her obsession with Professor Oglevee and quick one liners helped her cement her place as one of the queens of comedy. (credit:Getty)
Bernie Mac (03 of10)
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Stand up comedian Bernie Mac transitioned seamlessly to the small screen in his own sitcom 'The Bernie Mac Show.' His unorthodox parenting skills always kept us entertained. We're just glad he wasn't our Dad. (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BernieMacSoulMenMarch08.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb79660e4b05eed788b5c2c" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BernieMacSoulMenMarch08.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nehrams2020" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Nehrams2020" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb79660e4b05eed788b5c2c" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nehrams2020" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Nehrams2020</a>)
Kennan Thompson (04 of10)
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Keenan Thompson bursted on the scene in both 'All That' and 'Keenan and Kel' on Nickelodeon. Even though he's not serving us Good Burgers anymore he's still delivering laughs as a cast member of 'Saturday Night Live.' (credit:Getty)
The Wayans Brothers (05 of10)
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The Wayans brothers have an extensive comedic repetoir. From shows like the classic 'In Living Color' to 'The Wayans Brothers' this family has laughter in their genes. (credit:Getty)
Cedric The Entertainer (06 of10)
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After becoming a regular on BET's 'Comic View' we quickly came to know Cedric as Steve Harvey's sidekick on 'The Steve Harvey Show'. Later this month he will return to the small screen as Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine in 'The Soul Man' on TVLand. (credit:Getty)
Steve Harvey (07 of10)
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One of the 'Kings of Comedy' Steve Harvey started his career doing stand up before starring in 'The Steve Harvey Show.' Now this funnyman is making us 'Think Like A Man' with his hit self help book. (credit:Getty)
Martin Lawrence(08 of10)
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'Bad Boys' actor Martin Lawrence was one of the stars of Def Comedy Jam before getting his own show 'Martin' where he played both himself and the loud mouthed Sheneneh. (credit:Getty)
Wanda Sykes (09 of10)
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Wanda Sykes started her comedy career doing stand up before getting her big break as a writer on The Chris Rock Show which earned her an Emmy Award. She eventually went on to have her own show 'Wanda At Large' in 2003. You can also catch Wanda in hilarious cameos on shows like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', 'Will and Grace', and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine.' (credit:Getty)
Bill Cosby (10 of10)
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Bill Cosby earned his place as one of the most influential black TV comedians as the lovable and hysterical Dr. Huxtable in 'The Cosby Show.' Now he is well known for his role as an activist in the black community. (credit:Getty)
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