My main point is to be funny if I can slip a message in there, fine.

Flip Wilson’s remark frames comedy as his primary craft and obligation: the first job is to make people laugh. Any moral, social, or political “message” is secondary—something that may be smuggled in only if it doesn’t compromise the humor. The quote also hints at a pragmatic understanding of audience attention: laughter opens the door, while overt preaching can close it. In the context of mainstream television comedy, it suggests a strategy for navigating expectations and constraints—maintaining broad appeal while leaving room for subtle commentary when possible.