--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're not going to dumb down for them…" description: "\"We're not going to dumb down for them. They have to move up. They're the network and we're the show.\" — Alia Shawkat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alia-shawkat-9332_dumb_we-re-not-going-to-dumb-down-for-them-th_733324.png" --- # We're not going to dumb down for them. They have to move… ![“We're not going to dumb down for them. They have to move up. They're the network and we're the show.” quote by Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alia-shawkat-9332_dumb_we-re-not-going-to-dumb-down-for-them-th_733324.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alia-shawkat-9332_dumb_we-re-not-going-to-dumb-down-for-them-th_733324.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alia-shawkat-9332_dumb_we-re-not-going-to-dumb-down-for-them-th_733324.png) > “We're not going to dumb down for them. They have to move up. They're the network and we're the show.” [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She refuses to simplify content for audiences, urging them to elevate their expectations. **In simple terms:** Don’t dumb down; raise the bar. Key Takeaway Demand higher quality from creators. Themes quality audience expectations media Mood assertive critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - content creation - network negotiations - marketing strategies - viewer engagement Key Concepts television streaming creative control Questions to Reflect On - How can creators improve without losing accessibility? - What standards should audiences expect? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating less sophisticated viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [What happens when an industry transitions from using one or more 'smart' and centralized networks to using a common, decentralized, open, and dumb network?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-antonopoulos/what-happens-when-an-industry-transitions-from-using-one-or-more/) [Andreas Antonopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-antonopoulos/) > [Shit bang, you going dumb. Im going Timmy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/shit-bang-you-going-dumb-im-going-timmy/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [I'm going to do dumb shit this weekend. Who is with me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lo-bosworth/i-m-going-to-do-dumb-shit-this-weekend-who-is-with-me/) [Lo Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lo-bosworth/) > [I'm going to do dumb things. I'm going to mess up. I'm going to do dumb things and I'm going to learn from them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/i-m-going-to-do-dumb-things-i-m-going-to-mess-up-i-m-going-to-do-dumb/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [“If you’re going to do something dumb, do it in a smart way. This is my advice for falling in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-dumb-do-it-in-a-smart-way-this-is-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Before Disney, I did other shows so I was aware of the business. They're all the same in that they're a professional environment. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henrie/before-disney-i-did-other-shows-so-i-was-aware-of-the-business-they/) [David Henrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henrie/) > [I never set out to make a movie that was everything to everybody; if that were the case, we could all just take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-set-out-to-make-a-movie-that-was-everything-to-everybody-if/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [ABC Family is really restructuring their network because there's a new kind of family, so I think they're really trying to step away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dallas/abc-family-is-really-restructuring-their-network-because-there-s-a/) [Matt Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dallas/) > [“Contributors and distributors tend to do better at personal branding than takers and fakers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/contributors-and-distributors-tend-to-do-better-at-personal-branding/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [My role, or anyone's role in network news, is to make the person on camera look good. You don't do that, you don't work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-bergman/my-role-or-anyone-s-role-in-network-news-is-to-make-the-person-on/) [Lowell Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowell-bergman/) > [Rebuilding a network is a slow, brick-by-brick process. It's not just creating a hit show - it's building shows to back up that hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-moonves/rebuilding-a-network-is-a-slow-brick-by-brick-process-it-s-not-just/) [Leslie Moonves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-moonves/) > [I like to watch the Fox News Network. I like 'Nightline.' I like to watch 'The Sopranos,' of course. That is one of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-estrada/i-like-to-watch-the-fox-news-network-i-like-nightline-i-like-to-watch/) [Erik Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-estrada/) > [I look forward to the day that a lot of the folks that you all talk about and cover on this network will begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-forward-to-the-day-that-a-lot-of-the-folks-that-you-all-talk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In an economy increasingly dominated by network effects, peer-to-peer transactions, self-regulation, and contract labor, the old frameworks are woefully irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anand-giridharadas/in-an-economy-increasingly-dominated-by-network-effects-peer-to-peer/) [Anand Giridharadas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anand-giridharadas/) > [The bitcoin network is not a payments network and it is not a scaling network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bankman-fried/the-bitcoin-network-is-not-a-payments-network-and-it-is-not-a-scaling/) [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bankman-fried/) ## More by Alia Shawkat > [When I'm working, I'm pretty busy with that, but when I'm not, yeah, I like to make music. I sing in jazz bars and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/when-i-m-working-i-m-pretty-busy-with-that-but-when-i-m-not-yeah-i/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I've been single for so long that I'm scared of being in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-ve-been-single-for-so-long-that-i-m-scared-of-being-in-a/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [But I love singing, and I've been singing backup for friends' bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/but-i-love-singing-and-i-ve-been-singing-backup-for-friends-bands/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I hope to be painting more and travelling. Maybe fall in love. Have a dog one day. You know, all the good things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-hope-to-be-painting-more-and-travelling-maybe-fall-in-love-have-a/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [You get a kind of familiarity on a set when you're on a TV show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/you-get-a-kind-of-familiarity-on-a-set-when-you-re-on-a-tv-show/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [With independent film, as an actor, you have more involvement - it's very much more connected. It's not just like I'm showing up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/with-independent-film-as-an-actor-you-have-more-involvement-it-s-very/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [There are definitely a lot of roles I didn't get based off of the way I look, but I'm not going to let that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/there-are-definitely-a-lot-of-roles-i-didn-t-get-based-off-of-the-way/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [We don't have a laugh track, which helped Seinfeld a lot, and did kind of tell people when to laugh. It just made it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/we-don-t-have-a-laugh-track-which-helped-seinfeld-a-lot-and-did-kind/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I've worked with a couple of female directors now, and I think that they're amazing. As good or better than guy directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-ve-worked-with-a-couple-of-female-directors-now-and-i-think-that/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I went on an audition once for a show, and the feedback was to play an angry teen. My agent convinced me to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-went-on-an-audition-once-for-a-show-and-the-feedback-was-to-play-an/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I would do a movie musical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-would-do-a-movie-musical/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I've definitely gone through phases where I'm not happy with my life, and you notice in little ways until they start adding up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-ve-definitely-gone-through-phases-where-i-m-not-happy-with-my-life/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I guess I've always been drawn to roles that have smart characters commenting on what's happening around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-guess-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-roles-that-have-smart-characters/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [I'm more verbal and not as private as I was as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-m-more-verbal-and-not-as-private-as-i-was-as-a-kid/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [It would be great to do theater one day, but I don't think I'd do a musical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/it-would-be-great-to-do-theater-one-day-but-i-don-t-think-i-d-do-a/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) [Explore all 73 Alia Shawkat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) ## More Dumb quotes > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“War is not nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/war-is-not-nice/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I love comedy. I love the absurdity of it. I love the kind of intelligence that's required to be dumb in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/i-love-comedy-i-love-the-absurdity-of-it-i-love-the-kind-of/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-a-meathead-i-can-t-help-it-man-you-ve-got-smart-people-and-you-ve/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [It is unfortunate to consider all lawyers as natural Satanists many are just dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-unfortunate-to-consider-all-lawyers-as-natural-satanists-many/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [I hate it when people come up to me on trains and ask 'Are you Soulja Boy?' If people want pictures or autographs, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/i-hate-it-when-people-come-up-to-me-on-trains-and-ask-are-you-soulja/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [I just don't like that you can either be ugly and smart or pretty and dumb, or ugly and nice or pretty and mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-don-t-like-that-you-can-either-be-ugly-and-smart-or-pretty-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I turned back to the mirror, seeing that there were no lines on it. It was empty. "What happened to my mirror?" I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-turned-back-to-the-mirror-seeing-that-there-were-no-lines-on-it-it/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) Browse all 2,053 Dumb quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're not going to dumb down for them. They have to move up. 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