--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started in television, it was…" description: "\"When I started in television, it was brand new. It was the miracle over in the corner of your room. Now the audience has seen every story line. People ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/betty-white-2426_audience_when-i-started-in-television-it-was-bran_515458.jpg" --- # When I started in television, it was brand new. It was the… ![“When I started in television, it was brand new. It was the miracle over in the corner of your room. Now the audience has seen every story line. People have heard every joke. They can predict the plot almost before a show starts. That's a hard, sophisticated audience to reach.” quote by Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/betty-white-2426_audience_when-i-started-in-television-it-was-bran_515458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/betty-white-2426_audience_when-i-started-in-television-it-was-bran_515458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a2/betty-white-2426_audience_when-i-started-in-television-it-was-bran_515458.jpg) > “When I started in television, it was brand new. It was the miracle over in the corner of your room. Now the audience has seen every story line. People have heard every joke. They can predict the plot almost before a show starts. That's a hard, sophisticated audience to reach.” [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on how TV audiences have become sophisticated, making it harder to surprise them with new stories. **In simple terms:** Audiences now anticipate plots, challenging creators. Key Takeaway Create fresh, unexpected content. Themes media audience evolution creativity Mood playful thoughtful Type entertainment creative When to use this quote - scriptwriting - marketing - content development Key Concepts Narrative theory media saturation viewer expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can creators innovate for savvy viewers? - What new formats can re‑engage audiences? A Different Perspective Overreliance on formulas can stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-reach-1916317/) [Audience Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-seen-4358886/) [Brand new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brand-new/) [Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brands/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Room Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room-audience-1054180/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Sophisticated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated/) [Sophisticated Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated-audience-4002618/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Your room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-room/) ## Related quotes > [There's such a freewheeling nature to 'Second City,' and the greatest thing about 'Second City' was having a sophisticated audience night after night who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/there-s-such-a-freewheeling-nature-to-second-city-and-the-greatest/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I try to do something the audience might not have seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-try-to-do-something-the-audience-might-not-have-seen-before/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [It's just a fact of life. Everybody grows up and goes through changes, and our audience has seen it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-austin-green/it-s-just-a-fact-of-life-everybody-grows-up-and-goes-through-changes/) [Brian Austin Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-austin-green/) > [I like that you can easily flip the sheets over and have a different feel or vibe in your room. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/i-like-that-you-can-easily-flip-the-sheets-over-and-have-a-different/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [Usually, there's a story I've told that leads up to why I'm singing the song. The whole concept of the show was about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/usually-there-s-a-story-i-ve-told-that-leads-up-to-why-i-m-singing/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [I go to 'SNL' with Alec. I literally watch on a feed from his room. I'm not in the audience. I watch in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaria-baldwin/i-go-to-snl-with-alec-i-literally-watch-on-a-feed-from-his-room-i-m/) [Hilaria Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaria-baldwin/) > [Standup is more me talking the entire time. There's definitely an exchange of energy because that room, that audience, is giving back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/standup-is-more-me-talking-the-entire-time-there-s-definitely-an/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Hearing your voice and your instrument kind of breathe in the room, it affects the way you perform the songs. For instance, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denison-witmer/hearing-your-voice-and-your-instrument-kind-of-breathe-in-the-room-it/) [Denison Witmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denison-witmer/) > [I think it's a mistake to limit ourselves to a certain audience when we could reach everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-limit-ourselves-to-a-certain-audience-when/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [It's not always about reaching the widest audience. It's about how you reach people, and in that sense, there's no difference between a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rege-jean-page/it-s-not-always-about-reaching-the-widest-audience-it-s-about-how-you/) [Rege-Jean Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rege-jean-page/) > [Acting is suggesting, the art lies in leaving room for the audience to identify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/acting-is-suggesting-the-art-lies-in-leaving-room-for-the-audience-to/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > ['Dilwale' has increased my audience reach; I have gained in every way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-sanon/dilwale-has-increased-my-audience-reach-i-have-gained-in-every-way/) [Kriti Sanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-sanon/) > [I have done many comedy films. Success of films like 'Partner,' 'Singh is Kinng' gets you to a very wide audience reach. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-have-done-many-comedy-films-success-of-films-like-partner-singh-is/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [I love being in a room in front of an audience who cares about the music, who knows the music, and who has lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-love-being-in-a-room-in-front-of-an-audience-who-cares-about-the/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [With social media, one can target the audience and reach out to the segment in a very precise, cost-effective manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/with-social-media-one-can-target-the-audience-and-reach-out-to-the/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) ## More by Betty White > [Get at least 8 hours of beauty sleep. 9 if you're ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/get-at-least-8-hours-of-beauty-sleep-9-if-you-re-ugly/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [When you start explaining why something's funny or finding a formula for it I think it loses some of its funniness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/when-you-start-explaining-why-something-s-funny-or-finding-a-formula/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think a handwritten letter - a lot of guys don't realize what that means. It's those little romantic touches that tell a lady,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-a-handwritten-letter-a-lot-of-guys-don-t-realize-what-that/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Ive always liked older men. Theyre just more attractive to me. Of course, at my age there arent that many left! Ive enjoyed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/ive-always-liked-older-men-theyre-just-more-attractive-to-me-of/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think everybody needs a passion. Whether it's one passion or a hundred, that's what keep life interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-everybody-needs-a-passion-whether-it-s-one-passion-or-a/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm a teenager trapped in an old body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-a-teenager-trapped-in-an-old-body/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [The thing I like to do best is my work for animals. Ive worked with LA Zoo and a number of other animal causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/the-thing-i-like-to-do-best-is-my-work-for-animals-ive-worked-with-la/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm in the acting business. That's the ego business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-in-the-acting-business-that-s-the-ego-business/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Get at least eight hours of beauty sleep. Nine if you're ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/get-at-least-eight-hours-of-beauty-sleep-nine-if-you-re-ugly/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [A lady likes to be complimented on her looks, her eyes, her figure. But the personality comments are much appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/a-lady-likes-to-be-complimented-on-her-looks-her-eyes-her-figure-but/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think a lot of people like hidden-camera shows where they think they're spying on somebody who doesn't know they're looking at them. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-think-a-lot-of-people-like-hidden-camera-shows-where-they-think/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I happen to be blessed with loving what I do for a living. I love acting and I'm so fortunate to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-happen-to-be-blessed-with-loving-what-i-do-for-a-living-i-love/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I'm in the middle of my sixth book, which is about animals at the Los Angeles Zoo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-in-the-middle-of-my-sixth-book-which-is-about-animals-at-the-los/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [Retirement is not a dirty word, I am just enjoying what I am doing. If they want me to retire, then stop asking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/retirement-is-not-a-dirty-word-i-am-just-enjoying-what-i-am-doing-if/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [You're never too old for anything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/you-re-never-too-old-for-anything/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) [Explore all 165 Betty White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started in television, it was brand new. It was the miracle over in the corner of your room. Now the audience has seen every story line. People have heard every joke. They can predict the plot almost before a show starts. 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