--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The network wants you to make a thing…" description: "\"The network wants you to make a thing that's just a stand-alone episode, so you never get any character or continuity. This is one of the ways in which..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/billy-campbell-16046_be-good_the-network-wants-you-to-make-a-thing-th_2599119.png" --- # The network wants you to make a thing that's just a… ![“The network wants you to make a thing that's just a stand-alone episode, so you never get any character or continuity. This is one of the ways in which television can actually be good, and even better than the movies, because it gives you a chance to tell a long story.” quote by Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/billy-campbell-16046_be-good_the-network-wants-you-to-make-a-thing-th_2599119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/billy-campbell-16046_be-good_the-network-wants-you-to-make-a-thing-th_2599119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/billy-campbell-16046_be-good_the-network-wants-you-to-make-a-thing-th_2599119.png) > “The network wants you to make a thing that's just a stand-alone episode, so you never get any character or continuity. This is one of the ways in which television can actually be good, and even better than the movies, because it gives you a chance to tell a long story.” [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Standalone episodes limit character depth, while serialized TV allows long storytelling, sometimes surpassing movies. **In simple terms:** Serial TV builds deeper stories. Key Takeaway Embrace serialized formats. Themes television storytelling character development Mood analytical enthusiastic Type media educational When to use this quote - streaming series - seasonal arcs - character studies Key Concepts narrative arcs viewer engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does serialization affect viewer loyalty? - What are the challenges of long‑form storytelling? A Different Perspective May require viewer commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Better Than The Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-than-the-movies-212846/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Continuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-continuity-1929140/) [Continuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuity/) [Episode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episode/) [Episode Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episode-character-240059/) [Episodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-story/) [Stand alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-alone/) [Stand Episode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-episode-1929141/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I've never had a working relationship like I have with them. 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I like the soundtracks better than the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-like-film-soundtracks-i-like-the-soundtracks-better-than-the-movies/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Books are almost always better than the movies made from them, because there are things books do well and things movies do well, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/books-are-almost-always-better-than-the-movies-made-from-them-because/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [“That’s a very long story that doesn’t need telling to a woman I’m trying to impress.”               She felt her face grow warm. “There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gilley/that-s-a-very-long-story-that-doesn-t-need-telling-to-a-woman-i-m/) [Lauren Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gilley/) > [“I wrote The Lord of the Rings because I wished ‘to try my hand at a really long story that would hold the attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-wrote-the-lord-of-the-rings-because-i-wished-to-try-my-hand-at-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [But to make a long story short, I decided that I was going to run, and I announced that I was going to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-smathers/but-to-make-a-long-story-short-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-run-and/) [George Smathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-smathers/) > [“Daisy was my beloved bulldog, who had some problems of her own—the main one being that she, too, was no longer alive. However, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-osborne/daisy-was-my-beloved-bulldog-who-had-some-problems-of-her-own-the/) [Stephen Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-osborne/) > [I just started writing and writing for people. And then, like I guess after (a) year of getting some placements, I kinda got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-just-started-writing-and-writing-for-people-and-then-like-i-guess/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I guess to long story short it, I was really just working day jobs when I moved to New York and trying to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-guess-to-long-story-short-it-i-was-really-just-working-day-jobs/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [Hate me,Love me,Care,Dont care,Judge me,Dont judge me.Doesn't matter,Because I am me,You are you.You have no clue what I been though.I been though a hella…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/hate-me-love-me-care-dont-care-judge-me-dont-judge-me-doesn-t-matter/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [I'm really not opposed to playing anything as long as it's a story that I want to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-really-not-opposed-to-playing-anything-as-long-as-it-s-a-story/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [“... beach houses along short sandy streets. He can feel her bare forarm brushing his, and it's strange she's being so quiet. He glances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubus-iii/beach-houses-along-short-sandy-streets-he-can-feel-her-bare-forarm/) [Andre Dubus III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-dubus-iii/) > [“Developing a sense of contentment means entering into rituals of reflection and celebration of the various stages of our lives. If life is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrin-patrick/developing-a-sense-of-contentment-means-entering-into-rituals-of/) [Darrin Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrin-patrick/) ## More by Billy Campbell > [Oh, I'm nerdy about science fiction and fantasy and graphic novels and reading, and I'm nerdy about board games. My favorite board game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/oh-i-m-nerdy-about-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-graphic-novels-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [The South Downs of England reminded me a bit of my Old Virginia homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/the-south-downs-of-england-reminded-me-a-bit-of-my-old-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Aside from what it teaches you, there is simply the indescribable degree of peace that can be achieved on a sailing vessel at sea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/aside-from-what-it-teaches-you-there-is-simply-the-indescribable/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I'm not a big fan of CGI. I'm not a fan at all, unless they use it in a way that doesn't call attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-cgi-i-m-not-a-fan-at-all-unless-they-use-it-in-a/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, the AMC brand is great storytelling - they call it slow-burn storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-the-amc-brand-is-great-storytelling-they-call-it-slow-burn/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Most sailing ships take what they call trainees, who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/most-sailing-ships-take-what-they-call-trainees-who-pay-to-be-part-of/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [On land, you can walk away from people, from unpleasant situations. But when you're on a ship for 14 months with 49 other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/on-land-you-can-walk-away-from-people-from-unpleasant-situations-but/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, if I'm reading a fantastic story or I go on a nice first date and I have a wonderful time, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-if-i-m-reading-a-fantastic-story-or-i-go-on-a-nice-first-date/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I've done some things that have been quite interesting, but as grateful as I am for having been on 'Dynasty,' it was just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-ve-done-some-things-that-have-been-quite-interesting-but-as/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I grew up 60 minutes way from Richmond, in Charlottesville, Virginia and, as a child, I was obsessed with the Civil War. I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-grew-up-60-minutes-way-from-richmond-in-charlottesville-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I would love to see a sequel to 'The Rocketeer.' I'd love to see that! I don't know that I would be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-would-love-to-see-a-sequel-to-the-rocketeer-i-d-love-to-see-that-i/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [So many movies are so formulaic because you've got to get it done in an hour and a half. On a TV series, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/so-many-movies-are-so-formulaic-because-you-ve-got-to-get-it-done-in/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [When I first came to Hollywood, I used to dream of doing films and escaping television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/when-i-first-came-to-hollywood-i-used-to-dream-of-doing-films-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, "They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, 'They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent-2/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) [Explore all 41 Billy Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) [Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/) > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. 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Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The network wants you to make a thing that's just a stand-alone episode, so you never get any character or continuity. 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