--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always liked TV shows that have…" description: "\"I've always liked TV shows that have slightly unlikable leads, where you root for them in spite of a lot of things. I know it's not common with shows w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/bo-burnham-1313_always_i-ve-always-liked-tv-shows-that-have-sli_2138145.png" --- # I've always liked TV shows that have slightly unlikable… ![“I've always liked TV shows that have slightly unlikable leads, where you root for them in spite of a lot of things. I know it's not common with shows with young people; they have to be so likable. But, I mean, teenagers just generally aren't very likable. I know I wasn't as a teenager.” quote by Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/bo-burnham-1313_always_i-ve-always-liked-tv-shows-that-have-sli_2138145.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/bo-burnham-1313_always_i-ve-always-liked-tv-shows-that-have-sli_2138145.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/bo-burnham-1313_always_i-ve-always-liked-tv-shows-that-have-sli_2138145.png) > “I've always liked TV shows that have slightly unlikable leads, where you root for them in spite of a lot of things. I know it's not common with shows with young people; they have to be so likable. But, I mean, teenagers just generally aren't very likable. I know I wasn't as a teenager.” [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often enjoy complex characters who are flawed, finding them relatable despite their unlikability, especially when they show growth. **In simple terms:** Flawed characters can be compelling and relatable. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity in characters. Themes character development relatability audience engagement Mood reflective analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - TV show analysis - writing workshops - media criticism Key Concepts psychology of likability narrative tension Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance flaw and empathy? - What makes a flawed character appealing? A Different Perspective Unlikable leads may alienate some viewers seeking comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Aren Likable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aren-likable-4438764/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leads/) [Likable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likable/) [Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked/) [Liked Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked-tv-1055832/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-teenagers-4438765/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/root/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Slightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slightly/) [Slightly Unlikable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slightly-unlikable-4438763/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv/) [Tv shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-shows/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [It's not that you aren't likable. On the contrary. You are. It's just that one wonders if you haven't made a career out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-kosi-ski/it-s-not-that-you-aren-t-likable-on-the-contrary-you-are-it-s-just/) [Jerzy Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerzy-kosi-ski/) > [When I grew up, I loved movie music. I liked TV, too - 'The A-Team' and 'Magnum, P.I.' were awesome. But it wasn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/when-i-grew-up-i-loved-movie-music-i-liked-tv-too-the-a-team-and/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I wasn't so sure about signing up for 'Law & Order.' I liked the show, but another TV series? I'll tell you, though, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-wasn-t-so-sure-about-signing-up-for-law-order-i-liked-the-show-but/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [I was definitely not the kid that just wanted to be famous for no reason whatsoever and then happened to find comedy. Fame and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-was-definitely-not-the-kid-that-just-wanted-to-be-famous-for-no/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I think I've made a career out of making despicable people likable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-think-i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-making-despicable-people-likable/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I don't mind playing somebody who's not likable, or makes the audience feel slightly conflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-mind-playing-somebody-who-s-not-likable-or-makes-the-audience/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [It is better to be likable than to be talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utah-phillips/it-is-better-to-be-likable-than-to-be-talented/) [Utah Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utah-phillips/) > [People say 'Limmy's Show' is kind of hit or miss, but I'd rather that than having something generally likable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/people-say-limmy-s-show-is-kind-of-hit-or-miss-but-i-d-rather-that/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [I don't worry about whether a character is likable, as long as the character is believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-don-t-worry-about-whether-a-character-is-likable-as-long-as-the/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [If you're likable, people will like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-higa/if-you-re-likable-people-will-like-you/) [Ryan Higa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-higa/) > [I was a fan of Charlie Sheen - he's an incredibly likable, affable guy - well, until he doesn't like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/i-was-a-fan-of-charlie-sheen-he-s-an-incredibly-likable-affable-guy/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [The implications of likability are long-lasting and serious. Women adjust their behavior to be likable and as a result have less power in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-implications-of-likability-are-long-lasting-and-serious-women/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“I like having you around, Britt. That's the truth. I'm not leaving you. Even if you were a pain in the butt, I'd stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-like-having-you-around-britt-that-s-the-truth-i-m-not-leaving-you/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I thought it was time for a tough, smart, likable female private investigator, and that's how VI came to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/i-thought-it-was-time-for-a-tough-smart-likable-female-private/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [“Embrace your possibilities, not your potential failures. You get what you expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/embrace-your-possibilities-not-your-potential-failures-you-get-what/) [Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/) ## More by Bo Burnham > [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [And there's a metal train that's a mile long and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her, How long til it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/and-there-s-a-metal-train-that-s-a-mile-long-and-at-the-very-back-end/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Women are like fingers and toes because they're easy to count on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/women-are-like-fingers-and-toes-because-they-re-easy-to-count-on/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I do think that stand-up comedy in general heavily favors masculinity and so I like to act a little feminine onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-do-think-that-stand-up-comedy-in-general-heavily-favors-masculinity/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Most of my songs make fun of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/most-of-my-songs-make-fun-of-myself/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I write about what I know: teenage dating, overly charged sexuality, all the things that make you uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-write-about-what-i-know-teenage-dating-overly-charged-sexuality-all/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [People give me money and I don't know why, my real collection plate is an empty cup held by a homeless guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-give-me-money-and-i-don-t-know-why-my-real-collection-plate-is/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Comedy doesn't really matter that much; I know that. I treat it like an adult - I don't treat it like a child or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-doesn-t-really-matter-that-much-i-know-that-i-treat-it-like-an/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I've always liked the format of YouTube, sharing things for free, which is a nice exchange between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-ve-always-liked-the-format-of-youtube-sharing-things-for-free-which/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Comedy is very strange to me and I don't fully understand it's purpose or function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-is-very-strange-to-me-and-i-don-t-fully-understand-it-s/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I don't really care about capitalizing on momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-really-care-about-capitalizing-on-momentum/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [If your belief is hateful towards people, I couldn't respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/if-your-belief-is-hateful-towards-people-i-couldn-t-respect-that/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [When life gets you down, make a comforter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/when-life-gets-you-down-make-a-comforter/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) [Explore all 258 Bo Burnham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always liked TV shows that have slightly unlikable leads, where you root for them in spite of a lot of things. 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