--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar…" description: "\"I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna Reed Show' gave me a chance to earn while I l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg" --- # I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson… ![“I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna Reed Show' gave me a chance to earn while I learned.” quote by Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg) > “I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna Reed Show' gave me a chance to earn while I learned.” [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before gaining a break on a family sitcom, the speaker declined several high‑profile late‑night hosting offers, indicating a willingness to learn on the job rather than jump straight to fame. **In simple terms:** Turned down big TV jobs to learn via a sitcom. Key Takeaway Patience and learning can precede success. Themes career television learning humility Mood hopeful determined Type personal anecdote career advice When to use this quote - career counseling sessions - entertainment industry mentorship programs Key Concepts skill development strategic patience Practical Applications - Seek entry‑level roles for skill building - Value mentorship over immediate prestige Questions to Reflect On - What are the trade‑offs of refusing high‑profile offers early? - How does early learning shape later performance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Donna Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donna-reed-1312012/) [Earn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn/) [Gave Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-chance-238172/) [Johnny carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johnny-carson/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Offers Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers-jack-1312010/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reed Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reed-gave-1312011/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Turned Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-offers-1312013/) ## Related quotes > [When I was on KNX I did a lot of television and motion pictures and as you know I did the 'Donna Reed Show'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/when-i-was-on-knx-i-did-a-lot-of-television-and-motion-pictures-and/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-one-ran-and-filled-a-spunge-full-of-vinegar-and-put-it-on-a-reed/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-straightway-one-of-them-ran-and-took-a-spunge-and-filled-it-with/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [My '50s were different than other people's '50s. The myth didn't permeate our world, 'Donna Reed' and all that. I longed for that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ross/my-50s-were-different-than-other-people-s-50s-the-myth-didn-t/) [Gary Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ross/) > [“It was a regular family scene. All we had to do was clean up a few murders and a matter of international dope smuggling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-was-a-regular-family-scene-all-we-had-to-do-was-clean-up-a-few/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I can't think of my life without Donna Reed. She has been such an enormous influence on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-fabares/i-can-t-think-of-my-life-without-donna-reed-she-has-been-such-an/) [Shelley Fabares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-fabares/) > [I think the years on 'The Donna Reed Show,' the years from 14 to 19, were so incredibly important. Donna Reed was simply an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-fabares/i-think-the-years-on-the-donna-reed-show-the-years-from-14-to-19-were/) [Shelley Fabares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-fabares/) > [I'm not slim and trim like Johnny Carson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-m-not-slim-and-trim-like-johnny-carson/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I like Johnny Carson because he doesn't hold anything back when he's going for a laugh. Johnny will do anything, say anything, to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-like-johnny-carson-because-he-doesn-t-hold-anything-back-when-he-s/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [It's funny, I remember doing the Johnny Carson show, and, uh, I couldn't afford my rent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/it-s-funny-i-remember-doing-the-johnny-carson-show-and-uh-i-couldn-t/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [I've learned from my dealings with Johnny Carson that no matter what kind of friendship you think you have with people you're working with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-ve-learned-from-my-dealings-with-johnny-carson-that-no-matter-what/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I was watching Johnny Carson when I was way too young to be awake that late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallie-patrick/i-was-watching-johnny-carson-when-i-was-way-too-young-to-be-awake/) [Sallie Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallie-patrick/) > [It used to be that in media, Johnny Carson used to be the most important person when he would invite you over to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/it-used-to-be-that-in-media-johnny-carson-used-to-be-the-most/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I remember Johnny Carson laughing effusively when I made my 'Tonight' show debut in the early 1970's as part of a sketch comedy group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/i-remember-johnny-carson-laughing-effusively-when-i-made-my-tonight/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) ## More by Bob Crane > [Hard comedy goes for the jocular. Hard comedy is basic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/hard-comedy-goes-for-the-jocular-hard-comedy-is-basic/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [Hard comedy goes for the fences. It's also what you might call take-a-risk comedy because if you don't hit a home run, you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/hard-comedy-goes-for-the-fences-it-s-also-what-you-might-call-take-a/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [The way I look at it, you've got to quit your TV series before they'll consider you in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/the-way-i-look-at-it-you-ve-got-to-quit-your-tv-series-before-they-ll/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [Wit is a comic's defense weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/wit-is-a-comic-s-defense-weapon/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I don't go for the wild stuff like bell-bottoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-don-t-go-for-the-wild-stuff-like-bell-bottoms/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [The day of the 'Partridge Family' type of show and the 'Brady Bunch' is long gone. The old 'Ozzie and Harriet' days are over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/the-day-of-the-partridge-family-type-of-show-and-the-brady-bunch-is/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [Maybe, realistically, in a career you have only one hit series. Maybe 'Hogan's' was mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/maybe-realistically-in-a-career-you-have-only-one-hit-series-maybe/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I learn by admiring others, listening and correcting what wouldn't be right for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-learn-by-admiring-others-listening-and-correcting-what-wouldn-t-be/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I liked Art Linkletter's way of conducting an interview while still keeping it light and I even admired Jack Bailey, host of 'Queen for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-liked-art-linkletter-s-way-of-conducting-an-interview-while-still/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I don't smoke, I don't drink, two out of three ain't bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-don-t-smoke-i-don-t-drink-two-out-of-three-ain-t-bad/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I feel the really big stars are in movies, not TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-feel-the-really-big-stars-are-in-movies-not-tv/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [Look, I love to sit in with small groups and play the drums. What's wrong with that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/look-i-love-to-sit-in-with-small-groups-and-play-the-drums-what-s/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I don't dig jogging. I've tried, I really have, but I don't get any enjoyment out of jogging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-don-t-dig-jogging-i-ve-tried-i-really-have-but-i-don-t-get-any/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [No one's an overnight sensation unless you're Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/no-one-s-an-overnight-sensation-unless-you-re-batman/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [Hogan's' came from left field. It isn't 'McHale's' and it isn't 'Combat.' You can't categorize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/hogan-s-came-from-left-field-it-isn-t-mchale-s-and-it-isn-t-combat/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) [Explore all 70 Bob Crane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna Reed Show' gave me a chance to earn while I learned.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Crane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paar-or-johnny-carson-or-steve/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paar-or-johnny-carson-or-steve/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/bob-crane-9846_chance_i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paa_110371.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I turned down more offers to be Jack Paar or Johnny Carson or Steve Allen before the people on the 'Donna…” — Bob Crane", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bob Crane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I turned down more offers to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paar-or-johnny-carson-or-steve/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/i-turned-down-more-offers-to-be-jack-paar-or-johnny-carson-or-steve/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```