--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some Nickelodeon executives were worried…" description: "\"Some Nickelodeon executives were worried about backing an animated action show with a female lead character. Conventional TV wisdom has it that girls w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/bryan-konietzko-10393_action_some-nickelodeon-executives-were-worried_1638207.jpg" --- # Some Nickelodeon executives were worried about backing an… ![“Some Nickelodeon executives were worried about backing an animated action show with a female lead character. Conventional TV wisdom has it that girls will watch shows about boys, but boys won't watch shows about girls. During test screenings, though, boys said they didn't care that Korra was a…” quote by Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/bryan-konietzko-10393_action_some-nickelodeon-executives-were-worried_1638207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/bryan-konietzko-10393_action_some-nickelodeon-executives-were-worried_1638207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/bryan-konietzko-10393_action_some-nickelodeon-executives-were-worried_1638207.jpg) > “Some Nickelodeon executives were worried about backing an animated action show with a female lead character. Conventional TV wisdom has it that girls will watch shows about boys, but boys won't watch shows about girls. During test screenings, though, boys said they didn't care that Korra was a girl. They just said she was awesome.” [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial bias against a female lead was disproven when test audiences loved the character regardless of gender. **In simple terms:** Girls and boys can enjoy shows with any lead. Key Takeaway Challenge gender stereotypes in media. Themes gender representation media bias audience perception Mood reflective inspirational Type media culture When to use this quote - TV development - animation production - marketing strategy Key Concepts stereotype threat inclusive storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can creators test assumptions early? - What impact does representation have on viewers? A Different Perspective Assuming gendered preferences can limit creative choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, when you've got a couple of females on the cast, you'll have a diva, or you'll have arguments. I've been on shows where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/sometimes-when-you-ve-got-a-couple-of-females-on-the-cast-you-ll-have/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [I'm working on producing my own shows. Girls Next Door was a great place to start but it was somebody else's show. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/i-m-working-on-producing-my-own-shows-girls-next-door-was-a-great/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [Research shows that girls look at leadership differently than boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-maria-chavez/research-shows-that-girls-look-at-leadership-differently-than-boys/) [Anna Maria Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-maria-chavez/) > [I think I'd like to do a big movie with a strong female lead, whether or not she would be a superhero. I'm more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-i-d-like-to-do-a-big-movie-with-a-strong-female-lead-whether/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [“The thing about an Alpha, male or female, is that they can lead. When things get desperate they attack instead of retreat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-chandler/the-thing-about-an-alpha-male-or-female-is-that-they-can-lead-when/) [Kristen Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-chandler/) > [What's so great about playing a female lead, especially in law enforcement, is that these women do exist, and they're really quite interesting. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rose/what-s-so-great-about-playing-a-female-lead-especially-in-law/) [Emily Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rose/) > [If I could change anything about Garden State, it would be to cast somebody else for the female lead. Natalie just isn't really that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-i-could-change-anything-about-garden-state-it-would-be-to-cast/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I think it would be a great challenge to work on a military game which featured a female lead character. Since female soldiers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-think-it-would-be-a-great-challenge-to-work-on-a-military-game/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [The female lead in 'Bellbottom' has to be in sync with Akshay Sir's screen persona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackky-bhagnani/the-female-lead-in-bellbottom-has-to-be-in-sync-with-akshay-sir-s/) [Jackky Bhagnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackky-bhagnani/) > [Being on a show with a female lead is amazing for me. I love that. I love the powerful woman who's complicated. There's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-naomi-king/being-on-a-show-with-a-female-lead-is-amazing-for-me-i-love-that-i/) [Aja Naomi King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-naomi-king/) > [I appeared in some commercials while continuing my studies. Through them, I got an opportunity to play the female lead in 'Uppena'. They saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krithi-shetty/i-appeared-in-some-commercials-while-continuing-my-studies-through/) [Krithi Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krithi-shetty/) > [I filmed the 'Sicario' sequel 'Soldado' with Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. That was cool. I play the female lead. I'm the bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-moner/i-filmed-the-sicario-sequel-soldado-with-benicio-del-toro-and-josh/) [Isabela Moner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabela-moner/) > [Sometimes it's more difficult to exist as a female lead, especially in action movies because all those men are around you. They take so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/sometimes-it-s-more-difficult-to-exist-as-a-female-lead-especially-in/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [It's so rare that you actually get to find a really well-written female lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rose/it-s-so-rare-that-you-actually-get-to-find-a-really-well-written/) [Emily Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rose/) > [I was one of the shortlisted girls for the female lead of the Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' along with Freida Pinto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-was-one-of-the-shortlisted-girls-for-the-female-lead-of-the-oscar/) [Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/) ## More by Bryan Konietzko > [You've got to earn it; you're not just handed anything in life. That's why no one starts out as a perfect master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/you-ve-got-to-earn-it-you-re-not-just-handed-anything-in-life-that-s/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Korra and Aang ultimately stand for freedom, equality, and basic human rights, and I think Mike and I are fine with pushing that agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/korra-and-aang-ultimately-stand-for-freedom-equality-and-basic-human/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We feel like we're kind of movie guys working in TV. So we're looking forward to that day when we get to work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-feel-like-we-re-kind-of-movie-guys-working-in-tv-so-we-re-looking/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Aang was an airbending prodigy, but didn't even discover he could bend the other three elements on his own; whereas Korra was bending three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/aang-was-an-airbending-prodigy-but-didn-t-even-discover-he-could-bend/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [I'll just say that America - us included - has a long way to go to catch up with the animated work being done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/i-ll-just-say-that-america-us-included-has-a-long-way-to-go-to-catch/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [When you have a fully-realized Avatar, it's like Superman, and how do you make that interesting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/when-you-have-a-fully-realized-avatar-it-s-like-superman-and-how-do/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [After 'Avatar' ended, I spent a lot of time watching MMA and kickboxing fights on UFC, WEC, DREAM, and K-1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/after-avatar-ended-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-watching-mma-and-kickboxing/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We wanted the elemental 'bending' to be based on authentic Chinese traditional martial arts, believing this would lend a beauty and resonance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-wanted-the-elemental-bending-to-be-based-on-authentic-chinese/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Hopefully, when we're done with the 'Korra' saga we can put our stamp on a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/hopefully-when-we-re-done-with-the-korra-saga-we-can-put-our-stamp-on/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Mike and I figured out a lot about the world, characters and story in the initial two weeks between creating 'Avatar' and pitching it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/mike-and-i-figured-out-a-lot-about-the-world-characters-and-story-in/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We draw inspiration directly and indirectly from all sorts of things, like movies, documentaries, TV dramas, novels, non-fiction books, animation, science and nature shows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-draw-inspiration-directly-and-indirectly-from-all-sorts-of-things/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [With 'Korra' we've really taken a lot of time to craft it. We're aiming pretty high, and in order to keep up the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/with-korra-we-ve-really-taken-a-lot-of-time-to-craft-it-we-re-aiming/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [In a lot of ways, their journeys are opposite of each other's: Aang was a peace-loving monk, through and through, whereas Korra is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/in-a-lot-of-ways-their-journeys-are-opposite-of-each-other-s-aang-was/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [We have always put the quest for balance at the center of our storytelling, whether it is the struggle to find it within one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/we-have-always-put-the-quest-for-balance-at-the-center-of-our/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [I thought Korra was 17 so Mike and I have to get our stories straight. The main characters are in their late teens, we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/i-thought-korra-was-17-so-mike-and-i-have-to-get-our-stories-straight/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) [Explore all 66 Bryan Konietzko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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