--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we grew up, we had three channels on…" description: "\"When we grew up, we had three channels on television and only one day of cartoons and if you missed it, you missed it.\" — Butch Hartman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg" --- # When we grew up, we had three channels on television and… ![“When we grew up, we had three channels on television and only one day of cartoons and if you missed it, you missed it.” quote by Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg) > “When we grew up, we had three channels on television and only one day of cartoons and if you missed it, you missed it.” [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Limited TV programming forced children to prioritize and cherish scarce entertainment moments. **In simple terms:** Kids valued rare cartoon slots. Key Takeaway Appreciate limited opportunities. Themes nostalgia media consumption childhood Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational cultural When to use this quote - Family TV nights - media research - educational programming Key Concepts Scarcity media scheduling cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - How did limited channels shape your media habits? - What would you miss in today's endless content? A Different Perspective Modern on-demand streaming reduces scarcity, changing viewing habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons/) [Cartoons Missed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons-missed-3473731/) [Channels Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/channels-television-3473732/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Day Cartoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-cartoons-937998/) [Grew Channels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-channels-3473733/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-day/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I wish I could just wear the same thing every day. Cartoons do it. It’d make things a lot easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/sometimes-i-wish-i-could-just-wear-the-same-thing-every-day-cartoons/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [I ended up doing literally every television show ever made, for at least a day. It was great to see how that worked. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-adams/i-ended-up-doing-literally-every-television-show-ever-made-for-at/) [Patrick J. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-adams/) > [And they like being able to turn on the television day in and day out to see someone that they know and they feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/and-they-like-being-able-to-turn-on-the-television-day-in-and-day-out/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [On average, Australians watch more than three hours of television a day, compared with 12 minutes a day spent by the average couple talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/on-average-australians-watch-more-than-three-hours-of-television-a/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [“Three days a week she helped at the Manor Nursing Home, where people proved their keenness by reciting received analyses of current events. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/three-days-a-week-she-helped-at-the-manor-nursing-home-where-people/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Americans 2 years of age and older now spend an average of four hours and 49 minutes per day in front of the TV—20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/americans-2-years-of-age-and-older-now-spend-an-average-of-four-hours/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [The average American watches more than four hours of television per day. What would happen if we spent more time developing our talents than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/the-average-american-watches-more-than-four-hours-of-television-per/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [Even if tomorrow will be the end of the world, people will still continue to watch television for whole day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-if-tomorrow-will-be-the-end-of-the-world-people-will-still/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I mean, I work in television, so every day is like the end of your career and then each day is a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-mean-i-work-in-television-so-every-day-is-like-the-end-of-your/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [I write for a certain sphere of readers in the United States who on average watch seven and a half hours of multichannel television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-kosi-ski/i-write-for-a-certain-sphere-of-readers-in-the-united-states-who-on/) [Jerzy Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerzy-kosi-ski/) > [There's a great appetite for smart television. Every day I get up and there are interesting stories I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/there-s-a-great-appetite-for-smart-television-every-day-i-get-up-and/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [There's been a stigma out there that cartoons only equal kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/there-s-been-a-stigma-out-there-that-cartoons-only-equal-kids/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [Being a parent is not an easy job, which is why we try to create cartoons parents know are safe for their kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/being-a-parent-is-not-an-easy-job-which-is-why-we-try-to-create/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [My intended audience was everybody. I just want to make cartoons for human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-intended-audience-was-everybody-i-just-want-to-make-cartoons-for/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) ## More by Butch Hartman > [I thought about 'Johnny Quest' and how I loved that cartoon and what a cool name he has. I tried to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-thought-about-johnny-quest-and-how-i-loved-that-cartoon-and-what-a/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I get so many kids coming up to me now, saying, 'Oh, Mr. Hartman, I love your show, I grew up with it; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-get-so-many-kids-coming-up-to-me-now-saying-oh-mr-hartman-i-love/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I used to sit in front of the TV and draw the Flintstones as fast as I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-the-tv-and-draw-the-flintstones-as-fast-as/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [Fairly OddParents' is one of those rare shows that really resonated with people beyond demographics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/fairly-oddparents-is-one-of-those-rare-shows-that-really-resonated/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [You should almost always draw in pen. It forces you to be confident. You can never erase, so it makes you really focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/you-should-almost-always-draw-in-pen-it-forces-you-to-be-confident/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [Like any good business, I think Nickelodeon waits to see results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/like-any-good-business-i-think-nickelodeon-waits-to-see-results/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I kind of never stop. I never sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-kind-of-never-stop-i-never-sleep/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I think a lot of guys think they can do voice acting, but when you hear the pros and they are so great... that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-think-a-lot-of-guys-think-they-can-do-voice-acting-but-when-you/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [When you're designing a monster, there's kind of no rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-you-re-designing-a-monster-there-s-kind-of-no-rules/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I owe a lot to 'SpongeBob.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-owe-a-lot-to-spongebob/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [When kids are kids, everything a parent does seems goofy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-kids-are-kids-everything-a-parent-does-seems-goofy/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [Being a parent is not an easy job, which is why we try to create cartoons parents know are safe for their kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/being-a-parent-is-not-an-easy-job-which-is-why-we-try-to-create/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [Drawing' is telling a story with pictures. 'Writing' is telling a story with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/drawing-is-telling-a-story-with-pictures-writing-is-telling-a-story/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [We write stories that we like and hope the kids like them, too. But we definitely make sure that they skew toward a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/we-write-stories-that-we-like-and-hope-the-kids-like-them-too-but-we/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [I never played sports. I was always drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-never-played-sports-i-was-always-drawing/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) [Explore all 43 Butch Hartman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) ## More Cartoons quotes > [My intended audience was everybody. I just want to make cartoons for human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-intended-audience-was-everybody-i-just-want-to-make-cartoons-for/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [In Roslyn, Pennsylvania, we started our real-life family circus. They provided the inspiration for my cartoons. I provided the perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/in-roslyn-pennsylvania-we-started-our-real-life-family-circus-they/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [A lot of people get emotional in movies that are cartoons, but not in TV shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/a-lot-of-people-get-emotional-in-movies-that-are-cartoons-but-not-in/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [I just watched cartoons for three years, and that had a strong affect on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-just-watched-cartoons-for-three-years-and-that-had-a-strong-affect/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I've never really thought about competing with cartoons. If it ever gets to that point, then just shoot me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-liu/i-ve-never-really-thought-about-competing-with-cartoons-if-it-ever/) [Lucy Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-liu/) > [I will pick a raft of cartoons. And then later, it'll come time to run this cartoon. And I'll look at it, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-will-pick-a-raft-of-cartoons-and-then-later-it-ll-come-time-to-run/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I watch cartoons a lot. I'm a big 'Rick and Morty' and 'South Park' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-watch-cartoons-a-lot-i-m-a-big-rick-and-morty-and-south-park-fan/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I think that - whether I should admit this or not - Joe and I, going back to 'Tom and Jerry,' have been very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hanna/i-think-that-whether-i-should-admit-this-or-not-joe-and-i-going-back/) [William Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hanna/) > [Everyone wants a Ron stoppable in their life but let's be honest most of us are like Kim possible and not because we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-wants-a-ron-stoppable-in-their-life-but-let-s-be-honest-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are as many great superhero movies as there are comedies and dramas and cartoons. People just want to see good movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/there-are-as-many-great-superhero-movies-as-there-are-comedies-and/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) > [I like the idea of taking three-dimensional objects and making them two-dimensional so that they look like cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-like-the-idea-of-taking-three-dimensional-objects-and-making-them/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Many of my cartoons are not a belly laugh. I go for nostalgia, the lump in the throat, the tear in the eye, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/many-of-my-cartoons-are-not-a-belly-laugh-i-go-for-nostalgia-the-lump/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [I didn't have cable, so YouTube was my cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chamberlain/i-didn-t-have-cable-so-youtube-was-my-cartoons/) [Emma Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chamberlain/) > [The biggest idea of a good time for me is making the Batman videos that we did. That is my ideal day. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/the-biggest-idea-of-a-good-time-for-me-is-making-the-batman-videos/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) [Browse all 270 Cartoons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we grew up, we had three channels on television and only one day of cartoons and if you missed it, you missed it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Butch Hartman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on-television-and-only-one-day/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cartoons" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on-television-and-only-one-day/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/butch-hartman-15391_cartoons_when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on_1994331.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we grew up, we had three channels on television and only one day of cartoons and if you missed it, you…” — Butch Hartman", "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": "Butch Hartman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we grew up, we had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on-television-and-only-one-day/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/when-we-grew-up-we-had-three-channels-on-television-and-only-one-day/#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 } } ] } ```