--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that in order for anything to…" description: "\"I think that in order for anything to work on television, you have to have conflict. Nothing can be too happy or it's boring. People don't want to watc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/carrie-preston-12501_anything_i-think-that-in-order-for-anything-to-wo_813518.png" --- # I think that in order for anything to work on television… ![“I think that in order for anything to work on television, you have to have conflict. Nothing can be too happy or it's boring. People don't want to watch that - they want to watch things that are exciting and dangerous and sexy and have tension.” quote by Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/carrie-preston-12501_anything_i-think-that-in-order-for-anything-to-wo_813518.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/carrie-preston-12501_anything_i-think-that-in-order-for-anything-to-wo_813518.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/carrie-preston-12501_anything_i-think-that-in-order-for-anything-to-wo_813518.png) > “I think that in order for anything to work on television, you have to have conflict. Nothing can be too happy or it's boring. People don't want to watch that - they want to watch things that are exciting and dangerous and sexy and have tension.” [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that conflict is essential for compelling TV, as audiences seek tension and excitement rather than unvarying happiness. **In simple terms:** Conflict drives engaging TV shows. Key Takeaway Include tension to keep viewers interested. Themes storytelling conflict television Mood critical analytical Type creative media When to use this quote - scriptwriting - show development - audience analysis Key Concepts Narrative tension character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How much conflict is too much? - Can calm moments also be effective? A Different Perspective Excessive conflict can alienate some viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sexy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexy/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I'll watch things on OWN like 'Belief,' which is about faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/i-ll-watch-things-on-own-like-belief-which-is-about-faith/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [“There are those who make things happen, there are those who watch things happen and there are those who say 'what happened?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/there-are-those-who-make-things-happen-there-are-those-who-watch/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [They're are three types of people I see everyday, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/they-re-are-three-types-of-people-i-see-everyday-those-who-make/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [You can't just pretend that the things you watch, and the things you hear, and the places you go will not have an impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/you-can-t-just-pretend-that-the-things-you-watch-and-the-things-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [I have an iPad and I watch three things: 'The Daily Show,' '60 Minutes,' and 'Meet the Press.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-have-an-ipad-and-i-watch-three-things-the-daily-show-60-minutes-and/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [As a writer you often watch things with a certain distance.. More often, you're worried that something that you have invented is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/as-a-writer-you-often-watch-things-with-a-certain-distance-more-often/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I watch all the classic films that film people say that you ought to have seen, and I try to watch things in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-riley/i-watch-all-the-classic-films-that-film-people-say-that-you-ought-to/) [Sam Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-riley/) > [Some people make things happen, some watch while things happen, and some wonder 'What happened?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arashi/some-people-make-things-happen-some-watch-while-things-happen-and/) [Arashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arashi/) > [I don't sit and watch things back that I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-bowman/i-don-t-sit-and-watch-things-back-that-i-ve-done/) [Edith Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-bowman/) > [“Some People Make Things Happen, Some Watch Things Happen, While Others Wonder What Has Happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-people-make-things-happen-some-watch-things-happen-while-others/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You have 3choices in life.You can watch things happen,Make things happen or Wonder what the hell happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vboo/you-have-3choices-in-life-you-can-watch-things-happen-make-things/) [VBOo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vboo/) > [“When all you can do is watch things play out for someone, it is often just as painful for the observer as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torry-martin/when-all-you-can-do-is-watch-things-play-out-for-someone-it-is-often/) [Torry Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torry-martin/) > [So they can watch all the things you do...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-chemical-romance/so-they-can-watch-all-the-things-you-do/) [My Chemical Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my-chemical-romance/) > [People can be divided into three groups: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/people-can-be-divided-into-three-groups-those-who-make-things-happen/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [“Now it's easy to see as I watch it all from above. Sometimes the things that are best for us are those we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-carolan/now-it-s-easy-to-see-as-i-watch-it-all-from-above-sometimes-the/) Monica Carolan ## More by Carrie Preston > [Everyone thinks they went to high school with me. I take it as a compliment that I look different in every role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/everyone-thinks-they-went-to-high-school-with-me-i-take-it-as-a/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [By the time I was twelve, I had started my own theater company and was doing plays in the backyard and the front yard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/by-the-time-i-was-twelve-i-had-started-my-own-theater-company-and-was/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [Auditioning is so different than doing the work in some ways. It's very much about solving the scene, I think, and coming in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/auditioning-is-so-different-than-doing-the-work-in-some-ways-it-s/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I got my first big paycheck for 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' This was in the days when you actually did get paid to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-got-my-first-big-paycheck-for-my-best-friend-s-wedding-this-was-in/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I have a great amount of respect for what a manicurist does - now, when I go and get my own nails done at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-have-a-great-amount-of-respect-for-what-a-manicurist-does-now-when/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I have a recurring role on 'Person of Interest,' which is my husband's show. I play the love of his life. It was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-have-a-recurring-role-on-person-of-interest-which-is-my-husband-s/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I really like to play these complicated characters, and I really like to transform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-really-like-to-play-these-complicated-characters-and-i-really-like/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunscreen makes me feel like I'm getting supersonic protection because I am so, so pale and need all the help I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/neutrogena-ultra-sheer-sunscreen-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-getting/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I owe so much to Shakespeare. Nothing is more humbling and more exhilarating than taking ahold of those sacred words and riding them like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-owe-so-much-to-shakespeare-nothing-is-more-humbling-and-more/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I do like to get inspired by and support any female leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-do-like-to-get-inspired-by-and-support-any-female-leads/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I'm a character actor and I get lost in these characters, so I think it's only recently that people have begun to connect dots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-m-a-character-actor-and-i-get-lost-in-these-characters-so-i-think/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [What I like to do as an actor is transform. It's way more fun to play characters who are completely different than me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/what-i-like-to-do-as-an-actor-is-transform-it-s-way-more-fun-to-play/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [Getting or not getting the job isn't an indicator of your abilities. You're going to get jobs when you think you sucked, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/getting-or-not-getting-the-job-isn-t-an-indicator-of-your-abilities/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I tend to play every color in the Southern rainbow, and the challenge is to make each character different so I'm not doing any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-tend-to-play-every-color-in-the-southern-rainbow-and-the-challenge/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [It's just hard for a multi-camera show: Either they hit big, or they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/it-s-just-hard-for-a-multi-camera-show-either-they-hit-big-or-they/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) [Explore all 54 Carrie Preston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that in order for anything to work on television, you have to have conflict. Nothing can be too happy or it's boring. 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