--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think so often about how, when I was…" description: "\"I think so often about how, when I was starting out at UCB, Conan O'Brien was in town, and on his show back then, they sometimes did character bits, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg" --- # I think so often about how, when I was starting out at… ![“I think so often about how, when I was starting out at UCB, Conan O'Brien was in town, and on his show back then, they sometimes did character bits, and I started getting paid to dress up as a page or a Dutch boy on his show.” quote by Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg) > “I think so often about how, when I was starting out at UCB, Conan O'Brien was in town, and on his show back then, they sometimes did character bits, and I started getting paid to dress up as a page or a Dutch boy on his show.” [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career opportunities can arise unexpectedly, leading to unique experiences. **In simple terms:** Unexpected chances shape careers. Key Takeaway Seize odd opportunities. Themes career opportunity serendipity Mood optimistic adventurous Type advisory career When to use this quote - early gigs - media appearances - skill development - personal branding Key Concepts creative industries networking Questions to Reflect On - What odd chance will you take? - How does it fit your path? A Different Perspective Not all odd jobs align with long‑term goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits-started-2016290/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-bits-2587236/) [Conan O'brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conan-obrien/) [Did Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-character-2587238/) [Dress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dress/) [Getting Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-paid/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Starting Ucb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-ucb-2587237/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [When we approached the project, the very first thing we did was take each character and say, "Okay, where would this character be?" We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hurwitz/when-we-approached-the-project-the-very-first-thing-we-did-was-take/) [Jon Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hurwitz/) > [When did I become a fast-talking Jew? As time went on, my bits started to become longer, and that became part of the signature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-kasher/when-did-i-become-a-fast-talking-jew-as-time-went-on-my-bits-started/) [Moshe Kasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-kasher/) > [I have to say, though, that somebody pointed out to me on YouTube that Conan O'Brien was being interviewed, and he was talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-have-to-say-though-that-somebody-pointed-out-to-me-on-youtube-that/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [When I was in college, I wanted to write for 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien,' and I was an intern there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/when-i-was-in-college-i-wanted-to-write-for-late-night-with-conan-o/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I guarantee you that the people who watch 'Conan O'Brien' or who watch 'Entertainment Tonight' and probably a lot of these other programs have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/i-guarantee-you-that-the-people-who-watch-conan-o-brien-or-who-watch/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) > [I'm not sure when I first heard about Beth Hart. I do remember seeing her on various TV shows. I think I'd seen her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-m-not-sure-when-i-first-heard-about-beth-hart-i-do-remember-seeing/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Doing three movies with Mike Myers certainly loosened me up. He told me that there's a switch in your brain that censors you, makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-green/doing-three-movies-with-mike-myers-certainly-loosened-me-up-he-told/) [Seth Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-green/) > [You've never had a job that you thought was secure. You don't think the Tonight Show is risk free. Especially when you saw what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/you-ve-never-had-a-job-that-you-thought-was-secure-you-don-t-think/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I have to be honest with you: I'm a huge fan of Conan O'Brien.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/i-have-to-be-honest-with-you-i-m-a-huge-fan-of-conan-o-brien/) [Ashlan Gorse Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/) > [Yeah, I had a talk show canceled. Okay, let's go back to the list of people who had talk shows canceled. Johnny Carson had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/yeah-i-had-a-talk-show-canceled-okay-let-s-go-back-to-the-list-of/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [I did have someone tell me that I looked like Conan O'Brien. I was like, 'What?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-did-have-someone-tell-me-that-i-looked-like-conan-o-brien-i-was/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Judd Apatow, Conan O'Brien ... taking what you think is funny, and then adding another layer to it. That's kind of my sensibility. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/judd-apatow-conan-o-brien-taking-what-you-think-is-funny-and-then/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [Once when Larry the Cable Guy was on Conan's show, Conan O'Brien was so offended by Larry's material, he had to walk away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/once-when-larry-the-cable-guy-was-on-conan-s-show-conan-o-brien-was/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [When I did 'The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien,' Conan came to my dressing room after and was like, 'Man, that was great.' Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/when-i-did-the-tonight-show-with-conan-o-brien-conan-came-to-my/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [Once, after I had just worked out, I hopped on the elevator at the gym only to look up and see Conan O'Brien on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/once-after-i-had-just-worked-out-i-hopped-on-the-elevator-at-the-gym/) [Ashlan Gorse Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/) ## More by Chris Gethard > [My medications make me easier to deal with. They don't interfere with my creativity or turn me into a zombie or dull my real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/my-medications-make-me-easier-to-deal-with-they-don-t-interfere-with/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I didn't like who I was. I spent a lot of my life regretting who I was, which is a sad thing to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-didn-t-like-who-i-was-i-spent-a-lot-of-my-life-regretting-who-i-was/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [We don't judge people for dying in car crashes. But we do judge people when they die of suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/we-don-t-judge-people-for-dying-in-car-crashes-but-we-do-judge-people/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [If you are dating someone in New York City, and they invite you over to watch a movie, they don't really want to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/if-you-are-dating-someone-in-new-york-city-and-they-invite-you-over/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I think, in my own life, I'm pretty political. I think I have some very strong ideals, and I struggle a lot with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-in-my-own-life-i-m-pretty-political-i-think-i-have-some-very/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [The street I lived on for the first handful of years of my life was lined with modest, lower-middle-class houses with small front yards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/the-street-i-lived-on-for-the-first-handful-of-years-of-my-life-was/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I am scared of horror movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-am-scared-of-horror-movies/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I am a stereotypical northeasterner. I'm always in a rush. I've attracted stares from out-of-towners when I've shoved past someone blocking the subway door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-am-a-stereotypical-northeasterner-i-m-always-in-a-rush-i-ve/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [There are many hundreds of millions of people who have jobs harder than (mine), and I also remind myself of that every day. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/there-are-many-hundreds-of-millions-of-people-who-have-jobs-harder/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [If I could have enough money that I know I could buy a house someday, and if I want to have kids, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/if-i-could-have-enough-money-that-i-know-i-could-buy-a-house-someday/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Northern New Jersey looks like a cluster of idyllic suburbs, but each of those seemingly normal towns has a dark side that's constantly gossiped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/northern-new-jersey-looks-like-a-cluster-of-idyllic-suburbs-but-each/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Many comedians - both male and female - do have an "I will never date another comedian" rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/many-comedians-both-male-and-female-do-have-an-i-will-never-date/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [West Orange, where I grew up, is the hometown of Ian Ziering from 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' Scott Wolf from 'Party of Five,' David Cassidy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/west-orange-where-i-grew-up-is-the-hometown-of-ian-ziering-from/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Cops in New York City don't have the best reputation. It's a fast-paced city, and they deal with a lot, and many people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/cops-in-new-york-city-don-t-have-the-best-reputation-it-s-a-fast/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) [Explore all 156 Chris Gethard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [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/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think so often about how, when I was starting out at UCB, Conan O'Brien was in town, and on his show back then, they sometimes did character bits, and I started getting paid to dress up as a page or a Dutch boy on his show.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Gethard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-starting-out-at-ucb-conan-o/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-starting-out-at-ucb-conan-o/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/chris-gethard-2655_character_i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-st_1871828.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think so often about how, when I was starting out at UCB, Conan O'Brien was in town, and on his show back…” — Chris Gethard", "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": "Chris Gethard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think so often about how,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-starting-out-at-ucb-conan-o/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-so-often-about-how-when-i-was-starting-out-at-ucb-conan-o/#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 } } ] } ```