--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's really hard to say now what…" description: "\"I think it's really hard to say now what makes a show kind of sink or swim, and what creates longevity. For instance, I think that Survivor is a very w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/dan-cutforth-70999_american-idol_i-think-it-s-really-hard-to-say-now-what_791163.jpg" --- # I think it's really hard to say now what makes a show kind… ![“I think it's really hard to say now what makes a show kind of sink or swim, and what creates longevity. For instance, I think that Survivor is a very well produced show. It's very simple, it's very elemental, and I think it gets into big issues. I think American Idol has been an amazing show for…” quote by Dan Cutforth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/dan-cutforth-70999_american-idol_i-think-it-s-really-hard-to-say-now-what_791163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/dan-cutforth-70999_american-idol_i-think-it-s-really-hard-to-say-now-what_791163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/dan-cutforth-70999_american-idol_i-think-it-s-really-hard-to-say-now-what_791163.jpg) > “I think it's really hard to say now what makes a show kind of sink or swim, and what creates longevity. For instance, I think that Survivor is a very well produced show. It's very simple, it's very elemental, and I think it gets into big issues. I think American Idol has been an amazing show for many, many seasons.” Dan Cutforth ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shows succeed when they are simple, elemental, and tackle big issues, as seen in Survivor and American Idol. **In simple terms:** Simplicity and relevance drive lasting shows Key Takeaway Focus on core elements and meaningful topics Themes media studies entertainment culture Mood insightful conversational Type observational industry When to use this quote - show development - content strategy - branding - audience analysis Key Concepts narrative simplicity audience engagement longevity Questions to Reflect On - What makes a show timeless? - How balance simplicity with complexity? A Different Perspective Simplicity may limit depth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elementals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementals/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Longevity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longevity/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Sink or swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sink-or-swim/) [Survivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivor/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Being on 'Idol' was an amazing experience. We had a lot of pressure to do each show, but they really helped shape me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adore-delano/being-on-idol-was-an-amazing-experience-we-had-a-lot-of-pressure-to/) [Adore Delano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adore-delano/) > [Dick Van Dyke was my first idol. He's an amazing physical comedian, like a classic clown, but also very smart and not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/dick-van-dyke-was-my-first-idol-he-s-an-amazing-physical-comedian/) [Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/) > [I don't think 'Survivor' really changed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zohn/i-don-t-think-survivor-really-changed-me/) [Ethan Zohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zohn/) > [Why more reality-based TV? You'd think that after the first 'Survivor' it would have gone away, but it hasn't. The public demands it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/why-more-reality-based-tv-you-d-think-that-after-the-first-survivor/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [You see the images that the public is demanding. Why more reality-based TV? You'd think that after the first Survivor it would have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/you-see-the-images-that-the-public-is-demanding-why-more-reality/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [Sink or swim! You never really feel ready, there is always sometime more that your mind tells you you should be doing. However, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-cook/sink-or-swim-you-never-really-feel-ready-there-is-always-sometime/) [Natalie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-cook/) > [No matter what grief or loss takes place, most of life flows on all around us, as though nothing's changed. At some point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/no-matter-what-grief-or-loss-takes-place-most-of-life-flows-on-all/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [Because the tide is rising high It's sink or swim It's hit or miss What will you pick? So take some action Don't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/falling-in-reverse/because-the-tide-is-rising-high-it-s-sink-or-swim-it-s-hit-or-miss/) [Falling In Reverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/falling-in-reverse/) > [Throw me in deep enough, and I sink or swim. I don't care who I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/throw-me-in-deep-enough-and-i-sink-or-swim-i-don-t-care-who-i-fight/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [“Sail, sail thy best, ship of democracy, Of value is thy freight, 'tis not the present only, The past is also stored in thee,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/sail-sail-thy-best-ship-of-democracy-of-value-is-thy-freight-tis-not/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“...I am for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ, whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-am-for-going-on-and-venturing-my-eternal-state-with-christ-whether/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Being stuck in the middle of an ocean is like being in love, either you sink or swim...your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-day/being-stuck-in-the-middle-of-an-ocean-is-like-being-in-love-either/) [Amanda Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-day/) > [In a movie like this, the relationship between the two guys is crucial. It sinks or swims on how these two guys are together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/in-a-movie-like-this-the-relationship-between-the-two-guys-is-crucial/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [A career is about learning to adapt yourself to the new environment and learning to sink or swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/a-career-is-about-learning-to-adapt-yourself-to-the-new-environment/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) ## More by Dan Cutforth > [However, I think that sometimes when shows do, you know, have a good season or a bad season, it comes down to something as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-cutforth/however-i-think-that-sometimes-when-shows-do-you-know-have-a-good/) Dan Cutforth > [I think when you add a layer of competition, I think that adds something to it as well. It's also fun to see people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-cutforth/i-think-when-you-add-a-layer-of-competition-i-think-that-adds/) Dan Cutforth > [When you look at the current state of reality TV, at least on the mainstream level, the shows that tend to be more successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-cutforth/when-you-look-at-the-current-state-of-reality-tv-at-least-on-the/) Dan Cutforth Explore all 4 Dan Cutforth quotes ## More American idol quotes > [I learned about this talent show on TV that was basically the Estonian version of 'American Idol.' So I lied about my age, went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/i-learned-about-this-talent-show-on-tv-that-was-basically-the/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [Being on 'American Idol,' the blessings of glasses have rained from the sky. I really would like to start a Danny line or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/being-on-american-idol-the-blessings-of-glasses-have-rained-from-the/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [I tried out for American Idol, I got a record deal, and now it's like my best days are ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/i-tried-out-for-american-idol-i-got-a-record-deal-and-now-it-s-like/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The brutality of the pace. This was my third presidential campaign and it was a thousand times faster paced than my first one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-madden/the-brutality-of-the-pace-this-was-my-third-presidential-campaign-and/) [Kevin Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-madden/) > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I've never seen American Idol but I am grateful to them. That show is one of Fox's biggest moneymakers, and some of that money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-ve-never-seen-american-idol-but-i-am-grateful-to-them-that-show-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [American Idol allowed us to find Carrie Underwood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/american-idol-allowed-us-to-find-carrie-underwood/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [At the end of the day, it is about the album and book and also about setting the record straight, because 'American Idol' has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-clark/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-is-about-the-album-and-book-and-also-about/) [Corey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-clark/) > [I think American Idol is a great career launcher. A blessing for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-london/i-think-american-idol-is-a-great-career-launcher-a-blessing-for-all/) [LaToya London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-london/) > [When one person does something that works, everyone else wants to do it. So it didn't surprise me at all to see people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/when-one-person-does-something-that-works-everyone-else-wants-to-do/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) > [What made 'American Idol' different from 'The Voice' and all these other singing competitions... 'American Idol' just gave regular old normal people like me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-porsha-renae/what-made-american-idol-different-from-the-voice-and-all-these-other/) [La'Porsha Renae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-porsha-renae/) > [I can't watch American Idol... it's like karaoke without the booze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-can-t-watch-american-idol-it-s-like-karaoke-without-the-booze/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [On 'American Idol,' I felt like one of my challenges was picking songs because I've definitely been exposed to a lot of music. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/on-american-idol-i-felt-like-one-of-my-challenges-was-picking-songs/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) Browse all 262 American idol quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's really hard to say now what makes a show kind of sink or swim, and what creates longevity. For instance, I think that Survivor is a very well produced show. It's very simple, it's very elemental, and I think it gets into big issues. 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