--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and…" description: "\"I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.\" — David Alan Grier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg" --- # I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees… ![“I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.” quote by David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg) > “I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.” [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He attempted sitcom work with decreasing success over time. **In simple terms:** Sitcom attempts became less successful. Key Takeaway Adapt and evolve creatively. Themes career comedy television failure Mood humorous introspective Type career motivational When to use this quote - writing - performing - network pitching Key Concepts Entertainment industry career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you learn? - How will you pivot next? A Different Perspective Comedy market is unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesser/) [Lesser Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesser-degrees-615584/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Sitcom Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom-thing-615583/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thing Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-lesser-615585/) ## Related quotes > [Since a thing cannot be known directly or totally, one can only attune to it, with greater or lesser degrees of intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/since-a-thing-cannot-be-known-directly-or-totally-one-can-only-attune/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [I didn't want to do the sitcom thing, but I didn't know what else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-didn-t-want-to-do-the-sitcom-thing-but-i-didn-t-know-what-else-to-do/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I decided sitcoms weren't for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-decided-sitcoms-weren-t-for-me/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [Most sketch aficionados have an enormous amount of respect for 'Mr. Show.' I didn't have HBO back then, so I was always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/most-sketch-aficionados-have-an-enormous-amount-of-respect-for-mr/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [She did not admire him any more than she had. It was merely that she considered him the Lesser of two evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-did-not-admire-him-any-more-than-she-had-it-was-merely-that-she/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father would have been spectacularly ill-suited to working for an institution of any kind, and I suspect that, to a lesser degree, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/my-father-would-have-been-spectacularly-ill-suited-to-working-for-an/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [We've lesser minds, but bigger wallets. Bigger houses, less wealth. More food less health, more friends less love. We've bigger schools, but less life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/we-ve-lesser-minds-but-bigger-wallets-bigger-houses-less-wealth-more/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [The lesser jihad is our active fulfillment of Islam's commands and duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/the-lesser-jihad-is-our-active-fulfillment-of-islam-s-commands-and/) [Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/) > [Of two evils, I always choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/of-two-evils-i-always-choose-the-lesser/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [The lesser evil is also evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-mitchison/the-lesser-evil-is-also-evil/) [Naomi Mitchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-mitchison/) > [Are you a minor character in my tale, or am I a lesser figure in yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/are-you-a-minor-character-in-my-tale-or-am-i-a-lesser-figure-in-yours/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [I get better roles in television. I'm not going to do a lesser role just to be in a feature film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-get-better-roles-in-television-i-m-not-going-to-do-a-lesser-role/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [War is evil, but it is often the lesser evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/war-is-evil-but-it-is-often-the-lesser-evil/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Never hesitate to ask a lesser person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/never-hesitate-to-ask-a-lesser-person/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Writing that flirts with incoherence can just as readily flounder as writing characterized by simplicity and composure. There is no reliable formula for originality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/writing-that-flirts-with-incoherence-can-just-as-readily-flounder-as/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) ## More by David Alan Grier > [When I was a kid, I wanted to walk with my dad's limp - my dad was my hero - but that infuriated him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-walk-with-my-dad-s-limp-my-dad-was-my/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I want to see gay couples stuck with their significant other at Home Depot with that far away look in their eye, get me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-want-to-see-gay-couples-stuck-with-their-significant-other-at-home/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [To be known by the public, honestly. People come up and tell them how good I make them feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/to-be-known-by-the-public-honestly-people-come-up-and-tell-them-how/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I think Chelsea Handler is the funniest woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-think-chelsea-handler-is-the-funniest-woman/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [Don't let anyone try to tell you who you are. Define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/don-t-let-anyone-try-to-tell-you-who-you-are-define-yourself/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [My father contracted polio on a troop train in Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/my-father-contracted-polio-on-a-troop-train-in-korea/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I decided sitcoms weren't for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-decided-sitcoms-weren-t-for-me/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I never wanted to lose out on an acting job and wonder if I hadn't been trained enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-never-wanted-to-lose-out-on-an-acting-job-and-wonder-if-i-hadn-t/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I try to make my bed every day for mental health. Coming home to an unmade bed or a room with clothes all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-try-to-make-my-bed-every-day-for-mental-health-coming-home-to-an/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [America is grappling with cultural diversity, and I just want to put a show on that represents the world in which I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/america-is-grappling-with-cultural-diversity-and-i-just-want-to-put-a/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I grew up in a home and in a world in which you can do anything. We were all expected to go to college.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-grew-up-in-a-home-and-in-a-world-in-which-you-can-do-anything-we/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I wanted to be a leading man - the black lawyer, the black doctor, the black policeman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-wanted-to-be-a-leading-man-the-black-lawyer-the-black-doctor-the/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [Every little kid has always wanted to be a race car driver. This gets some of that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/every-little-kid-has-always-wanted-to-be-a-race-car-driver-this-gets/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [I've tried actively to define myself and redefine myself, and not be pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-ve-tried-actively-to-define-myself-and-redefine-myself-and-not-be/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) > [The president is always made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/the-president-is-always-made-fun-of/) [David Alan Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) [Explore all 29 David Alan Grier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/) ## More Degrees quotes > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Life comes from death. To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I work with different actors with varied degrees of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-work-with-different-actors-with-varied-degrees-of-experience/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [We are only alive to the degree that we can let ourselves be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-are-only-alive-to-the-degree-that-we-can-let-ourselves-be-moved/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) [Browse all 3,453 Degrees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Alan Grier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-and-lesser-degrees-of-success/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Degrees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-and-lesser-degrees-of-success/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/david-alan-grier-21112_degrees_i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-an_1646805.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had done the sitcom thing to lesser and lesser degrees of success.” — David Alan Grier", "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": "David Alan Grier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-grier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had done the sitcom thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-and-lesser-degrees-of-success/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-grier/i-had-done-the-sitcom-thing-to-lesser-and-lesser-degrees-of-success/#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 } } ] } ```