---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only one that got through was Jimmy…"
description: "\"The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he plays the gas station attendant. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that we we..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg"
---

#  The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he…

![“The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he plays the gas station attendant. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that we were kind of purists at the time, and we didn't want any comedians.” quote by David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg)

> “The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he plays the gas station attendant. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that we were kind of purists at the time, and we didn't want any comedians.”

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative purity can exclude humor, but flexibility allows unexpected talent to shine, enriching the work.

**In simple terms:** Sticking to strict rules can miss valuable contributions.

Key Takeaway

Allow flexibility in casting.

Themes

creativity collaboration flexibility

Mood

lighthearted pragmatic

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- film production
- theatre casting
- team brainstorming

Key Concepts

artistic integrity humor talent scouting

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you compromised your vision for a better result?
- What value does humor bring to serious projects?

A Different Perspective

Rigid standards may stifle innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I got Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie and he also plays now with Hank Williams Jr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-allman/i-got-jimmy-hall-from-wet-willie-and-he-also-plays-now-with-hank/)

[Gregg Allman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-allman/)

> [People want their actors to do comedy, too. They don't want any comedians next to the actor. They want one solo hero and want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/people-want-their-actors-to-do-comedy-too-they-don-t-want-any/)

[Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/)

> [My father, Jimmy Walker, was the first pick in the 1967 draft, but I never met him. He passed in 2007. I found out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/my-father-jimmy-walker-was-the-first-pick-in-the-1967-draft-but-i/)

[Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/)

> [I played for a lot of coaches. Jimmy Johnson at first, so you have a little bit of his philosophical ways of motivating people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/i-played-for-a-lot-of-coaches-jimmy-johnson-at-first-so-you-have-a/)

[Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/)

> [ Why do all these people want \[comedians\] to be serious? The reason they want that is these are people who aren't funny. Anybody funny… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/why-do-all-these-people-want-comedians-to-be-serious-the-reason-they/)

[Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/)

> [I wanted to do - there was this film called 'Magic' that Anthony Hopkins did. And the director wanted me. The writer wanted me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-wanted-to-do-there-was-this-film-called-magic-that-anthony-hopkins/)

[Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/)

> [I don't know any astronauts. There are a lot of people who say they want to be comedians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-barry/i-don-t-know-any-astronauts-there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-say-they/)

[Todd Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-barry/)

> [I would love to do a serious period drama. Oh, absolutely. I mean, you'll find most comedians want to do more serious stuff, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-would-love-to-do-a-serious-period-drama-oh-absolutely-i-mean-you-ll/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I try to be careful not to put the cart before the horse. I try not to create comedy for other comedians to like.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-try-to-be-careful-not-to-put-the-cart-before-the-horse-i-try-not-to/)

[Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/)

> [My favorite comedians were Jimmy Durante, George Burns, senior citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bologna/my-favorite-comedians-were-jimmy-durante-george-burns-senior-citizens/)

[Joseph Bologna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bologna/)

> [“Fortune Without Love (The Sonnet) Fortune without love is sheer curse, For life's true blessing is love alone. Live to love and love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fortune-without-love-the-sonnet-fortune-without-love-is-sheer-curse/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“I was just beginning to wonder how long I would have to wait when finally a guard sauntered up and said, “Galloway, get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-galloway/i-was-just-beginning-to-wonder-how-long-i-would-have-to-wait-when/)

[Noah Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-galloway/)

> [I know quickly whether a guy is boyfriend material. If I can have a good time doing absolutely nothing with him, then that's boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-hannigan/i-know-quickly-whether-a-guy-is-boyfriend-material-if-i-can-have-a/)

[Alyson Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-hannigan/)

> [It's easier to get funding for a gas station than to start the next Facebook or Twitter in the Mideast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shervin-pishevar/it-s-easier-to-get-funding-for-a-gas-station-than-to-start-the-next/)

[Shervin Pishevar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shervin-pishevar/)

> [I'm stranded all alone in the gas station of love, and I have to use the self service pump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-stranded-all-alone-in-the-gas-station-of-love-and-i-have-to-use/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by David Zucker

> [We didn't realize it at the time, but the release date, the ad campaign and the poster are so important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/we-didn-t-realize-it-at-the-time-but-the-release-date-the-ad-campaign/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I think that came out of watching all those serious movies for all that time. If you watch a movie like Zero Hour, Sterling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-think-that-came-out-of-watching-all-those-serious-movies-for-all/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [It didn't happen every time for every movie. Ruthless People was a good movie, but we didn't get a good release or marketing. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/it-didn-t-happen-every-time-for-every-movie-ruthless-people-was-a/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I've always thought those guys are really funny. And I love Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin and Mary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-ve-always-thought-those-guys-are-really-funny-and-i-love-dumb-and/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I would love to work with Adam Sandler. Because then all I'd have to do is just turn the camera on and off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-would-love-to-work-with-adam-sandler-because-then-all-i-d-have-to/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [Our fathers were actually business partners in the same real-estate firm, and we got together and thought, How can we get a movie together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/our-fathers-were-actually-business-partners-in-the-same-real-estate/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I lose tons of stuff on the cutting room floor. For Scary Movie 3, for example, we had a lot of Matrix spoofs, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-lose-tons-of-stuff-on-the-cutting-room-floor-for-scary-movie-3-for/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [Quit now, you'll never make it. If you disregard this advice, you'll be halfway there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/quit-now-you-ll-never-make-it-if-you-disregard-this-advice-you-ll-be/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [Tim Burton is underrated. I loved Big Fish, loved that movie, think it's the best movie of the year, hands down. Really impressed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/tim-burton-is-underrated-i-loved-big-fish-loved-that-movie-think-it-s/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [We're producing a movie now, 'The Onion' Movie, and it's very difficult for me to be on the set. If I'm not right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/we-re-producing-a-movie-now-the-onion-movie-and-it-s-very-difficult/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I believe in justice, maybe not in this life, but there has to be justice. And if there isn't a God, I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-believe-in-justice-maybe-not-in-this-life-but-there-has-to-be/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [What I would do is a 10-minute short of some kind on video, and if it's good enough, you get it passed around town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/what-i-would-do-is-a-10-minute-short-of-some-kind-on-video-and-if-it/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [It's useless to try and make rhyme or reason of it, because one guy thinks one thing and the other guy sees a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/it-s-useless-to-try-and-make-rhyme-or-reason-of-it-because-one-guy/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [Woody Allen has done some excellent serious movies, too, like Crimes And Misdemeanors. Very overlooked movie, I think, and really his best. And currently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/woody-allen-has-done-some-excellent-serious-movies-too-like-crimes/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

> [I think we grew up thinking that the funniest things on TV were the old, serious movies. I always liked the Marx Brothers, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/i-think-we-grew-up-thinking-that-the-funniest-things-on-tv-were-the/)

[David Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

[Explore all 30 David Zucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/)

## More Comedians quotes

> [“Comedians and artists are some of the loneliest, self-destructive people on the planet. If you enjoy what they produce, take the time to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-inga/comedians-and-artists-are-some-of-the-loneliest-self-destructive/)

Roz Inga

> [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/)

[Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/)

> [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/)

[Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/)

> [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/)

[Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/)

> [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/)

[Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/)

> [A lot of female comedians will go up there in a sweatshirt and Converses, trying to dress themselves down, because it is sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-craig/a-lot-of-female-comedians-will-go-up-there-in-a-sweatshirt-and/)

[Carly Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-craig/)

> [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [Oftentimes, the funniest comedians are people who've gone through personal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/oftentimes-the-funniest-comedians-are-people-who-ve-gone-through/)

[Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/)

> [Successful comedians are just as neurotic as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/successful-comedians-are-just-as-neurotic-as-i-am/)

[Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/)

> [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/)

[Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/)

> [Comedians have to challenge the power. Comedians should be dangerous and devastating - and funny. That's the hardest part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/comedians-have-to-challenge-the-power-comedians-should-be-dangerous/)

[Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/)

> [I don't want to follow comedians because I don't want to see what they're thinking about, 'cause then maybe I won't stumble across a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-thune/i-don-t-want-to-follow-comedians-because-i-don-t-want-to-see-what/)

[Nick Thune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-thune/)

> [As far as stand-ups go, I always loved Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Sinbad. Basically, I love black comedians because they're the funniest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/as-far-as-stand-ups-go-i-always-loved-richard-pryor-chris-rock-and/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [Some comedians are silly or goofy or straight joke writers who avoid anything subversive or political. Others are drawn to it. The beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-alexandro/some-comedians-are-silly-or-goofy-or-straight-joke-writers-who-avoid/)

[Ted Alexandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-alexandro/)

[Browse all 656 Comedians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he plays the gas station attendant. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that we were kind of purists at the time, and we didn't want any comedians.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Zucker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy-walker-because-he-plays-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedians"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy-walker-because-he-plays-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/david-zucker-20788_comedians_the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy_3156630.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only one that got through was Jimmy Walker, because he plays the gas station attendant. I mean, there's…” — David Zucker",
                "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 Zucker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zucker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only one that got through...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy-walker-because-he-plays-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zucker/the-only-one-that-got-through-was-jimmy-walker-because-he-plays-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
