--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib…" description: "\"Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front of the camera, it was, if you screwed up a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg" --- # Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV… ![“Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front of the camera, it was, if you screwed up a line, well, you've got another take, and you also had a script to be able to study, so it wasn't all ad-lib and flying by the seat of your pants…” quote by Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg) > “Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front of the camera, it was, if you screwed up a line, well, you've got another take, and you also had a script to be able to study, so it wasn't all ad-lib and flying by the seat of your pants, which I like both aspects, actually.” [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live TV relies on improvisation, while filmed acting allows multiple takes and script preparation, offering both spontaneity and control. **In simple terms:** Live TV is improvised; filmed acting is scripted and repeatable. Key Takeaway Balance spontaneity with preparation. Themes improvisation film acting control Mood reflective analytical Type observational process When to use this quote - live broadcast - film set - acting rehearsal - script study Key Concepts media production performance dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance spontaneity and preparation? - When is ad‑lib preferable? A Different Perspective Improvisation can lead to errors if not rehearsed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like acting; not in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-don-t-like-acting-not-in-front-of-the-camera/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [The camera does not like acting. The camera is only interested in filming behaviour. So you damn well learn your lines until you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/the-camera-does-not-like-acting-the-camera-is-only-interested-in/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [I don't worry too much about the script, I just ad lib, like Pearl Bailey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/i-don-t-worry-too-much-about-the-script-i-just-ad-lib-like-pearl/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [I'm not an ad-libber. If I'm asked to ad-lib, I can ad-lib forever and it's really fun to do that, but I find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/i-m-not-an-ad-libber-if-i-m-asked-to-ad-lib-i-can-ad-lib-forever-and/) [James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/) > [Legal dialogue is awesome, but you can't ad lib. It's much more fun to be looser and say things like, 'Can I work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-neal/legal-dialogue-is-awesome-but-you-can-t-ad-lib-it-s-much-more-fun-to/) [Diane Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-neal/) > [In the year and a half I was on SNL, I never saw anybody ad lib anything. For a very good reason - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/in-the-year-and-a-half-i-was-on-snl-i-never-saw-anybody-ad-lib/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [The word got out that I can ad-lib very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-witherspoon/the-word-got-out-that-i-can-ad-lib-very-well/) [John Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-witherspoon/) > [When I joined WKRC, they were very concerned over my ability to ad lib or speak extemporaneously, which was an unknown factor up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waite-hoyt/when-i-joined-wkrc-they-were-very-concerned-over-my-ability-to-ad-lib/) [Waite Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waite-hoyt/) > [I haven't got an ad lib for people throwing bread rolls at my hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-haven-t-got-an-ad-lib-for-people-throwing-bread-rolls-at-my-hat/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [I can't ad-lib, or not for long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-can-t-ad-lib-or-not-for-long/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [I ad lib most of my dialogue. If I did remember my lines, it would be too bad for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/i-ad-lib-most-of-my-dialogue-if-i-did-remember-my-lines-it-would-be/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [“It takes three weeks to prepare a good ad-lib speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-takes-three-weeks-to-prepare-a-good-ad-lib-speech/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I don't know why people think I'm this ad-lib dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-epps/i-don-t-know-why-people-think-i-m-this-ad-lib-dude/) [Mike Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-epps/) > [I'm a news junkie. I generally ad lib it. I find a story I want to key off on, open the mic, drag it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/i-m-a-news-junkie-i-generally-ad-lib-it-i-find-a-story-i-want-to-key/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Seventy years of ad-lib material, and I am speechless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/seventy-years-of-ad-lib-material-and-i-am-speechless/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) ## More by Edge > [I am not a video game guy at all. Once it got past Super Mario Bros. and past two buttons, they lost me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-am-not-a-video-game-guy-at-all-once-it-got-past-super-mario-bros/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I was one of the innovators of the TLC Match; some would arguably say that I am the master of the Ladder Match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-was-one-of-the-innovators-of-the-tlc-match-some-would-arguably-say/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [It was a no-brainer for me to go on 'Mind of Mencia,' I think. And actually, it was a lot of fun. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/it-was-a-no-brainer-for-me-to-go-on-mind-of-mencia-i-think-and/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I really enjoyed working with Rey Mysterio when we were up against Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit and The Guerreros.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-really-enjoyed-working-with-rey-mysterio-when-we-were-up-against/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I got put through a ladder by Jeff Hardy at WrestleMania 23, had bruises from the ladder rungs across my back, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-got-put-through-a-ladder-by-jeff-hardy-at-wrestlemania-23-had/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I am the man that everyone is compared to in this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-am-the-man-that-everyone-is-compared-to-in-this-business/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [People don't look at the broader picture a lot of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/people-don-t-look-at-the-broader-picture-a-lot-of-the-time/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [After watching that, I gotta admit, I am awesome!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/after-watching-that-i-gotta-admit-i-am-awesome/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I saved everything, all my gear over the years: my trench coats and stuff that I have saved. It is all packed away nicely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-saved-everything-all-my-gear-over-the-years-my-trench-coats-and/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [Every tattoo on my body symbolizes a phase in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/every-tattoo-on-my-body-symbolizes-a-phase-in-my-career/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [Just so you know I never had a dad either, but that's another story for another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/just-so-you-know-i-never-had-a-dad-either-but-that-s-another-story/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [My whole idea, to me, is if you're a heel in wrestling, you should not having a band playing for when you come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/my-whole-idea-to-me-is-if-you-re-a-heel-in-wrestling-you-should-not/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [Edge was part of my fascination with KISS and Cheap Trick and Queen, mixed with wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/edge-was-part-of-my-fascination-with-kiss-and-cheap-trick-and-queen/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [For me, body art is all about expression; it's a lifestyle and can serve as a reminder that when my career is done, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/for-me-body-art-is-all-about-expression-it-s-a-lifestyle-and-can/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I did two matches for WCW, for 'Saturday Night' and for 'WorldWide.' Scott D'Amore was booking the extra talent. I remember I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-did-two-matches-for-wcw-for-saturday-night-and-for-worldwide-scott/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) [Explore all 128 Edge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front of the camera, it was, if you screwed up a line, well, you've got another take, and you also had a script to be able to study, so it wasn't all ad-lib and flying by the seat of your pants, which I like both aspects, actually.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involved-with-live-tv-and-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involved-with-live-tv-and-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/edge-3516_acting_generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involv_813889.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front…” — Edge", "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": "Edge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involved-with-live-tv-and-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involved-with-live-tv-and-things/#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 } } ] } ```