---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're doing an hour-long show, you're…"
description: "\"If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four hours a day, and get every third or fourth..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg"
---

#  If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie…

![“If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four hours a day, and get every third or fourth week off to give the writers time to write. It's the cushiest job in Hollywood.” quote by Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg)

> “If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four hours a day, and get every third or fourth week off to give the writers time to write. It's the cushiest job in Hollywood.”

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

## About This Quote

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

Writing for TV often involves intense, irregular hours, yet the schedule includes extended breaks for creative recharge.

**In simple terms:** TV writing is intense but includes long breaks.

Key Takeaway

Balance intense work with restorative downtime.

Themes

worklife balance creative process industry reality

Mood

candid humorous

Type

industry personal

When to use this quote

- production cycles
- writer's rooms
- freelance projects
- seasonal planning

Key Concepts

burnout prevention time management

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you maintain health during long shoots?
- What strategies protect creative energy?

A Different Perspective

The "cushiest" label may ignore financial instability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-hour-1825355/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Fourth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Hour Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-day/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-doing-1421632/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-hollywood-2906588/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-hours-1666351/) [Off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/off/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Third](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm doing a two-hour show every day, so you can eat what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-payne/i-m-doing-a-two-hour-show-every-day-so-you-can-eat-what-you-want/)

[Liam Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-payne/)

> [The primary job for women in Hollywood is still super-attractive actress. That is the most high-profile women's job in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/the-primary-job-for-women-in-hollywood-is-still-super-attractive/)

[Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/)

> [Every job in Hollywood is a risk. You don't know, when you sign a contract, if something is going to pop, you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/every-job-in-hollywood-is-a-risk-you-don-t-know-when-you-sign-a/)

[Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/)

> [When I dropped out of school at 19 to start my first job in Hollywood, I didn't know anything, and I had no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/when-i-dropped-out-of-school-at-19-to-start-my-first-job-in-hollywood/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [It's my job in Hollywood to find roles where I get to be a character not a bathing suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/it-s-my-job-in-hollywood-to-find-roles-where-i-get-to-be-a-character/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

> [It's a lot of a workload doing an hour dramatic show. It's just incredible what little time off you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/it-s-a-lot-of-a-workload-doing-an-hour-dramatic-show-it-s-just/)

[Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/)

> [Nobody can understand the pressures of doing an hour-long TV show unless you've done one. Even when you're not on call, you still are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-learned/nobody-can-understand-the-pressures-of-doing-an-hour-long-tv-show/)

[Michael Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-learned/)

> [It's very trying on a marriage when you're doing a one hour show, week after week after week. You don't have enough time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/it-s-very-trying-on-a-marriage-when-you-re-doing-a-one-hour-show-week/)

[Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/)

> [“For while we are now blessed with "24/7 connectivity" so we can be in touch with anybody anywhere at any time, we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/for-while-we-are-now-blessed-with-24-7-connectivity-so-we-can-be-in/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [When we work for daily soaps, it is very time consuming: like, we work for 12-14 hours. But, doing a show that's interesting makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-winget/when-we-work-for-daily-soaps-it-is-very-time-consuming-like-we-work/)

[Jennifer Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-winget/)

> [Television is blue-collar work. You clock in in the morning; you work 12, 13 hours - sometimes 18 hours if you're doing 'Orphan Black.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/television-is-blue-collar-work-you-clock-in-in-the-morning-you-work/)

[Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/)

> [I come to the office each morning and stay for long hours doing what has to be done to the best of my ability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-come-to-the-office-each-morning-and-stay-for-long-hours-doing-what/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [I tend to be an all-in-type of guy, so I get in a zone to write, and then that's all I do. I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/i-tend-to-be-an-all-in-type-of-guy-so-i-get-in-a-zone-to-write-and/)

[Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/)

> [An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/an-hour-of-planning-can-save-you-10-hours-of-doing/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America' is a brilliant movie. It's about four hours long, but it's so well done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-estrada/sergio-leone-s-once-upon-a-time-in-america-is-a-brilliant-movie-it-s/)

[Erik Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-estrada/)

## More by Eric McCormack

> [I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-got-michael-caine-s-book-acting-in-film-and-i-read-it-on-the-plane/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [ \[Townies\] was a great springboard, obviously, because Jenna \[Elfman\] went from that to Dharma &amp; Greg, and a few years later, Lauren \[Graham\] went… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-great-springboard-obviously-because-jenna-elfman-went/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [The Trevor Project provides crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens and young adults. It's truly a lifeline to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/the-trevor-project-provides-crisis-intervention-and-suicide/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [We didn't, with 'Will &amp; Grace,' set out to change the gay world. We just set out to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/we-didn-t-with-will-grace-set-out-to-change-the-gay-world-we-just-set/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [ I think because the show \["Grant MacLaren"\] is essentially a hopeful show. The show says that as bleak as the future is, the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-think-because-the-show-grant-maclaren-is-essentially-a-hopeful-show/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [ \[Townies\] was a huge cast. It was a bit ungainly, I think with 12 regular characters they had to keep writing for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-huge-cast-it-was-a-bit-ungainly-i-think-with-12-regular/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [It's very strange - several years ago, I was in the running for the 'Young Frankenstein' musical. Kristin Chenoweth was going to do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-s-very-strange-several-years-ago-i-was-in-the-running-for-the/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [But I was ready for it and I knew I could do it. I've just turned 40, I have a son and I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/but-i-was-ready-for-it-and-i-knew-i-could-do-it-i-ve-just-turned-40-i/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [As I got older, I realized that my life experience, what I really had, was always going to be more valuable than what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/as-i-got-older-i-realized-that-my-life-experience-what-i-really-had/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [ It was a film \[The Lost World\], and it's a sequel at the same time. The first shot on the first day was from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-was-a-film-the-lost-world-and-it-s-a-sequel-at-the-same-time-the/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [I started to realise that it wasn't for me. Perhaps I didn't have to give my Hamlet before I died, that the world might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-started-to-realise-that-it-wasn-t-for-me-perhaps-i-didn-t-have-to/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [ They \[the Travelers\] know everything about the year that they're coming into. But you can know everything and still be tripped up by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/they-the-travelers-know-everything-about-the-year-that-they-re-coming/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [I've had to take roles that on purpose were not Will-like so that someone like 'The Hollywood Reporter' would write, 'McCormack shows great range;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-ve-had-to-take-roles-that-on-purpose-were-not-will-like-so-that/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [Certainly 'Lonesome Dove' would be way hard now, because, I mean, back then I wasn't married. I didn't have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/certainly-lonesome-dove-would-be-way-hard-now-because-i-mean-back/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [My most romantic job: I was a manager at Baskin-Robbins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/my-most-romantic-job-i-was-a-manager-at-baskin-robbins/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

[Explore all 145 Eric McCormack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

## More Day quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/)

[Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/)

> [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/)

[Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/)

> [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/)

[Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/)

> [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

> [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/)

[Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/)

> [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

[Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four hours a day, and get every third or fourth week off to give the writers time to write. It's the cushiest job in Hollywood.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric McCormack"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re-working-movie-hours-doing-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re-working-movie-hours-doing-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9af/eric-mccormack-2915_day_if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re_1306625.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you're doing an hour-long show, you're working movie hours, doing a 12-15-hour day. We work three or four…” — Eric McCormack",
                "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": "Eric McCormack",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you're doing an hour-long show,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re-working-movie-hours-doing-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/if-you-re-doing-an-hour-long-show-you-re-working-movie-hours-doing-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
