--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On a daily basis, you're working with…" description: "\"On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing for David Brent. Yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/greg-daniels-37133_basis_on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-ste_2836655.jpg" --- # On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're… ![“On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing for David Brent. You have to be writing for Michael Scott because Steve is Michael Scott.” quote by Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/greg-daniels-37133_basis_on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-ste_2836655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/greg-daniels-37133_basis_on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-ste_2836655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/greg-daniels-37133_basis_on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-ste_2836655.jpg) > “On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing for David Brent. You have to be writing for Michael Scott because Steve is Michael Scott.” [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer emphasizes that each character has a unique voice; copying another’s style fails to capture authenticity. **In simple terms:** Copying another’s style loses authenticity. Key Takeaway Write true to each character’s voice. Themes authenticity creativity character writing collaboration Mood analytical playful professional Type creative instructional When to use this quote - scriptwriting - improv - team meetings Key Concepts voice differentiation comedic timing character consistency Questions to Reflect On - What unique traits define your character’s voice? - How can you honor a colleague’s style while staying original? A Different Perspective Mimicry can stifle originality and audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daily basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-basis/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/well-on-a-personal-level-i-would-never-want-to-take-on-a-character/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I've continued to write fiction since being in television. TV is a different kind of writing, but it's all writing. It was David Milch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kem-nunn/i-ve-continued-to-write-fiction-since-being-in-television-tv-is-a/) [Kem Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kem-nunn/) > [There are Michael Scott moments, which are character choices, but there are also Steve's reads. Usually the things that I'm the biggest fan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/there-are-michael-scott-moments-which-are-character-choices-but-there/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [It's great working with Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. Those guys are really funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/it-s-great-working-with-steve-carell-and-jim-carrey-those-guys-are/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I always wanted to do a comedy, but I wanted to pick the right one. But it came down to working with Steve Carell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-always-wanted-to-do-a-comedy-but-i-wanted-to-pick-the-right-one-but/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [“Of course, we could all die soon. I'm writing because Michael's patrolling the house and Shane and Claire are asleep. It may be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/of-course-we-could-all-die-soon-i-m-writing-because-michael-s/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [A few years ago, when I was writing songs for my first album, I was staying with Michael Feinstein as I often did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jackson/a-few-years-ago-when-i-was-writing-songs-for-my-first-album-i-was/) [Cheyenne Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jackson/) > [I began writing with a Michael Buble mentality. I think he's fantastic, and it's the perfect music for any date night, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-jonas/i-began-writing-with-a-michael-buble-mentality-i-think-he-s-fantastic/) [Joe Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-jonas/) > [It's amazing to know that 5 years ago I was writing songs in a basement in the ghetto and now I'm writing for Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/it-s-amazing-to-know-that-5-years-ago-i-was-writing-songs-in-a/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Yes. It is true. I, Michael Scott, am signing up with an online dating service. Thousands of people have done it, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yes-it-is-true-i-michael-scott-am-signing-up-with-an-online-dating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the old days, when a star left a still-thriving hit show, they'd celebrate by killing him or her off. But 'The Office' dispatched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/in-the-old-days-when-a-star-left-a-still-thriving-hit-show-they-d/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Im the boss, Michael Scott, yall bitches is just Phyllis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/childish-gambino/im-the-boss-michael-scott-yall-bitches-is-just-phyllis/) [Childish Gambino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/childish-gambino/) > [Newsflash: Michael Scott's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/newsflash-michael-scott-s-plane-was-shot-down-over-the-sea-of-japan/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I don't think anyone wants to grow up to be Mindy Lahiri, the same way no one wants to grow up to be Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-don-t-think-anyone-wants-to-grow-up-to-be-mindy-lahiri-the-same-way/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [When I retire, I don't want to just move to some island somewhere. I want to be the guy who gives it all back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/when-i-retire-i-don-t-want-to-just-move-to-some-island-somewhere-i/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) ## More by Greg Daniels > [There are Michael Scott moments, which are character choices, but there are also Steve's reads. Usually the things that I'm the biggest fan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/there-are-michael-scott-moments-which-are-character-choices-but-there/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [It happened to me on 'King of the Hill,' where I'd left it before the end and didn't really participate in the ending, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/it-happened-to-me-on-king-of-the-hill-where-i-d-left-it-before-the/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I feel responsible for everybody, and I couldn't imagine a scenario where I wouldn't be directing what was happening, at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-feel-responsible-for-everybody-and-i-couldn-t-imagine-a-scenario/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I had my idea of what the series finale of 'King of the Hill' would be, but that's not what the actual series finale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-had-my-idea-of-what-the-series-finale-of-king-of-the-hill-would-be/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [When you think about 'The Simpsons' or 'King of the Hill' or something like that, the worlds tend to expand each episode, because there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/when-you-think-about-the-simpsons-or-king-of-the-hill-or-something/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I would encourage people that, if you are waiting for the end of 'The Office,' to re-tune in right away. It is the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-would-encourage-people-that-if-you-are-waiting-for-the-end-of-the/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I love 'The Office' format so much that I wanted to close it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-love-the-office-format-so-much-that-i-wanted-to-close-it-out/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [Whenever the boss has 'fun' activities, there's got to be a parable or a lesson. Employees feel like they're supposed to be taking notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/whenever-the-boss-has-fun-activities-there-s-got-to-be-a-parable-or-a/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [When you do something unusual, the audience doesn't 100 percent know what you're up to in the beginning. And if you're doing a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/when-you-do-something-unusual-the-audience-doesn-t-100-percent-know/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I wrote Steve Carell's last episode. I think it was a really good episode, but there's always a tension between what's good for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-wrote-steve-carell-s-last-episode-i-think-it-was-a-really-good/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I'm like a slow starter. Everything I've done has built, or has taken a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-m-like-a-slow-starter-everything-i-ve-done-has-built-or-has-taken-a/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) [Explore all 12 Greg Daniels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) ## More Basis quotes > [Napster has pointed the way for a new direction for music distribution, and we believe it will form the basis of important and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/napster-has-pointed-the-way-for-a-new-direction-for-music/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [There are many females in my life I couldn't function on a daily basis without who I've purposely put there that work with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/there-are-many-females-in-my-life-i-couldn-t-function-on-a-daily/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [need is never a good basis for any relationship. it has to be much more than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/need-is-never-a-good-basis-for-any-relationship-it-has-to-be-much/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always thinking as an outsider, and I'm always mindful of whether a company can be impactful on a global basis. Frankly, I'm paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-rimer/i-m-always-thinking-as-an-outsider-and-i-m-always-mindful-of-whether/) [Danny Rimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-rimer/) > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [There’s no basis or anything. I just have this conviction that appeared inside of me which I have to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jun-mochizuki/there-s-no-basis-or-anything-i-just-have-this-conviction-that/) [Jun Mochizuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jun-mochizuki/) > [When my mother talked about her brother, there was this light in her eyes. I thought, 'This is the basis of a novel.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/when-my-mother-talked-about-her-brother-there-was-this-light-in-her/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [The things I cook and eat on a regular basis are really inexpensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-woodward/the-things-i-cook-and-eat-on-a-regular-basis-are-really-inexpensive/) [Ella Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-woodward/) > [“A religion can be judged only on the basis of another religion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-john-sommerville/a-religion-can-be-judged-only-on-the-basis-of-another-religion/) C. John Sommerville > [It is important to keep the filmmakers interested in you so they can offer you everything and anything. We actors are not given work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/it-is-important-to-keep-the-filmmakers-interested-in-you-so-they-can/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [The marketing costs are insane now. So even if you've got a picture like 'Flipped' which cost under $14 million, or $13.5 million, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/the-marketing-costs-are-insane-now-so-even-if-you-ve-got-a-picture/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [Bob Smith from Brooklyn is a guy who sometimes gets hung with problems and fears. Wolfman Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy who knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/bob-smith-from-brooklyn-is-a-guy-who-sometimes-gets-hung-with/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [This radical Islam is a religious-based ideology. And you actually have to, when you deal with the ideology, you have to attack it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/this-radical-islam-is-a-religious-based-ideology-and-you-actually/) [Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/) > [A group of girls didn't like me and picked on me on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-toffolo/a-group-of-girls-didn-t-like-me-and-picked-on-me-on-a-daily-basis/) [Georgia Toffolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-toffolo/) Browse all 352 Basis quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing for David Brent. 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