--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cable news is 24 hours long so you have…" description: "\"Cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with something. No, the Muppets are not communist. And the character of Tex Richman is not an all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/james-bobin-13164_allegory_cable-news-is-24-hours-long-so-you-have_866694.jpg" --- # Cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with… ![“Cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with something. No, the Muppets are not communist. And the character of Tex Richman is not an allegory for capitalism in any way. The character is called Tex Richman. It's a joke. Clearly he is a classic, old school bad guy. He's bad not…” quote by James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/james-bobin-13164_allegory_cable-news-is-24-hours-long-so-you-have_866694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/james-bobin-13164_allegory_cable-news-is-24-hours-long-so-you-have_866694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/james-bobin-13164_allegory_cable-news-is-24-hours-long-so-you-have_866694.jpg) > “Cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with something. No, the Muppets are not communist. And the character of Tex Richman is not an allegory for capitalism in any way. The character is called Tex Richman. It's a joke. Clearly he is a classic, old school bad guy. He's bad not because he works for an oil company but because he's evil. No, it's not a communist movie in any way.” [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses political readings of a character, emphasizing that the role is intended as a generic villain, not a commentary on capitalism or communism. **In simple terms:** Character is just a villain, not political. Key Takeaway Separate entertainment from political analysis. Themes media criticism character analysis political interpretation entertainment satire Mood critical analytical Type commentary explanatory When to use this quote - film analysis - media literacy - political discourse Key Concepts villain archetype political symbolism misinterpretation contextual reading Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling a character political affect audience perception? - When is political reading appropriate? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑interpretation exists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) [Cable news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cable-news/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Muppet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muppet/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Oil companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil-companies/) [Old school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [No, the Muppets are not communist. And the character of Tex Richman is not an allegory for capitalism in any way. The character is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/no-the-muppets-are-not-communist-and-the-character-of-tex-richman-is/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [“Simple class-based bigotry that infected truth in the liberal media. And he knew the difference between those same propaganda dicks who distinguished between blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-stedman/simple-class-based-bigotry-that-infected-truth-in-the-liberal-media/) Michael J. Stedman > [You're basically the same person forever so you find the same stuff funny forever. The Muppet Show spoke to me at 5 and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/you-re-basically-the-same-person-forever-so-you-find-the-same-stuff/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [I think one of the great bits of The Muppet show is that it was set in a 19th century British theater and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/i-think-one-of-the-great-bits-of-the-muppet-show-is-that-it-was-set/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [The Muppet Show is very much seen as an English thing. So for us in the U.K. it is one of the treasures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/the-muppet-show-is-very-much-seen-as-an-english-thing-so-for-us-in/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [It doesn't matter if you're good at anything, just try your best. Then there's the idea that individually they're flawed but together they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-good-at-anything-just-try-your-best-then/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [When The Muppet Show ended, we all sat around and said, what kind of television show would we like to do. We felt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/when-the-muppet-show-ended-we-all-sat-around-and-said-what-kind-of/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I really do love the Muppets. My sister used to call them the Muffets. She'd be like, "Can we watch the Muffets?" So anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-really-do-love-the-muppets-my-sister-used-to-call-them-the-muffets/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [We have reached a very cynical era of comedy. The Muppets have proven, for 40 years, that you can get laughs without ever doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/we-have-reached-a-very-cynical-era-of-comedy-the-muppets-have-proven/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [Shaq is like an oversized muppet, and who doesn't love muppets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/shaq-is-like-an-oversized-muppet-and-who-doesn-t-love-muppets/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [If it weren't for greed, intolerance, hate, passion and murder, you would have no works of art, no great buildings, no medical science, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/if-it-weren-t-for-greed-intolerance-hate-passion-and-murder-you-would/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [It is nice to be recognised for actually achieving something in life as opposed to spending seven weeks in a house on TV with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wiggins/it-is-nice-to-be-recognised-for-actually-achieving-something-in-life/) [Bradley Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wiggins/) > [One thing that I think never goes out of style is just purity. Niceness and purity. And the Muppets have never lost that. Kermit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/one-thing-that-i-think-never-goes-out-of-style-is-just-purity/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) ## More by James Bobin > [I love the idea of exploring the Victorian imagination and what Victorians thought the world of fantasy would look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/i-love-the-idea-of-exploring-the-victorian-imagination-and-what/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > ['Muppets' is incredibly analog, 'Alice' is very digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/muppets-is-incredibly-analog-alice-is-very-digital/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [The thing about me is that my secret passion is history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/the-thing-about-me-is-that-my-secret-passion-is-history/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [The Muppet Show is very much seen as an English thing. So for us in the U.K. it is one of the treasures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/the-muppet-show-is-very-much-seen-as-an-english-thing-so-for-us-in/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [The Muppets are always really positive when they come across adversity, and they always have the ability to see the good in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/the-muppets-are-always-really-positive-when-they-come-across/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [My kids were always my test audience. I'd take home the dailies and show them what we'd been filming that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/my-kids-were-always-my-test-audience-i-d-take-home-the-dailies-and/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [As a director, obviously you should challenge yourself. It's important, because it's this thing that takes you away from your family for years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/as-a-director-obviously-you-should-challenge-yourself-it-s-important/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [Inevitably in any work you do I think that there is a sense of continuity, and I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/inevitably-in-any-work-you-do-i-think-that-there-is-a-sense-of/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [Film shouldn't be a pain. It's a creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/film-shouldn-t-be-a-pain-it-s-a-creative-process/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [You are a product of what you watch as a kid largely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/you-are-a-product-of-what-you-watch-as-a-kid-largely/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [I am a great believer that your humor is developed at a very early age, and it doesn't ever change. You're basically the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/i-am-a-great-believer-that-your-humor-is-developed-at-a-very-early/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [It doesn't matter if you're good at anything, just try your best. Then there's the idea that individually they're flawed but together they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-good-at-anything-just-try-your-best-then/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [I think we live in an entertainment world where performers like to flaunt how great they are. The Conchords don't do that. Even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/i-think-we-live-in-an-entertainment-world-where-performers-like-to/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [With humans you would say, "Don't stand over there." and that would probably work. With puppets, you can't stand over there because you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/with-humans-you-would-say-don-t-stand-over-there-and-that-would/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [It's a beacon of hope in a dark world. You watch 'The Muppets' and you're smiling for an hour and a half, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/it-s-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-world-you-watch-the-muppets-and-you/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) [Explore all 51 James Bobin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) ## More Allegory quotes > [Science fiction is a weird category, because it's the only area of fiction I can think of where the story is not of primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/science-fiction-is-a-weird-category-because-it-s-the-only-area-of/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [I think cinema is closer to allegories than to reality. It's closer to our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/i-think-cinema-is-closer-to-allegories-than-to-reality-it-s-closer-to/) [Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/) > [Allegories are, in the realm of thought, what ruins are in the realm of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/allegories-are-in-the-realm-of-thought-what-ruins-are-in-the-realm-of/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [A fairytale is not an allegory. There may be allegory in it, but it is not an allegory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/a-fairytale-is-not-an-allegory-there-may-be-allegory-in-it-but-it-is/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“However, as a guarantee of its renewed youth, the symbolical phoenix never reappeared before the eyes of the world without having consumed solemnly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/however-as-a-guarantee-of-its-renewed-youth-the-symbolical-phoenix/) [Éliphas Lévi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [The fumes of the most disordered imaginations were recorded in their religious code, as special communications of the Deity; and as it could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fumes-of-the-most-disordered-imaginations-were-recorded-in-their/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By a symbol I do not mean an allegory or a sign, but an image that describes in the best possible way the dimly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/by-a-symbol-i-do-not-mean-an-allegory-or-a-sign-but-an-image-that/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-struggle-against-allegory-i-let-the-readers-do/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“Hence all original religions are allegorical, or susceptible of allegory, and, like Janus, have a double face of false and true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hence-all-original-religions-are-allegorical-or-susceptible-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [It is remarkable how a man cannot summarize his thoughts in even the most general sort of way without betraying himself completely, without putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/it-is-remarkable-how-a-man-cannot-summarize-his-thoughts-in-even-the/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“The Durhannians' countenance lifted as is the way of Hope. There was a village elder whose eyes flickered with the light of Understanding. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-green-westlake/the-durhannians-countenance-lifted-as-is-the-way-of-hope-there-was-a/) Laurie Green Westlake > [“This philistinism of interpretation is more rife in literature than in any other art. For decades now, literary critics have understood it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/this-philistinism-of-interpretation-is-more-rife-in-literature-than/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“On this material plane, each living being is like a street lantern lamp with a dirty lampshade. The inside flame burns evenly and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-this-material-plane-each-living-being-is-like-a-street-lantern/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Not taking the Bible (or other texts based on 'revealed truths') literally leaves it up to the reader to cherry-pick elements for belief. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tayler/not-taking-the-bible-or-other-texts-based-on-revealed-truths/) [Jeffrey Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tayler/) > [We each create a story - a narritive, a picture, an allegory, a model - for what's going on in the universe. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/we-each-create-a-story-a-narritive-a-picture-an-allegory-a-model-for/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) [Browse all 150 Allegory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with something. No, the Muppets are not communist. And the character of Tex Richman is not an allegory for capitalism in any way. The character is called Tex Richman. It's a joke. Clearly he is a classic, old school bad guy. He's bad not because he works for an oil company but because he's evil. 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