--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I have learned from working on those…" description: "\"What I have learned from working on those great shows is what is the DNA that makes them so deeply involving and interesting for an audience over a lon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jeremy-podeswa-24213_character_what-i-have-learned-from-working-on-thos_2382718.jpg" --- # What I have learned from working on those great shows is… ![“What I have learned from working on those great shows is what is the DNA that makes them so deeply involving and interesting for an audience over a long period of time. So much has to do with character, complexity, and sophistication.” quote by Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jeremy-podeswa-24213_character_what-i-have-learned-from-working-on-thos_2382718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jeremy-podeswa-24213_character_what-i-have-learned-from-working-on-thos_2382718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/jeremy-podeswa-24213_character_what-i-have-learned-from-working-on-thos_2382718.jpg) > “What I have learned from working on those great shows is what is the DNA that makes them so deeply involving and interesting for an audience over a long period of time. So much has to do with character, complexity, and sophistication.” [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful long‑running shows rely on deep, complex characters and sophisticated storytelling. **In simple terms:** Complex characters drive lasting shows. Key Takeaway Focus on character depth. Themes media storytelling character development Mood analytical inspirational Type industry educational When to use this quote - TV series - film franchises - novels - theatre Key Concepts narrative theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What makes a character compelling? - How balance complexity with accessibility? A Different Perspective Complexity can alienate casual audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Complexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexity/) [Complexity Sophistication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexity-sophistication-1242978/) [Dna Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna-makes-5907022/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-shows-249459/) [Involving Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involving-interesting-5907021/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Shows Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows-dna-5907020/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Today we are even manipulating the DNA that makes us possible in the first place—a case of evolution evolving new ways to evolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-walter/today-we-are-even-manipulating-the-dna-that-makes-us-possible-in-the/) [Chip Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-walter/) > [Increasingly, people seem to misinterpret complexity as sophistication, which is baffling -- the incomprehensible should cause suspicion rather than admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklaus-wirth/increasingly-people-seem-to-misinterpret-complexity-as-sophistication/) [Niklaus Wirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklaus-wirth/) > [Believe me, I don't take that lightly. To have struck gold twice with 'Rent' and 'Wicked.' I know it's rare and I'm very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/believe-me-i-don-t-take-that-lightly-to-have-struck-gold-twice-with/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [I'm an HBO subscriber, and I watch a bunch of great shows on HBO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-m-an-hbo-subscriber-and-i-watch-a-bunch-of-great-shows-on-hbo/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I honestly feel that "Murder, She Wrote" stands alone, as many of the other great shows of the past 35, 40 years do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-honestly-feel-that-murder-she-wrote-stands-alone-as-many-of-the/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [Not that there weren't great shows, and not that there wasn't plenty of fine music played. It's just that the consistency and the height…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/not-that-there-weren-t-great-shows-and-not-that-there-wasn-t-plenty/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [I've been really fortunate to be associated with all these great shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-ve-been-really-fortunate-to-be-associated-with-all-these-great-shows/) [Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/) > [We have had some great shows this summer, the Jammin Against the Darkness event was pretty incredible and it was good to see everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reuben-zappin/we-have-had-some-great-shows-this-summer-the-jammin-against-the/) [John Reuben Zappin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reuben-zappin/) > [It's a blessing to be a part of such great shows that they're so recognizable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boreanaz/it-s-a-blessing-to-be-a-part-of-such-great-shows-that-they-re-so/) [David Boreanaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boreanaz/) > [It's nice to always have a job and not be floating out in the ether waiting for whatever the next big thing is. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/it-s-nice-to-always-have-a-job-and-not-be-floating-out-in-the-ether/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [I'm an actor who works, and a lot of this is luck for me, that I get to be a part of really great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-m-an-actor-who-works-and-a-lot-of-this-is-luck-for-me-that-i-get-to/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I am completely and utterly hooked to all the great shows on A&E and Court TV that are about small town murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-pollak/i-am-completely-and-utterly-hooked-to-all-the-great-shows-on-a-e-and/) [Kevin Pollak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-pollak/) > [The British model, which I've always thought was great, is that you do a TV show and then they sell it. Then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-british-model-which-i-ve-always-thought-was-great-is-that-you-do/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [All the great shows owe a lot to 'Hill Street Blues.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-james/all-the-great-shows-owe-a-lot-to-hill-street-blues/) [Lennie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-james/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) ## More by Jeremy Podeswa > [In 'Queer as Folk,' we had three or four sex scenes in every episode, so I got used to doing that very early on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/in-queer-as-folk-we-had-three-or-four-sex-scenes-in-every-episode-so/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Aidan Gillen is such a great actor, and it was so nice to have an opportunity to work with him, even if it's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/aidan-gillen-is-such-a-great-actor-and-it-was-so-nice-to-have-an/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [I am working with writers and producers to have a more proprietary relationship over shows, having more ownership and creative control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/i-am-working-with-writers-and-producers-to-have-a-more-proprietary/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Something that 'Game of Thrones' always does successfully is that action sequences are never just action sequences. There's always a point of view, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/something-that-game-of-thrones-always-does-successfully-is-that/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [We tend to rush through life, generally. We don't appreciate the people around us, the relationships we have, or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/we-tend-to-rush-through-life-generally-we-don-t-appreciate-the-people/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [When any character gets killed, there's always a sadness about that, because they're part of the family in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/when-any-character-gets-killed-there-s-always-a-sadness-about-that/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [I'm very attracted to schematic structures. My brother is a chemical engineer, he has a very mathematical mind, and he's also a visual artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/i-m-very-attracted-to-schematic-structures-my-brother-is-a-chemical/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [When doing a fantasy show - or a show with fantasy elements - the more you can anchor an effect to reality, the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/when-doing-a-fantasy-show-or-a-show-with-fantasy-elements-the-more/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Whatever we try - to be rich, to be happy - death is unavoidable. It doesn't matter how much money you have; it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/whatever-we-try-to-be-rich-to-be-happy-death-is-unavoidable-it-doesn/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Horrific things should be presented as horrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/horrific-things-should-be-presented-as-horrific/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Claire Danes in 'Homeland' just blew me away. She is so intuitive, and her choices are so unique. When you see somebody like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/claire-danes-in-homeland-just-blew-me-away-she-is-so-intuitive-and/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [Usually, historically, nothing good comes out of relationships becoming more complicated!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/usually-historically-nothing-good-comes-out-of-relationships-becoming/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [You have to think about storytelling over the long haul: what is going to engage an audience for, potentially, years and how characters can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/you-have-to-think-about-storytelling-over-the-long-haul-what-is-going/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [When I started as a filmmaker, I never, ever imagined in a million years that I would be doing television because, at that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/when-i-started-as-a-filmmaker-i-never-ever-imagined-in-a-million/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) > [If you have children and you hear about a child being kidnapped, it makes you really appreciate your own children. It makes you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-podeswa/if-you-have-children-and-you-hear-about-a-child-being-kidnapped-it/) [Jeremy Podeswa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) [Explore all 24 Jeremy Podeswa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-podeswa/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I have learned from working on those great shows is what is the DNA that makes them so deeply involving and interesting for an audience over a long period of time. 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