--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last…" description: "\"Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last person on earth I ever expected to help my career was Jay Leno. I had always thought of performing on 'The Tonight..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jim-norton-2848_career_being-a-harsh-dirty-comic-the-last-perso_1061578.png" --- # Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last person on earth I… ![“Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last person on earth I ever expected to help my career was Jay Leno. I had always thought of performing on 'The Tonight Show' as an unachievable goal, because I bought into the myth that only squeaky clean, family-friendly material would be welcome there.” quote by Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jim-norton-2848_career_being-a-harsh-dirty-comic-the-last-perso_1061578.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jim-norton-2848_career_being-a-harsh-dirty-comic-the-last-perso_1061578.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jim-norton-2848_career_being-a-harsh-dirty-comic-the-last-perso_1061578.png) > “Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last person on earth I ever expected to help my career was Jay Leno. I had always thought of performing on 'The Tonight Show' as an unachievable goal, because I bought into the myth that only squeaky clean, family-friendly material would be welcome there.” [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) ## 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 realized that success can come from unexpected sources, breaking stereotypes about what is acceptable in mainstream media. **In simple terms:** Success can come from unlikely places, challenging assumptions about acceptable content. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse opportunities and challenge industry myths. Themes career stereotypes media opportunity growth Mood hopeful determined reflective Type inspirational career industry. When to use this quote - stand‑up gigs - networking - pitching to TV - rebranding material - overcoming self‑imposed limits Key Concepts comedy mainstream acceptance career breakthrough Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions about your field might be holding you back? - How can you leverage unexpected allies? A Different Perspective The entertainment industry may still favor certain images, limiting chances for unconventional talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Me on the 'Jay Leno Show?' I'd have never thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/me-on-the-jay-leno-show-i-d-have-never-thought/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [I've never been a dirty comic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/i-ve-never-been-a-dirty-comic/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [I was very dirty; I was a very dirty comic. There was no way I would have gotten on TV with the act I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-was-very-dirty-i-was-a-very-dirty-comic-there-was-no-way-i-would/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [Mr. Bumpy from Bump in the Night was this funky little guy who lived under the bed and thought eating dust bunnies was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/mr-bumpy-from-bump-in-the-night-was-this-funky-little-guy-who-lived/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [“She's not the enemy. She's just a dirty fighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/she-s-not-the-enemy-she-s-just-a-dirty-fighter/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Dont ever wrestle with a pig u'll both get dirty but the pig will enj0y it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udechukwu-d0navan/dont-ever-wrestle-with-a-pig-u-ll-both-get-dirty-but-the-pig-will/) Udechukwu D0navan > [Who gets to be best-liked in any community? Who is the most trusted? Why, the man who does the dirty job, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/who-gets-to-be-best-liked-in-any-community-who-is-the-most-trusted/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More by Jim Norton > [I unloaded trucks for a living and I hated it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-unloaded-trucks-for-a-living-and-i-hated-it/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I wanted to do a talk show that reminded me of the old school ones I loved as a kid, without all the fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-wanted-to-do-a-talk-show-that-reminded-me-of-the-old-school-ones-i/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [It's surreal to be hanging out on Ozzy's patio with him talking politics. It's so funny when people doubt that he's with it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/it-s-surreal-to-be-hanging-out-on-ozzy-s-patio-with-him-talking/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I figure I do a lot of things, none of them particularly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-figure-i-do-a-lot-of-things-none-of-them-particularly-well/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [With 'Mouthful of Shame,' all of my fans or the majority of them said it's the best thing you've ever done and that meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/with-mouthful-of-shame-all-of-my-fans-or-the-majority-of-them-said-it/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [The deeper the pit, the more humor you need to dig yourself out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/the-deeper-the-pit-the-more-humor-you-need-to-dig-yourself-out-of-it/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I hope you accidentally drink leukemia at a picnic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-hope-you-accidentally-drink-leukemia-at-a-picnic/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [What a shock that a guy who makes $2 million a week behaves exactly like I would with $2 million a week. As far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/what-a-shock-that-a-guy-who-makes-2-million-a-week-behaves-exactly/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [Comedians want honest discussion because it affects us. We make our living talking, so anything around language affects us greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/comedians-want-honest-discussion-because-it-affects-us-we-make-our/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [You really are a badass, edgy guy who tells it like it is...about couscous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/you-really-are-a-badass-edgy-guy-who-tells-it-like-it-is-about/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [Ozzy Osbourne is one of my favorite interviews, he's so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/ozzy-osbourne-is-one-of-my-favorite-interviews-he-s-so-good/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [People are just self-centered-it's all about them. And we're telling people it's okay to be 'all about you' because you're a victim and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/people-are-just-self-centered-it-s-all-about-them-and-we-re-telling/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [Anyone who can't tell the difference between a joke and hate speech is just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/anyone-who-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-a-joke-and-hate-speech/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) [Explore all 148 Jim Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a harsh, dirty comic, the last person on earth I ever expected to help my career was Jay Leno. 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