--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is, we have this idea that late…" description: "\"The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about creativity and being cool, but that's not our job. Our job is to get as many people watching t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg" --- # The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about… ![“The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about creativity and being cool, but that's not our job. Our job is to get as many people watching the commercials in between our show. That's the reality of it.” quote by Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg) > “The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about creativity and being cool, but that's not our job. Our job is to get as many people watching the commercials in between our show. That's the reality of it.” [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges that late‑night TV’s purpose is entertainment and ad revenue, not artistic creativity. **In simple terms:** Late‑night TV is about business, not art. Key Takeaway Focus on audience engagement over personal expression. Themes entertainment business creativity reality advertising Mood pragmatic analytical Type media business When to use this quote - planning TV segments - advertising strategy - career planning in media Key Concepts media economics audience psychology industry expectations Questions to Reflect On - How does commercial pressure shape content? - Can creativity thrive in profit‑driven environments? A Different Perspective Creative work still matters beyond profit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Commercials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercials/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Late night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-night/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Listening to parents' advice is sort of like watching commercials. You know what's coming, you've heard it all before, it's a big bore, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/listening-to-parents-advice-is-sort-of-like-watching-commercials-you/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [If everyone thinks you have a good idea, you´re too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/if-everyone-thinks-you-have-a-good-idea-you-re-too-late/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [For me, being on set is no different than being at a dinner table or riding the subway next to someone; inevitably their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-mahoney/for-me-being-on-set-is-no-different-than-being-at-a-dinner-table-or/) [Victoria Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-mahoney/) > [When we developed the 'Seinfeld' show, we took a bet on Jerry Seinfeld, who was not a household name. But Jerry had a voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-littlefield/when-we-developed-the-seinfeld-show-we-took-a-bet-on-jerry-seinfeld/) [Warren Littlefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-littlefield/) > [I know there are, like, 12 rules for late night: a desk, a band. Will people take me seriously if I don't wear a tie?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-know-there-are-like-12-rules-for-late-night-a-desk-a-band-will/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [If I have one criticism of the other late-night shows, it's that they're almost entirely scripted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/if-i-have-one-criticism-of-the-other-late-night-shows-it-s-that-they/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I'm on the Internet a lot more than I watch TV and most everybody I know is, and yet if you watch most late-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-milonakis/i-m-on-the-internet-a-lot-more-than-i-watch-tv-and-most-everybody-i/) [Andy Milonakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-milonakis/) > [“Love is warmth. It’s the inside jokes. It’s the reassuring touch. It’s the late night talks. It’s the finding of common interests. It’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nessie-q/love-is-warmth-it-s-the-inside-jokes-it-s-the-reassuring-touch-it-s/) [Nessie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nessie-q/) > [I can't tell you how many fights I've seen late night at Waffle Houses. I've not been in one myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-kracker/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-fights-i-ve-seen-late-night-at-waffle/) [Uncle Kracker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-kracker/) > [“The thing about late-night cookery was that it made sense at the time. It always had some logic behind it. It just wasn’t the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-late-night-cookery-was-that-it-made-sense-at-the-time/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [All the small things True care, truth brings I'll take one lift Your ride best trip Always I know You'll be at my show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blink-182/all-the-small-things-true-care-truth-brings-i-ll-take-one-lift-your/) Blink 182 > [Love makes you a singer love makes you a poet love makes you a fighter love makes you a forgiver love makes you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-makes-you-a-singer-love-makes-you-a-poet-love-makes-you-a/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I relish the time I have when there are no interruptions. Most often the best time for writing is late at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-relish-the-time-i-have-when-there-are-no-interruptions-most-often/) [Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [There was a product on late night TV that you could attach to your garden hose - "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-was-a-product-on-late-night-tv-that-you-could-attach-to-your/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More by Jimmy Kimmel > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I wish Vine had Tivo. Who can sit through all that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-wish-vine-had-tivo-who-can-sit-through-all-that/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Aren't all marriages kind of gay? As a man, when you get marries, essentially what you're saying is 'I will never touch another woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/aren-t-all-marriages-kind-of-gay-as-a-man-when-you-get-marries/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I only get unusual ailments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-only-get-unusual-ailments/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [No matter who it is, I hate to see people losing their jobs. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/no-matter-who-it-is-i-hate-to-see-people-losing-their-jobs-i-really-do/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [Hurricane Katrina has been particularly hard on President Bush, who was forced to end his vacation two days early. He was supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/hurricane-katrina-has-been-particularly-hard-on-president-bush-who/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [At the Emmys, you've got a bunch of people who are used to being on TV on TV. You don't have that at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/at-the-emmys-you-ve-got-a-bunch-of-people-who-are-used-to-being-on-tv/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I don't want to ruin it for you, but at the end, Voldemort kills Harry with a fairly vivious atomic wedgie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-don-t-want-to-ruin-it-for-you-but-at-the-end-voldemort-kills-harry/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [When I was on the radio, I used to be able to go a lot farther than I can now. You don't really remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/when-i-was-on-the-radio-i-used-to-be-able-to-go-a-lot-farther-than-i/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [You can say Pizza Hut is terrible pizza, but they also sell more pizzas than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/you-can-say-pizza-hut-is-terrible-pizza-but-they-also-sell-more/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [You don't need to exorcise your personal demons onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/you-don-t-need-to-exorcise-your-personal-demons-onstage/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [If I could have one super power, it would be the ability to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/if-i-could-have-one-super-power-it-would-be-the-ability-to-read/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [The TSA downgraded the threat level for flights between the U.S. and England from severe to high. So if you're nervous about taking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/the-tsa-downgraded-the-threat-level-for-flights-between-the-u-s-and/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I don't know if we can call ourselves everyday Joes. I think Supermen is more appropriate. We're just trying to take back the medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-don-t-know-if-we-can-call-ourselves-everyday-joes-i-think-supermen/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [I'm a creative consultant, whatever that means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/i-m-a-creative-consultant-whatever-that-means/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) [Explore all 52 Jimmy Kimmel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about creativity and being cool, but that's not our job. Our job is to get as many people watching the commercials in between our show. That's the reality of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Kimmel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late-night-is-about-creativity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late-night-is-about-creativity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/jimmy-kimmel-12942_about_the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late_2278731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The truth is, we have this idea that late night is about creativity and being cool, but that's not our job…” — Jimmy Kimmel", "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": "Jimmy Kimmel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The truth is, we have this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late-night-is-about-creativity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/the-truth-is-we-have-this-idea-that-late-night-is-about-creativity/#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 } } ] } ```