--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're doing 22 shows on network…" description: "\"When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the writers are going on vapors towards the end and, as an actor, you're just trashed by the end.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg" --- # When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the… ![“When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the writers are going on vapors towards the end and, as an actor, you're just trashed by the end.” quote by Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg) > “When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the writers are going on vapors towards the end and, as an actor, you're just trashed by the end.” [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors face extreme fatigue and mental strain after long TV production runs, leading to burnout. **In simple terms:** Long TV work exhausts actors. Key Takeaway Prioritize rest and set limits. Themes burnout television actors Mood tired reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - long series filming - daily rehearsals - late-night shoots Key Concepts mental health work-life balance Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your well‑being on set? - What limits can you set? A Different Perspective Sustaining performance may require support staff. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Stand-up will always come first. I've been doing it for 22 years, and nothing compares to that connection you have with the audience. It's euphoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/stand-up-will-always-come-first-i-ve-been-doing-it-for-22-years-and/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I'll cop to this: so much of doing a 22-episode show is just keeping your head above water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-jackson/i-ll-cop-to-this-so-much-of-doing-a-22-episode-show-is-just-keeping/) [Joshua Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-jackson/) > [I have a theory that there has never been a bad movie written about television because the writers have all been victims of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-have-a-theory-that-there-has-never-been-a-bad-movie-written-about/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [I have a great job writing for 'The Office,' but, really, all television writers do is dream of one day writing movies. I'll put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-have-a-great-job-writing-for-the-office-but-really-all-television/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [There's this message to comedians in particular, that you shouldn't write it, and a television writer should write it. And that's a prevailing conventional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/there-s-this-message-to-comedians-in-particular-that-you-shouldn-t/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Movies, particularly the big hit movies, are all just special effects. But on television, the writers are in control of the shows, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-cohen/movies-particularly-the-big-hit-movies-are-all-just-special-effects/) [Larry Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-cohen/) > [The way that TV is set up is very helpful for when a show comes to an end because as an actor, you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/the-way-that-tv-is-set-up-is-very-helpful-for-when-a-show-comes-to-an/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [At the end of it, as an actor it is important for me to not judge my characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/at-the-end-of-it-as-an-actor-it-is-important-for-me-to-not-judge-my/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [When I did the role of a cop in 'Gabbar Is Back,' that was totally unexpected of me. But people liked it and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/when-i-did-the-role-of-a-cop-in-gabbar-is-back-that-was-totally/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [In the end, the actor's main power is the power to say, 'No.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/in-the-end-the-actor-s-main-power-is-the-power-to-say-no/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [In the end, I'm an actor. I'm paid for what I bring to the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-braeden/in-the-end-i-m-an-actor-i-m-paid-for-what-i-bring-to-the-screen/) [Eric Braeden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-braeden/) > [I never even knew I would end up becoming an actor. It was coincidental for me. Once I did it, I realised it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-chakraborty/i-never-even-knew-i-would-end-up-becoming-an-actor-it-was/) [Rhea Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-chakraborty/) > [Since in the end, as an actor, I cannot do much apart from giving my best on camera, I won't let myself be affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/since-in-the-end-as-an-actor-i-cannot-do-much-apart-from-giving-my/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [To me, the series was the end of the actor, when the series ended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-cooper/to-me-the-series-was-the-end-of-the-actor-when-the-series-ended/) [Jackie Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-cooper/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) ## More by Jimmy Smits > [Growing up in New York, we lived all around the city depending on our economic circumstance. I also lived in Puerto Rico for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/growing-up-in-new-york-we-lived-all-around-the-city-depending-on-our/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I left 'L.A. Law' after five years when my contract was up because I felt I had done all I could do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-left-l-a-law-after-five-years-when-my-contract-was-up-because-i/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I don't feel I have to acknowledge how I'm doing by an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-acknowledge-how-i-m-doing-by-an-award/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [People become actors because they want to hide, and it's not easy to talk about myself. I accept that a certain responsibility goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/people-become-actors-because-they-want-to-hide-and-it-s-not-easy-to/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [As an actor, you think to yourself, 'I want to do good work,' but you also want the work that you do to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/as-an-actor-you-think-to-yourself-i-want-to-do-good-work-but-you-also/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I have no tattoos at all - it was a huge undertaking for me in the '80s to let my parents know I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-have-no-tattoos-at-all-it-was-a-huge-undertaking-for-me-in-the-80s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [It just makes you feel proud, more than anything else, that the work has in some way transcended itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/it-just-makes-you-feel-proud-more-than-anything-else-that-the-work/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the loss of one's privacy. Your life becomes an open book, but I've found ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-most-obvious-thing-that-comes-to-mind-is-the-loss-of-one-s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [Michael C. Hall is an incredibly detailed actor who can convey so much with just an eyebrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/michael-c-hall-is-an-incredibly-detailed-actor-who-can-convey-so-much/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The Fourth of July concert is invigorating in so many ways, in terms of what it feels like to be an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-fourth-of-july-concert-is-invigorating-in-so-many-ways-in-terms/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [You have to be like a sponge and use what you can and how it relates because TV is fluid. Things change on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/you-have-to-be-like-a-sponge-and-use-what-you-can-and-how-it-relates/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [California has been very good to me in terms of the professional arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/california-has-been-very-good-to-me-in-terms-of-the-professional-arena/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I save the rage for the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-save-the-rage-for-the-stage/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I almost feel like sometimes when I'm on location, you miss your home and your family and all that stuff, but it keeps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-almost-feel-like-sometimes-when-i-m-on-location-you-miss-your-home/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) [Explore all 134 Jimmy Smits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the writers are going on vapors towards the end and, as an actor, you're just trashed by the end.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Smits" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-television-the-writers-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-television-the-writers-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/jimmy-smits-3297_actor_when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-te_502919.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're doing 22 shows on network television, the writers are going on vapors towards the end and, as an…” — Jimmy Smits", "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 Smits", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you're doing 22 shows on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-television-the-writers-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/when-you-re-doing-22-shows-on-network-television-the-writers-are/#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 } } ] } ```