---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,'…"
description: "\"I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty Python movies. But nothing made me want to get into comedy more than when 'Mr. Show' started..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg"
---

#  I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty…

![“I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty Python movies. But nothing made me want to get into comedy more than when 'Mr. Show' started airing.” quote by Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg)

> “I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty Python movies. But nothing made me want to get into comedy more than when 'Mr. Show' started airing.”

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early influences shape taste, but a specific show can ignite a passion for a craft.

**In simple terms:** Shows shaped his humor, but one show sparked his comedy drive.

Key Takeaway

Identify the catalyst that fuels your creative drive.

Themes

comedy inspiration media influence

Mood

nostalgic enthusiastic

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- stand‑up writing
- sketch comedy
- TV production
- personal branding

Key Concepts

humor theory creative motivation cultural impact

Questions to Reflect On

- Which media piece changed your career path?
- How do you sustain motivation after the initial spark?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone’s inspiration is obvious; some may need multiple triggers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Python](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/python/) [Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seinfeld/) [Snl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snl/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a very different show because of the elements that we're putting in. There's so many different styles of comedy, but Mr. Show was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-porter/it-s-a-very-different-show-because-of-the-elements-that-we-re-putting/)

[B. J. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-porter/)

> [I didn't want to write sketch comedy after 'Mr. Show.' I felt like, after 'Mr. Show', why would you want to go work at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/i-didn-t-want-to-write-sketch-comedy-after-mr-show-i-felt-like-after/)

[Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/)

> [“An animated conversation was in progress and the woman behind the counter started airing her views about a murder case that had created some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/an-animated-conversation-was-in-progress-and-the-woman-behind-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The Internet community started forming right when 'Buffy' started airing, and the notion of a show creator being anything other than a name people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/the-internet-community-started-forming-right-when-buffy-started/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [I remember when I was shooting for my debut show Tashan-e-Ishq,' the first season of Naagin' had just started airing and I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmin-bhasin/i-remember-when-i-was-shooting-for-my-debut-show-tashan-e-ishq-the/)

[Jasmin Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmin-bhasin/)

> [Things have slowed down considerably since the new series has started airing and I am currently looking for work. It has been a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-mariano/things-have-slowed-down-considerably-since-the-new-series-has-started/)

[Rob Mariano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-mariano/)

> [I guess after my television show started airing, and I would be walking around the mall or just out with friends, and girls would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-roberts/i-guess-after-my-television-show-started-airing-and-i-would-be/)

[Emma Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-roberts/)

> [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [There are tons of things I'd love to do. I want to do comedy. It's not that I don't want to play a superhero,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/there-are-tons-of-things-i-d-love-to-do-i-want-to-do-comedy-it-s-not/)

[Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/)

> [Audiences want comedy that has no venom. They want to have a laugh without it becoming twee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kay/audiences-want-comedy-that-has-no-venom-they-want-to-have-a-laugh/)

[Peter Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kay/)

> [I want to go to Australia so bad, do comedy there, and see the people there. It's a great country. I have friends that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/i-want-to-go-to-australia-so-bad-do-comedy-there-and-see-the-people/)

[Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/)

> [ Do it \[stand-up comedy\] because it feels like the right thing to do. Do it because you don't want to do anything else. There… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-it-stand-up-comedy-because-it-feels-like-the-right-thing-to-do-do/)

[Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/)

> [I want to do more comedy... I've done a couple TV shows that had some comedy going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-mabrey/i-want-to-do-more-comedy-i-ve-done-a-couple-tv-shows-that-had-some/)

[Sunny Mabrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-mabrey/)

> [A friend of mine was watching TV one day and he just was like, 'I bet you want to do comedy,' and he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/a-friend-of-mine-was-watching-tv-one-day-and-he-just-was-like-i-bet/)

[Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/)

> [I kind of want to be in a comedy movie, or maybe something like 'Star Wars.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-tremblay/i-kind-of-want-to-be-in-a-comedy-movie-or-maybe-something-like-star/)

[Jacob Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-tremblay/)

## More by Joe Mande

> [My first time performing was in the black box theater of my high school's basement as a member of 'Clownaz,' the school's improv team.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/my-first-time-performing-was-in-the-black-box-theater-of-my-high/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [The flute is a weird instrument, especially when played solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/the-flute-is-a-weird-instrument-especially-when-played-solo/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [Martin Noakes is a British conspiracy theorist who also happens to be maybe the best songwriter in the world, in my opinion. His songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/martin-noakes-is-a-british-conspiracy-theorist-who-also-happens-to-be/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [On stage and in person, I think I am nice, thoughtful, and empathetic. But for some reason when I'm online, I become super aggressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/on-stage-and-in-person-i-think-i-am-nice-thoughtful-and-empathetic/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [Whatever comedian says he doesn't read comments, I never believe him, because we all have the same pathological problem to see what people think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/whatever-comedian-says-he-doesn-t-read-comments-i-never-believe-him/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [I'm a big foodie! I eat, like, three times a day... but most of all, I'm a breathie. Breathing air? That's the best thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-m-a-big-foodie-i-eat-like-three-times-a-day-but-most-of-all-i-m-a/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [You should really get some quotes about our show. Noah loves when people talk about him. Negatively or positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/you-should-really-get-some-quotes-about-our-show-noah-loves-when/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [I don't even know if people even care what a 27-year-old Jewish kid thinks about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-don-t-even-know-if-people-even-care-what-a-27-year-old-jewish-kid/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [I definitely talk about stuff I watch, but it's longer-form stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-definitely-talk-about-stuff-i-watch-but-it-s-longer-form-stuff/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

> [I got a pit bull from a shelter, so my whole life is centered on this dog, and I've been writing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-got-a-pit-bull-from-a-shelter-so-my-whole-life-is-centered-on-this/)

[Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

[Explore all 11 Joe Mande quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/)

## More Comedy quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [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 wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/)

[Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/)

> [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/)

[Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [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 have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/)

[Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/)

> [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/)

[Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/)

[Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

[Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty Python movies. But nothing made me want to get into comedy more than when 'Mr. Show' started airing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joe Mande"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-snl-and-monty-python-movies-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-snl-and-monty-python-movies-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joe-mande-38727_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-sn_3029171.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL,' and Monty Python movies. But nothing made me want to get…” — Joe Mande",
                "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": "Joe Mande",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I grew up watching Letterman, 'Seinfeld,'...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-snl-and-monty-python-movies-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/i-grew-up-watching-letterman-seinfeld-snl-and-monty-python-movies-but/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
