--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hours is an understatement. I honestly…" description: "\"Hours is an understatement. I honestly don't know how the director and editor decide each week what actually makes it on the air. There's of course dir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/joel-mchale-8254_air_hours-is-an-understatement-i-honestly-do_1460042.jpg" --- # Hours is an understatement. I honestly don't know how the… ![“Hours is an understatement. I honestly don't know how the director and editor decide each week what actually makes it on the air. There's of course director and cast commentary on each episode on the DVD. We had a blast recording that.” quote by Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/joel-mchale-8254_air_hours-is-an-understatement-i-honestly-do_1460042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/joel-mchale-8254_air_hours-is-an-understatement-i-honestly-do_1460042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/joel-mchale-8254_air_hours-is-an-understatement-i-honestly-do_1460042.jpg) > “Hours is an understatement. I honestly don't know how the director and editor decide each week what actually makes it on the air. There's of course director and cast commentary on each episode on the DVD. We had a blast recording that.” [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The production schedule is so tight that many scenes are cut, leaving the final product far shorter than the raw footage. **In simple terms:** TV shows often have much more material than ends up airing. Key Takeaway Expect less than what you see behind the scenes. Themes production editing television timeconstraints Mood frustrated curious Type observational critical When to use this quote - TV series filming - post‑production meetings - DVD extras - director commentary - editorial choices Key Concepts media studies workflow creative decisionmaking Questions to Reflect On - How do creators decide what to cut? - What impact does missing content have on audience perception? A Different Perspective The quote may exaggerate; actual constraints can vary by show and network. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Blast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blast/) [Cast Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cast-commentary-5272931/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary/) [Commentary Episode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary-episode-5272929/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Dvds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dvds/) [Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors/) [Episode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episode/) [Episode Dvd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episode-dvd-5272930/) [Episodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Understatement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-understatement-5272928/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Understatement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understatement/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Gillard is as likeable as Rudd is charmless. She is self-deprecating; he is ludicrously vainglorious. She is a mistress of understatement; he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/gillard-is-as-likeable-as-rudd-is-charmless-she-is-self-deprecating/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [... the understatement, the self-ridicule, the delight in the foreignness of foreigners, the complete denial of any attempt to enlist the sympathies of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-understatement-the-self-ridicule-the-delight-in-the-foreignness/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [However old-fashioned and right-wing this may sound, the American genius for language lies in understatement, in saying things simply, pointedly and quickly, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/however-old-fashioned-and-right-wing-this-may-sound-the-american/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [ Richard \[Carrier\] takes the extremist position that Jesus of Nazareth never even existed, that there was no such person in history. This is a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/richard-carrier-takes-the-extremist-position-that-jesus-of-nazareth/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“You said I was pretty, before." "Did I?" A new laugh escaped him, mirthless. "How unoriginal. I must be the master of understatement. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-abe/you-said-i-was-pretty-before-did-i-a-new-laugh-escaped-him-mirthless/) [Shana Abé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-abe/) > [The ideal woman which is in every man's mind is evoked by a word or phrase or the shape of her wrist, her hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-ideal-woman-which-is-in-every-man-s-mind-is-evoked-by-a-word-or/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [To say that my dad pushed me is an understatement. I was never naturally drawn to football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/to-say-that-my-dad-pushed-me-is-an-understatement-i-was-never/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [Am I blessed? That would be an understatement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amruta-khanvilkar/am-i-blessed-that-would-be-an-understatement/) [Amruta Khanvilkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amruta-khanvilkar/) > [To prove that Wall Street is an early omen of movements still to come in GNP, commentators quote economic studies alleging that market downturns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/to-prove-that-wall-street-is-an-early-omen-of-movements-still-to-come/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [We look our best in subdued colors, sophisticated cuts, and a general air of sleek understatement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jil-sander/we-look-our-best-in-subdued-colors-sophisticated-cuts-and-a-general/) [Jil Sander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jil-sander/) > [Films like 'The Godfather,' 'Chinatown' and 'The Exorcist' brought a realism and currency and understatement to their genres that we wanted for 'Mildred Pierce.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/films-like-the-godfather-chinatown-and-the-exorcist-brought-a-realism/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Brody cannot believe the size of the creature, and with a classic, practical understatement tells Quint his assessment: You're gonna need a bigger boat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-scheider/brody-cannot-believe-the-size-of-the-creature-and-with-a-classic/) [Roy Scheider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-scheider/) > [I'm pretty blessed when it comes to clear skin. I owe that to being Cape Verdian. My whole family has great skin. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/i-m-pretty-blessed-when-it-comes-to-clear-skin-i-owe-that-to-being/) [Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/) > [The understatement is the English contribution to comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-davis/the-understatement-is-the-english-contribution-to-comedy/) [Jim Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-davis/) > [My modus operandi has always been understatement and that just doesn't really work in pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-watt/my-modus-operandi-has-always-been-understatement-and-that-just-doesn/) [Ben Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-watt/) ## More by Joel McHale > [I don't think the NFL had the slightest intention of taking me, except as maybe a water boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-think-the-nfl-had-the-slightest-intention-of-taking-me-except/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I love the challenge of an entire year has gone by and how has that affected the character you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-love-the-challenge-of-an-entire-year-has-gone-by-and-how-has-that/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [ Well, that would be a title \[the busiest guy in Hollywood\] still reserved for Ryan Seacrest. I have one assistant; he has about nine.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/well-that-would-be-a-title-the-busiest-guy-in-hollywood-still/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [My goal and my career is definitely not to be famous. That's a really horrible goal, just to be famous for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/my-goal-and-my-career-is-definitely-not-to-be-famous-that-s-a-really/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I'm very happy and being raised Catholic I assume it will end tomorrow. The rug will be pulled out from under me and someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-m-very-happy-and-being-raised-catholic-i-assume-it-will-end/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I don't feel any pressure to joke about #MeToo - in fact, I'd say you shouldn't, because it's a great movement that is exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-joke-about-metoo-in-fact-i-d-say-you/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [People might say it came easy for me. The fact is, I've worked hard on every role. I prepare for each audition...take the script,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/people-might-say-it-came-easy-for-me-the-fact-is-i-ve-worked-hard-on/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > ['Almost Live' allowed me to take chances and try things you can't do on national television. It allowed me to screw up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/almost-live-allowed-me-to-take-chances-and-try-things-you-can-t-do-on/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I was serious about Ultimate Fighting Championship. And I'm not even ashamed to say it because I want free tickets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-was-serious-about-ultimate-fighting-championship-and-i-m-not-even/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I don't really know. I think the first test is when you're very little and you fart, and you laugh at it and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-really-know-i-think-the-first-test-is-when-you-re-very-little/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [It's an awesome thing to be flung out onto the stage twice a weekend in front of 250 people, and you have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/it-s-an-awesome-thing-to-be-flung-out-onto-the-stage-twice-a-weekend/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I think the smart people will get even smarter, and the dumb people will get even dumber. But I think they all will enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-think-the-smart-people-will-get-even-smarter-and-the-dumb-people/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I love making fun of YouTubers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-love-making-fun-of-youtubers/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [Our mantra is that 90 percent of all television is bad, and ten percent has never been better. We make fun of that 90 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/our-mantra-is-that-90-percent-of-all-television-is-bad-and-ten/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I loved New Jersey. I thought it was the greatest place in the world because on Halloween kids could start trick or treating right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-loved-new-jersey-i-thought-it-was-the-greatest-place-in-the-world/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) [Explore all 82 Joel McHale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ 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/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There was a little nook on Air Force Two that contained the vice presidential seal, and I would sort of wedge myself in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/there-was-a-little-nook-on-air-force-two-that-contained-the-vice/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hours is an understatement. I honestly don't know how the director and editor decide each week what actually makes it on the air. There's of course director and cast commentary on each episode on the DVD. 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