--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I…" description: "\"When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can't really read, and I had to read teleprompter.\" — Joel McHale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png" --- # When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious… ![“When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can't really read, and I had to read teleprompter.” quote by Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png) > “When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can't really read, and I had to read teleprompter.” [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. Starting a TV show while struggling with reading highlights anxiety and the need to adapt to new challenges. **In simple terms:** Anxiety over reading for a show. Key Takeaway Seek support and practice to overcome reading hurdles. Themes anxiety adaptation media learning Mood nervous determined Type career motivational When to use this quote - TV hosting - skill development - confidence building Key Concepts public speaking teleprompter use Questions to Reflect On - How did you improve your reading? - What resources helped you? A Different Perspective May not cover long‑term coping strategies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2004 Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2004-anxious-5140590/) [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Anxious Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious-really-1425809/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soup/) [Soup 2004](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soup-2004-5140591/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-soup-5140592/) ## Related quotes > [You have a new audience for every show. Even though you do the same thing all the time, you gotta keep it fresh for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-elliot/you-have-a-new-audience-for-every-show-even-though-you-do-the-same/) [Cass Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-elliot/) > [My intention with The Soup was to hopefully follow in the footsteps of past hosts, like Greg Kinnear. The pedigree of that show was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/my-intention-with-the-soup-was-to-hopefully-follow-in-the-footsteps/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [If you don't like tomato soup, you don't buy tomato soup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-parker/if-you-don-t-like-tomato-soup-you-don-t-buy-tomato-soup/) [Kathleen Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-parker/) > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [The day has the color and the sound of winter. Thoughts turn to chowder...chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-paddleford/the-day-has-the-color-and-the-sound-of-winter-thoughts-turn-to/) [Clementine Paddleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-paddleford/) > [The whole point with type is for you not to be aware it is there. If you remember the shape of a spoon with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-frutiger/the-whole-point-with-type-is-for-you-not-to-be-aware-it-is-there-if/) [Adrian Frutiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-frutiger/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [I'm sick of Soup Of The Day, man. It's time we make a decision. I need to know what Soup From Now On is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-sick-of-soup-of-the-day-man-it-s-time-we-make-a-decision-i-need/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Waiters will always pee in soup, people will always fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/waiters-will-always-pee-in-soup-people-will-always-fall-in-love/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Why should the Marquis de Cussy wage war on soup? I cannot understand a dinner without it. I hold soup to be the well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoine-careme/why-should-the-marquis-de-cussy-wage-war-on-soup-i-cannot-understand/) [Marie-Antoine Careme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoine-careme/) > [Courageous dreaming allows you to create from the source, the quantum soup of the universe where everything exists in a latent or potential state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/courageous-dreaming-allows-you-to-create-from-the-source-the-quantum/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) ## 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 Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm a very anxious, nervy kind of loser in many ways, and I get very stressed and a little tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/i-m-a-very-anxious-nervy-kind-of-loser-in-many-ways-and-i-get-very/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-anxious-to-be-the-loudest-voice-or-the-most-popular-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You simply can't be tentative in a startup. You have to go for it at every chance you get. And if the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/you-simply-can-t-be-tentative-in-a-startup-you-have-to-go-for-it-at/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-don-t-understand-why-gay-people-are-so-anxious-to-get-married/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) [Browse all 1,159 Anxious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can't really read, and I had to read teleprompter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel McHale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-was-so-anxious-because-i-can-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-was-so-anxious-because-i-can-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/joel-mchale-8254_anxious_when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-w_640180.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started 'The Soup' back in 2004, I was so anxious because I can't really read, and I had to read…” — Joel McHale", "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": "Joel McHale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started 'The Soup' back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-was-so-anxious-because-i-can-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/when-i-started-the-soup-back-in-2004-i-was-so-anxious-because-i-can-t/#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 } } ] } ```