--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There have been times I wanted to cry on…" description: "\"There have been times I wanted to cry on interview, but it hasn't been because that's what they're trying to conjure. No. I think you have to graduate ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-flansburgh-14315_cry_there-have-been-times-i-wanted-to-cry-on_325078.jpg" --- # There have been times I wanted to cry on interview, but it… ![“There have been times I wanted to cry on interview, but it hasn't been because that's what they're trying to conjure. No. I think you have to graduate to some higher level of TV IQ for people to actually want to see you cry.” quote by John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-flansburgh-14315_cry_there-have-been-times-i-wanted-to-cry-on_325078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-flansburgh-14315_cry_there-have-been-times-i-wanted-to-cry-on_325078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/john-flansburgh-14315_cry_there-have-been-times-i-wanted-to-cry-on_325078.jpg) > “There have been times I wanted to cry on interview, but it hasn't been because that's what they're trying to conjure. No. I think you have to graduate to some higher level of TV IQ for people to actually want to see you cry.” [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes needing to suppress emotional displays on TV, suggesting higher audience expectations for composure. **In simple terms:** TV expects you not to cry; you must appear composed. Key Takeaway Maintain composure in public performances. Themes media performance emotions television Mood contemplative insightful Type media criticism performance art When to use this quote - talk shows - news interviews - live performances Key Concepts psychology audience expectations Questions to Reflect On - Why do audiences value emotional authenticity? - How can performers balance vulnerability and professionalism? A Different Perspective Authentic emotion can resonate more than forced composure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-want-458653/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Interview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interview/) [Interview Hasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interview-hasn-3055229/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-graduate-3055230/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wanted Interview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-interview-3025642/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think we've ever been in an interview where someone hasn't asked, 'How did you guys get together?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/i-don-t-think-we-ve-ever-been-in-an-interview-where-someone-hasn-t/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [We wanted to interview people on the show, do variety, get the artists, the guests involved with us in our group. They wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-jones/we-wanted-to-interview-people-on-the-show-do-variety-get-the-artists/) [Davy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-jones/) > [ We've \[with Jack Black\] probably never been in an interview where someone hasn't asked how we got together, so we thought if we put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/we-ve-with-jack-black-probably-never-been-in-an-interview-where/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [The person I've always wanted to interview but never met was Richard Burton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/the-person-i-ve-always-wanted-to-interview-but-never-met-was-richard/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [I always wanted to interview Michael Jackson, because I just wanted to humanize him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-strauss/i-always-wanted-to-interview-michael-jackson-because-i-just-wanted-to/) [Neil Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-strauss/) > [I actually work at my craft, and I actually want to be the best in my category, and I want to be a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-grace-moretz/i-actually-work-at-my-craft-and-i-actually-want-to-be-the-best-in-my/) [Chloe Grace Moretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-grace-moretz/) > [I actually want to face Daniel Cormier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-dos-santos/i-actually-want-to-face-daniel-cormier/) [Junior dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-dos-santos/) > [I want to give you a way to eat your broccoli in a way that you actually want to eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-woodward/i-want-to-give-you-a-way-to-eat-your-broccoli-in-a-way-that-you/) [Ella Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-woodward/) > [“I want a mission. Not someone else’s mission, either. I want my own mission. Something I think up myself. Something I actually want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-want-a-mission-not-someone-else-s-mission-either-i-want-my-own/) [A.S. 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Super Mario 128? Actually, that's what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-miyamoto/what-comes-next-super-mario-128-actually-that-s-what-i-want-to-do/) [Shigeru Miyamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-miyamoto/) > [“You can't save anyone from themselves. They have to actually want to do the work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-baker/you-can-t-save-anyone-from-themselves-they-have-to-actually-want-to/) [Robin S. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-baker/) ## More by John Flansburgh > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [It's hard to tell a shallow person that they should care more about the feelings of the awkward and the alienated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/it-s-hard-to-tell-a-shallow-person-that-they-should-care-more-about/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [Every declarative statement that comes out of an interview with somebody is actually in response to a question. It's like this very real interpersonal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/every-declarative-statement-that-comes-out-of-an-interview-with/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [I feel like musicians have such a precarious place in the political discourse, because musicians are, sort of just by nature, people-pleasers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-musicians-have-such-a-precarious-place-in-the-political/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [I think the biggest wrestling match-up I have is how to respond to the word "quirky." Or the alternate, "nerdy." Both are essentially benign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-think-the-biggest-wrestling-match-up-i-have-is-how-to-respond-to/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [The simplest app on your smartphone requires 40 peoples' purest imagination. 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I think that's a big mistake, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-don-t-think-bands-should-feel-compelled-to-speak-out-unless-they/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [Look, up in the sky! It's the sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/look-up-in-the-sky-it-s-the-sky/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [A lot of times I'll post things on Facebook, and the immediate response will be like, "Stick to the music!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/a-lot-of-times-i-ll-post-things-on-facebook-and-the-immediate/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [ In an interview John \[Linnell\] said, 'At a certain point you just get tired of the way the other person breathes,' and I took… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/in-an-interview-john-linnell-said-at-a-certain-point-you-just-get/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [There is a fact-based belief system available to you if you want to believe in facts. But this is the weirdest time. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/there-is-a-fact-based-belief-system-available-to-you-if-you-want-to/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [If you're looking at the array of performers, there's just a lot of people that it's about getting closer to them. That's not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/if-you-re-looking-at-the-array-of-performers-there-s-just-a-lot-of/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) [Explore all 47 John Flansburgh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) ## More Cry quotes > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I cry at the end of every book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/i-cry-at-the-end-of-every-book/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [ The most important thing I learned \[...\] was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-extence/the-most-important-thing-i-learned-was-that-when-a-person-dies-he/) [Gavin Extence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-extence/) > [I would have done anything for him. Maybe that was my sickness. We made love in nothing places and turned the lights off. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-would-have-done-anything-for-him-maybe-that-was-my-sickness-we-made/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/it-is-easy-to-speak-words-of-love-or-to-meditate-lovingly-upon-those/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 4,998 Cry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There have been times I wanted to cry on interview, but it hasn't been because that's what they're trying to conjure. 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