--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you aspire to on a sitcom is the…" description: "\"What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live comedy.\" — John Lithgow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg" --- # What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live… ![“What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live comedy.” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg) > “What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live comedy.” [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sitcom aims to capture the spontaneity and immediacy of live comedy, blending scripted humor with real‑time feeling. **In simple terms:** Sitcoms try to feel like live comedy. Key Takeaway Create authentic, lively humor. Themes comedy performance authenticity Mood humorous inspirational Type creative instructional When to use this quote - writing rooms - rehearsals - live audience shows Key Concepts theatrical timing improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How can writers keep humor fresh? - What techniques bring spontaneity to scripted scenes? A Different Perspective Live energy can be hard to sustain on screen. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I have the feeling that we live in a dubbed movie and everybody moves their lips but the voices don't correspond. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/sometimes-i-have-the-feeling-that-we-live-in-a-dubbed-movie-and/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [“Remember, that it's beautiful to live in a body built for feeling, and live intensely on a planet exuding intensity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-erickson/remember-that-it-s-beautiful-to-live-in-a-body-built-for-feeling-and/) [Victoria Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-erickson/) > [“Do you know that feeling - The feeling of being alive and dead, both at the same time? When it seems like you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavya-kaushik/do-you-know-that-feeling-the-feeling-of-being-alive-and-dead-both-at/) [Bhavya Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavya-kaushik/) > [I love being on tour; I love being on the road. It's the most amazing feeling ever. I live for it; I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-graham/i-love-being-on-tour-i-love-being-on-the-road-it-s-the-most-amazing/) [Kat Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-graham/) > [I have a feeling that once you live through something like this, you become a little bit invincible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/i-have-a-feeling-that-once-you-live-through-something-like-this-you/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Every now and again I want to go to the beach and be in the sun, but that's a very rare feeling, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/every-now-and-again-i-want-to-go-to-the-beach-and-be-in-the-sun-but/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [“It's more than words & somehow more than actions could ever show. It's hard to explicate this feeling I have for you, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-reeves/it-s-more-than-words-somehow-more-than-actions-could-ever-show-it-s/) David Reeves > [“Wake every morning with the same feeling. Live up high and fly on top of the ceiling. I just know that I'm on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/wake-every-morning-with-the-same-feeling-live-up-high-and-fly-on-top/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) > [I love the feeling of being in front of a live crowd and performing and just kind of letting loose and getting the crowd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/i-love-the-feeling-of-being-in-front-of-a-live-crowd-and-performing/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [I love being on tour; I love being on the road. Its the most amazing feeling ever. I live for it; I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-graham/i-love-being-on-tour-i-love-being-on-the-road-its-the-most-amazing/) [Katerina Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-graham/) > [Having done film, TV and theatre, the nicest final bit of the jigsaw is to do live comedy, because you can talk to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-cave/having-done-film-tv-and-theatre-the-nicest-final-bit-of-the-jigsaw-is/) [Jessie Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-cave/) > [I never go see live comedy shows because I just sit in the audience thinking, "Here's what I would say. Here's what I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-never-go-see-live-comedy-shows-because-i-just-sit-in-the-audience/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Live comedy is ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/live-comedy-is/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [Presenting the Oscars was the most nerve-racking job I have ever done in show business. It's very much a live show: they have comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/presenting-the-oscars-was-the-most-nerve-racking-job-i-have-ever-done/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Live comedy's a very reckless, foolhardy profession. You're only as good as your last gig so earnings fluctuate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/live-comedy-s-a-very-reckless-foolhardy-profession-you-re-only-as/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## More by John Lithgow > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The Broadway audience is made up of a greater percentage of tourists now. There's not nearly as much variety and danger and challenge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-broadway-audience-is-made-up-of-a-greater-percentage-of-tourists/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My sense of myself is that I'm a character actor, and character actors are ready, willing, and able to do anything, to be totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-sense-of-myself-is-that-i-m-a-character-actor-and-character-actors/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [The essence of comedy, drama, and horror is surprise. I have an uncanny ability to surprise people because they look at my face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-essence-of-comedy-drama-and-horror-is-surprise-i-have-an-uncanny/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I never get tired of hearing compliments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-compliments/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I think there are all sorts of ways of turning into an actor, and there are a vast variety of different actors. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-think-there-are-all-sorts-of-ways-of-turning-into-an-actor-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'd sleep under a Vermeer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-d-sleep-under-a-vermeer/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm an avid Boston Red Sox fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-an-avid-boston-red-sox-fan/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My very first role was when I was 2 1/2 years old; I was one of Nora's children in 'A Doll's House,' with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-very-first-role-was-when-i-was-2-1-2-years-old-i-was-one-of-nora-s/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-as-flighty-as-anybody-you-put-a-lot-out-there-i-ve-been-through/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [We all grow up with inherited genes and inherited sensibilities, and they run very, very deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/we-all-grow-up-with-inherited-genes-and-inherited-sensibilities-and/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I don't deal with the nuts and bolts of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-don-t-deal-with-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-life/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [My worst audition was for Tim Burton for 'Batman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-worst-audition-was-for-tim-burton-for-batman/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I gave up shame a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-gave-up-shame-a-long-time-ago/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/time-sneaks-up-on-you-like-a-windshield-on-a-bug/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) [Explore all 166 John Lithgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## More Aspire quotes > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [At the end of the day, everyone knows what it is to be loved and to aspire to love someone, to want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-knows-what-it-is-to-be-loved-and-to/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I aspire my country eventually has a league where all players play 50 games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/i-aspire-my-country-eventually-has-a-league-where-all-players-play-50/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I'm exceptional in everything that I do and I aspire to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-exceptional-in-everything-that-i-do-and-i-aspire-to-do/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [One of the reasons you study at great institutions or aspire to work in great corporations is that you hope to acquire the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/one-of-the-reasons-you-study-at-great-institutions-or-aspire-to-work/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/so-if-you-aspire-to-be-a-good-conversationali-st-be-an-attentive/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world - and my distaste for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/for-me-there-has-always-been-a-disconnect-with-the-sort-of-elitist/) [Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/) > [There is not a right too long denied to which we do not aspire in order to achieve; there is not a wrong too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/there-is-not-a-right-too-long-denied-to-which-we-do-not-aspire-in/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) Browse all 650 Aspire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live comedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lithgow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-feeling-of-live-comedy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-feeling-of-live-comedy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/john-lithgow-2438_aspire_what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-fe_2496015.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What you aspire to on a sitcom is the feeling of live comedy.” — John Lithgow", "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": "John Lithgow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What you aspire to on a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-feeling-of-live-comedy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/what-you-aspire-to-on-a-sitcom-is-the-feeling-of-live-comedy/#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 } } ] } ```