--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, that's science fiction television…" description: "\"“Well, that's science fiction television for you, though,\" Abnett said. \"Someone's got to be the red shirt.”\" — John Scalzi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png" --- # Well, that's science fiction television for you, though,"… ![“Well, that's science fiction television for you, though," Abnett said. "Someone's got to be the red shirt.” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png) > ““Well, that's science fiction television for you, though," Abnett said. "Someone's got to be the red shirt.”” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He jokes that a minor character must fill the role of a disposable “red shirt” in sci‑fi TV. **In simple terms:** Minor roles are often sacrificial. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of all participants. Themes humor science fiction role hierarchy Mood witty critical Type literary humorous When to use this quote - TV writing - team dynamics - risk assessment Key Concepts narrative tropes character function Questions to Reflect On - Why do we label some roles as expendable? - How can we honor every contribution? A Different Perspective Red shirts may be essential, not trivial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Red shirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-shirt/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [I've continued to write fiction since being in television. TV is a different kind of writing, but it's all writing. 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We don't need to motivate players because each of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/fire-in-your-belly-comes-from-pride-and-passion-in-wearing-the-red/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [Allan Jeremy Thirteenth Cotterill ...He is the one with the red on his shirt that stands up a bit more. < 333](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-white-s-posion-bite/allan-jeremy-thirteenth-cotterill-he-is-the-one-with-the-red-on-his/) [Snow White's Posion Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-white-s-posion-bite/) > [“I walked around the sad honkytonks of Curtis Street; young kids in jeans and red shirts; peanut shells, movie marquees, shooting parlours. 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(on retiring from international football)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/i-m-upset-there-was-nothing-like-putting-on-the-red-shirt-on-retiring/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [“The game jostled back and forth, and then came the final inning. Some player named Casey came to bat, like his teammates, looking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-maguire-mcgill/the-game-jostled-back-and-forth-and-then-came-the-final-inning-some/) Molly Maguire McGill > [It was a dream for me to play in the red shirt - I will keep this shirt with me always. I hope this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/it-was-a-dream-for-me-to-play-in-the-red-shirt-i-will-keep-this-shirt/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [Jump into an open grave? What kind of idiot are you?" Butters replied. "I might as well put on a red shirt and volunteer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/jump-into-an-open-grave-what-kind-of-idiot-are-you-butters-replied-i/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“So the captain, the first officer and the ship's doctor and sometimes the engineer all beam down to a planet. Together." "The entire complement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/so-the-captain-the-first-officer-and-the-ship-s-doctor-and-sometimes/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“Who is he?” Eleanor lowered her voice, the name rolling off her tongue like a dark secret. “Dante Berlin.” I laughed. “Dante? Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-woon/who-is-he-eleanor-lowered-her-voice-the-name-rolling-off-her-tongue/) [Yvonne Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-woon/) > [“When Jarvis first started heading out beyond the wall with us, I questioned his actions. After all, he was our leader. I questioned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-johnathan-davis/when-jarvis-first-started-heading-out-beyond-the-wall-with-us-i/) [S. Johnathan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-johnathan-davis/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. 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They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Red shirt quotes > [“When Jarvis first started heading out beyond the wall with us, I questioned his actions. After all, he was our leader. I questioned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-johnathan-davis/when-jarvis-first-started-heading-out-beyond-the-wall-with-us-i/) [S. Johnathan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-johnathan-davis/) > [“Who is he?” Eleanor lowered her voice, the name rolling off her tongue like a dark secret. “Dante Berlin.” I laughed. “Dante? Like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-woon/who-is-he-eleanor-lowered-her-voice-the-name-rolling-off-her-tongue/) [Yvonne Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-woon/) > [“So the captain, the first officer and the ship's doctor and sometimes the engineer all beam down to a planet. Together." "The entire complement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/so-the-captain-the-first-officer-and-the-ship-s-doctor-and-sometimes/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Jump into an open grave? What kind of idiot are you?" Butters replied. "I might as well put on a red shirt and volunteer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/jump-into-an-open-grave-what-kind-of-idiot-are-you-butters-replied-i/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [It was a dream for me to play in the red shirt - I will keep this shirt with me always. I hope this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/it-was-a-dream-for-me-to-play-in-the-red-shirt-i-will-keep-this-shirt/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [“The game jostled back and forth, and then came the final inning. Some player named Casey came to bat, like his teammates, looking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-maguire-mcgill/the-game-jostled-back-and-forth-and-then-came-the-final-inning-some/) Molly Maguire McGill > [I'm upset. There was nothing like putting on the red shirt. (on retiring from international football)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/i-m-upset-there-was-nothing-like-putting-on-the-red-shirt-on-retiring/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [And believe me, to have been in the city of Tuscaloosa in October when you were young and full of Early Times and had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/and-believe-me-to-have-been-in-the-city-of-tuscaloosa-in-october-when/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [“Backed by Klan-type organizations dubbed “Red Shirts” and “Rough Riders,” Democrats summoned thirty-two of the city’s prominent blacks and laid out their demands: All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-johnson/backed-by-klan-type-organizations-dubbed-red-shirts-and-rough-riders/) [Nicholas Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-johnson/) > [“I walked around the sad honkytonks of Curtis Street; young kids in jeans and red shirts; peanut shells, movie marquees, shooting parlours. Beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-walked-around-the-sad-honkytonks-of-curtis-street-young-kids-in/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Allan Jeremy Thirteenth Cotterill ...He is the one with the red on his shirt that stands up a bit more. < 333](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-white-s-posion-bite/allan-jeremy-thirteenth-cotterill-he-is-the-one-with-the-red-on-his/) [Snow White's Posion Bite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-white-s-posion-bite/) > [Fire in your belly comes from pride and passion in wearing the red shirt. We don't need to motivate players because each of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/fire-in-your-belly-comes-from-pride-and-passion-in-wearing-the-red/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [As soon as Liverpool declared their interest in signing me, it was a simple decision to make. 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I enjoy helping people, but not every two minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/never-wear-a-red-t-shirt-to-target-i-enjoy-helping-people-but-not/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [Kenny Dalglish is a hero of mine and is the best player to ever wear a red shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gerrard/kenny-dalglish-is-a-hero-of-mine-and-is-the-best-player-to-ever-wear/) [Steven Gerrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gerrard/) [Browse all 25 Red shirt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-shirt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Well, that's science fiction television for you, though,\" Abnett said. \"Someone's got to be the red shirt.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Scalzi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/well-that-s-science-fiction-television-for-you-though-abnett-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Red shirt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/well-that-s-science-fiction-television-for-you-though-abnett-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/john-scalzi-2071_red-shirt_well-that-s-science-fiction-television-f_2333534.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, that's science fiction television for you, though,\" Abnett said. \"Someone's got to be the red shirt.” — John Scalzi", "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 Scalzi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Well, that's science fiction television for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/well-that-s-science-fiction-television-for-you-though-abnett-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/well-that-s-science-fiction-television-for-you-though-abnett-said/#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 } } ] } ```