--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I did on television was a…" description: "\"The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where I played a priest. It was a Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg story - I can't quite remember - bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg" --- # The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where… ![“The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where I played a priest. It was a Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg story - I can't quite remember - but I was a turn-of-the-20th-century priest kind of guy. Never saw it; don't know if I was any good or not.” quote by Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg) > “The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where I played a priest. It was a Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg story - I can't quite remember - but I was a turn-of-the-20th-century priest kind of guy. Never saw it; don't know if I was any good or not.” [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His first TV role was a priest in a period piece, but he is unsure of its quality. **In simple terms:** He played a turn‑of‑the‑20th‑century priest on early TV. Key Takeaway Embrace early experiences despite uncertainty. Themes career beginnings self‑doubt performance Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type reflective career When to use this quote - audition preparation - role research - confidence building Key Concepts period drama character acting television debut Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you learn from that role? - How did it shape your acting? A Different Perspective Early roles may not reflect later skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [My chief literary influences have been Paul Laurence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman. My favorite public figures include Jimmy Durante, Marlene Dietrich, Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/my-chief-literary-influences-have-been-paul-laurence-dunbar-carl/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [When I was in high school, I was a bad singer. I mean, all my early acting was musical theater, and my first ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-a-bad-singer-i-mean-all-my-early/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [Give me back the $800 billion for the Iraq war and children's television PBS is on the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/give-me-back-the-800-billion-for-the-iraq-war-and-children-s/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I did three television shows in Poughkeepsie in one day, with Adrian Adonis and The Iron Sheik. They gave us no food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/i-did-three-television-shows-in-poughkeepsie-in-one-day-with-adrian/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I never stopped working when I got married and had kids. I did television and always tried to do what I could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/i-never-stopped-working-when-i-got-married-and-had-kids-i-did/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [Canadian cities looked the way American cities did on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/canadian-cities-looked-the-way-american-cities-did-on-television/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [It's amazing how many people you see on TV. I did my first television show a month ago, and the next day five million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/it-s-amazing-how-many-people-you-see-on-tv-i-did-my-first-television/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [I messed around in high school, but I pretty much put it away until I did a television show in San Francisco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-messed-around-in-high-school-but-i-pretty-much-put-it-away-until-i/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [After I did television, I just felt I didn't have any more to give to the medium. And so I went back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/after-i-did-television-i-just-felt-i-didn-t-have-any-more-to-give-to/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [I did a television commercial when I was 12 back home with Diaw. I have known him a long time. We are very close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/i-did-a-television-commercial-when-i-was-12-back-home-with-diaw-i/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [Did television execs have souls? Now, that was an existential question and a half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/did-television-execs-have-souls-now-that-was-an-existential-question/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Before I did any television or film, I did years and years of theater. Television and film stuff, even though it went on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shalhoub/before-i-did-any-television-or-film-i-did-years-and-years-of-theater/) [Tony Shalhoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shalhoub/) > [When I was in college, I did do some writing of poetry, somewhat inspired, I think at that time, by Carl Sandburg, because English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/when-i-was-in-college-i-did-do-some-writing-of-poetry-somewhat/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [The worst thing to happen to Lincoln - aside from the unfortunate incident at Ford's theatre - was to fall into the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-worst-thing-to-happen-to-lincoln-aside-from-the-unfortunate/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The American mind, unlike the English, is not formed by books, but, as Carl Sandburg once said to me, by newspapers and the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-wyck-brooks/the-american-mind-unlike-the-english-is-not-formed-by-books-but-as/) [Van Wyck Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-wyck-brooks/) ## More by Kelsey Grammer > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [The greatest sin is judgment without knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-greatest-sin-is-judgment-without-knowledge/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I was brought up to never lie. Sure, I have. But in the final mix, the lies I've told are far outweighed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-was-brought-up-to-never-lie-sure-i-have-but-in-the-final-mix-the/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [ The first thing I thought \[when I read the script\] was that Frasier was an intellectual at some points but also an Everyman -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-first-thing-i-thought-when-i-read-the-script-was-that-frasier-was/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [As a Christian, we always fail because we can't become Christ. But I can try to at least emulate the best qualities, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/as-a-christian-we-always-fail-because-we-can-t-become-christ-but-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I'm a walk-on guy. When the director says, 'Action,' I'm on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-m-a-walk-on-guy-when-the-director-says-action-i-m-on/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [It's fun to play a guy who's honestly fearless...Yes, he's driven by a fear of losing power, but this guy will do anything. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/it-s-fun-to-play-a-guy-who-s-honestly-fearless-yes-he-s-driven-by-a/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I've never really allowed anyone else to tell me whether I'm good or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-ve-never-really-allowed-anyone-else-to-tell-me-whether-i-m-good-or/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [So every human being on the planet can identify with the X-Men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/so-every-human-being-on-the-planet-can-identify-with-the-x-men/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [My life is a party thrown for me by my own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/my-life-is-a-party-thrown-for-me-by-my-own-decisions/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I always thought Cheers ended well. You always anticipate that the characters, theough they're leaving television, will somehow go on in another world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-always-thought-cheers-ended-well-you-always-anticipate-that-the/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [Apologizes are pointless, regrets come too late. What matters is you can move, on you can grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/apologizes-are-pointless-regrets-come-too-late-what-matters-is-you/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [Life is supposed to get tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/life-is-supposed-to-get-tough/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [Kayte is breast-feeding, and we do not have a nanny or a trusted baby-sitter at this time, so Faith goes everywhere with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/kayte-is-breast-feeding-and-we-do-not-have-a-nanny-or-a-trusted-baby/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [I thought 'Back To You' was a good show. The writers' strike really kind of put an end to that, though, honestly. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-thought-back-to-you-was-a-good-show-the-writers-strike-really-kind/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) [Explore all 77 Kelsey Grammer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) Browse all 40,882 Good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where I played a priest. It was a Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg story - I can't quite remember - but I was a turn-of-the-20th-century priest kind of guy. Never saw it; don't know if I was any good or not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelsey Grammer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was-a-pbs-thing-where-i-played-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was-a-pbs-thing-where-i-played-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/kelsey-grammer-8855_good_the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was_3179182.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first thing I did on television was a PBS thing where I played a priest. It was a Walt Whitman or Carl…” — Kelsey Grammer", "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": "Kelsey Grammer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The first thing I did on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was-a-pbs-thing-where-i-played-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/the-first-thing-i-did-on-television-was-a-pbs-thing-where-i-played-a/#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 } } ] } ```