--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up watching stand-ups and thought…" description: "\"I grew up watching stand-ups and thought it was so entertaining and unique - you didn't see that as a job description anywhere.\" — Kevin Nealon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/kevin-nealon-8834_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-stand-ups-and-thought_1774578.png" --- # I grew up watching stand-ups and thought it was so… ![“I grew up watching stand-ups and thought it was so entertaining and unique - you didn't see that as a job description anywhere.” quote by Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/kevin-nealon-8834_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-stand-ups-and-thought_1774578.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/kevin-nealon-8834_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-stand-ups-and-thought_1774578.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/kevin-nealon-8834_comedy_i-grew-up-watching-stand-ups-and-thought_1774578.png) > “I grew up watching stand-ups and thought it was so entertaining and unique - you didn't see that as a job description anywhere.” [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stand‑up comedy was once seen as unconventional work. **In simple terms:** Comedy wasn't a typical job. Key Takeaway Recognize unconventional career paths. Themes career perception comedy entertainment Mood humorous insightful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career counseling - creative workshops - media studies Key Concepts sociology career development Questions to Reflect On - How did you legitimize your passion? - What barriers exist for non‑traditional jobs? A Different Perspective May undervalue artistic professions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) ## Related quotes > [“But God in his infinite wisdome had apparently thought it was an entertaining idea for us to always be wanting to get up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/but-god-in-his-infinite-wisdome-had-apparently-thought-it-was-an/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [I think people really appreciate clever commercials, as do I. I think they're very entertaining. You just have to wade through all the garbage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-think-people-really-appreciate-clever-commercials-as-do-i-i-think/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [There's an audience that is paid to laugh at my jokes. I'm playing a character while I'm doing stand-up. Real stand-ups, man, they're playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-brosnahan/there-s-an-audience-that-is-paid-to-laugh-at-my-jokes-i-m-playing-a/) [Rachel Brosnahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-brosnahan/) > [I just like to build. Don't get me wrong: I think stand-up is great, and when someone like Richard Pryor or Steve Martin does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-just-like-to-build-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-stand-up-is-great-and/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I've been doing stand-up for a few years, and I have a handful of fans just from stuff I've done, like 'Last Comic Standing.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-glaser/i-ve-been-doing-stand-up-for-a-few-years-and-i-have-a-handful-of-fans/) [Nikki Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-glaser/) > [I'm grateful that I had that uphill battle for 10 years of going onstage and having nobody know who I was, because you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-m-grateful-that-i-had-that-uphill-battle-for-10-years-of-going/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [I don't know why, but people tend to look at stand-ups and think they can act, which actually isn't the case. But never mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-don-t-know-why-but-people-tend-to-look-at-stand-ups-and-think-they/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [What crushed my soul was hanging out with bitter, desperate comics backstage. They're a different breed than the bitter yet eager psyches in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/what-crushed-my-soul-was-hanging-out-with-bitter-desperate-comics/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [You are not any different. You can do anything you want. So many times, I've been asked what I think of women stand-ups. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/you-are-not-any-different-you-can-do-anything-you-want-so-many-times/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [Even though I do a more traditional type of being funny on television, I still know a lot of comedians and stand-ups and improv…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/even-though-i-do-a-more-traditional-type-of-being-funny-on-television/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I have a lot of friends who were stand-ups, and they just stopped after a while, because they didn't like that battle, or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-have-a-lot-of-friends-who-were-stand-ups-and-they-just-stopped/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [I like the fact that Chris Rock is one of the best stand ups ever and still is a really good actor. And a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-dugan/i-like-the-fact-that-chris-rock-is-one-of-the-best-stand-ups-ever-and/) Dennis Dugan > [I don't know, I find that honestly, the stand-up thing in some ways is a little bit of a cliche to carry around, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-don-t-know-i-find-that-honestly-the-stand-up-thing-in-some-ways-is/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I cannot believe that in all the years that there have been female stand-ups, there has never been a show just for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-flannery/i-cannot-believe-that-in-all-the-years-that-there-have-been-female/) [Kate Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-flannery/) > [As far as stand-ups go, I always loved Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Sinbad. Basically, I love black comedians because they're the funniest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/as-far-as-stand-ups-go-i-always-loved-richard-pryor-chris-rock-and/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) ## More by Kevin Nealon > [I learned how to draw from being bored in school. I would doodle on the margins of my paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-learned-how-to-draw-from-being-bored-in-school-i-would-doodle-on/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I'd been doing some light-beer commercials for Budweiser and Coors, and I was doing stand-up comedy. I wanted to get into the acting world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-d-been-doing-some-light-beer-commercials-for-budweiser-and-coors/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I think people really appreciate clever commercials, as do I. I think they're very entertaining. You just have to wade through all the garbage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-think-people-really-appreciate-clever-commercials-as-do-i-i-think/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [If you want a transcript of tonight's program, get a pen and write down everything I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/if-you-want-a-transcript-of-tonight-s-program-get-a-pen-and-write/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I really like to read when I'm eating - 'The New York Times' or the 'Wall Street Journal,' paper version.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-really-like-to-read-when-i-m-eating-the-new-york-times-or-the-wall/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I've noticed a surge when I go out somewhere, or if I'm doing stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-ve-noticed-a-surge-when-i-go-out-somewhere-or-if-i-m-doing-stand-up/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I play a lot of sports. 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I auditioned for the movie, and of course I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/roxanne-came-along-in-86-when-i-was-doing-a-lot-of-stand-up-i/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I became a vegetarian after I became aware of factory farming and slaughterhouses and the torture and inhumane handling of all these animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-became-a-vegetarian-after-i-became-aware-of-factory-farming-and/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I have a severe addiction to 'Angry Birds.' I always tell myself, 'One more game...' But then there's always another and another and another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-have-a-severe-addiction-to-angry-birds-i-always-tell-myself-one/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I really enjoyed working on the 2009 film, 'Aliens in the Attic,' because it was shot in New Zealand and I got to visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-really-enjoyed-working-on-the-2009-film-aliens-in-the-attic-because/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I tried to read the Bible, I did, but it always felt like a much less awesome Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-tried-to-read-the-bible-i-did-but-it-always-felt-like-a-much-less/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I don't smoke pot or cigarettes, so inhaling smoke as a non-smoker - it doesn't matter what it is, it's going to make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/i-don-t-smoke-pot-or-cigarettes-so-inhaling-smoke-as-a-non-smoker-it/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) [Explore all 77 Kevin Nealon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. 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This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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