--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone told me that British sitcom was…" description: "\"Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. Then I looked at 'Seinfeld' and 'Frasier' and thought, 'No it's not, it just needs more gags.'\" — Lee Mack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/lee-mack-7146_british_everyone-told-me-that-british-sitcom-was_1475019.jpg" --- # Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. Then I… ![“Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. Then I looked at 'Seinfeld' and 'Frasier' and thought, 'No it's not, it just needs more gags.'” quote by Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/lee-mack-7146_british_everyone-told-me-that-british-sitcom-was_1475019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/lee-mack-7146_british_everyone-told-me-that-british-sitcom-was_1475019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/lee-mack-7146_british_everyone-told-me-that-british-sitcom-was_1475019.jpg) > “Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. Then I looked at 'Seinfeld' and 'Frasier' and thought, 'No it's not, it just needs more gags.'” [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. British humor thrives when writers prioritize fresh jokes over nostalgia. **In simple terms:** Comedy needs new jokes. Key Takeaway Refresh sitcoms with original humor. Themes comedy television writing Mood lighthearted optimistic Type observational humorous When to use this quote - scriptwriting - stand‑up - TV production - show revivals Key Concepts gag development audience expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can writers balance classic style with new jokes? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on gags? A Different Perspective Original jokes may not guarantee audience engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-sitcom-5362338/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Frasier Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frasier-thought-5362340/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Gags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-gags-5362339/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Sitcom Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom-dead-1648797/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of people say the sitcom is dead. I think they're right to some extent, in that the shows they're putting out are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-savage/a-lot-of-people-say-the-sitcom-is-dead-i-think-they-re-right-to-some/) [Ben Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-savage/) > [It's much harder to have a BBC One sitcom than to have a tour of stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/it-s-much-harder-to-have-a-bbc-one-sitcom-than-to-have-a-tour-of/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [Not Going Out' is a pretty neutral sitcom - to quote the 'Seinfeld' thing, it's not really about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/not-going-out-is-a-pretty-neutral-sitcom-to-quote-the-seinfeld-thing/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [Now and again I'll bump into people and say, 'I'm a big fan of yours. Would you like to be in my sitcom?' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/now-and-again-i-ll-bump-into-people-and-say-i-m-a-big-fan-of-yours/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I'm a huge fan of stuff like 'Planet Earth' and the American sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-stuff-like-planet-earth-and-the-american-sitcom/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I can remember when I was a baby and my mother was there watching the show. I went and bought 100 episodes and watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-epps/i-can-remember-when-i-was-a-baby-and-my-mother-was-there-watching-the/) [Mike Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-epps/) > [I think a challenge with every sitcom is, how do you maintain things that people are attached to without becoming so reiterative that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-think-a-challenge-with-every-sitcom-is-how-do-you-maintain-things/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I had done a sitcom and a movie and hosted the Emmys, and all of a sudden, I lost everything. As someone put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-had-done-a-sitcom-and-a-movie-and-hosted-the-emmys-and-all-of-a/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [To create anything — whether a short story or a magazine profile or a film or a sitcom — is to believe, if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bissell/to-create-anything-whether-a-short-story-or-a-magazine-profile-or-a/) [Tom Bissell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bissell/) > [Sitcom writing is difficult because it's not just about writing jokes - there's a very fine balance between characters, plot, and comedy, that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/sitcom-writing-is-difficult-because-it-s-not-just-about-writing-jokes/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I am actually working on The Neighbors sitcom. We are starting from scratch. I am also working on a comedy movie and a vampire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-am-actually-working-on-the-neighbors-sitcom-we-are-starting-from/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [The Monkees was a straight sitcom, we used the same plots that were on the other situation comedies at the time. So the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/the-monkees-was-a-straight-sitcom-we-used-the-same-plots-that-were-on/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [ I love doing sitcoms and I love performing in front of a live audience, so \[Payne\] was a really fun experience. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/i-love-doing-sitcoms-and-i-love-performing-in-front-of-a-live/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I mean, sitcoms shouldn't be doing 'Saturday Night Live.' You can't just do bit after bit after bit. You have to string it together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-dewitt/i-mean-sitcoms-shouldn-t-be-doing-saturday-night-live-you-can-t-just/) [Joyce DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-dewitt/) ## More by Lee Mack > [We're all basically decent human beings so if 3,000 people are laughing at a joke then it's worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/we-re-all-basically-decent-human-beings-so-if-3-000-people-are/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I used to tell people I was a comic and they'd be fascinated. Now all you get is: 'Oh yeah, my cousin Steve's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-used-to-tell-people-i-was-a-comic-and-they-d-be-fascinated-now-all/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [If I am old-fashioned, it's not a conscious decision. I just do material that I think is funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/if-i-am-old-fashioned-it-s-not-a-conscious-decision-i-just-do/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I have to say I like Edinburgh, but I'm not a big fan of the Festival - I like it but I'm not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-have-to-say-i-like-edinburgh-but-i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-the-festival/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [My great-grandfather was a variety hall comedian called Billy Mack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/my-great-grandfather-was-a-variety-hall-comedian-called-billy-mack/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [Genuinely my big thing and the reason I'm in 'The Miser' is because I always ask myself one simple question when I'm offered anything:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/genuinely-my-big-thing-and-the-reason-i-m-in-the-miser-is-because-i/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [The best comedy you can ever have is when you're in the pub with your mates. You can never beat that. That's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/the-best-comedy-you-can-ever-have-is-when-you-re-in-the-pub-with-your/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I've realised that my strength is writing around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-ve-realised-that-my-strength-is-writing-around-people/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [In TV, you get driven to work in a luxury car, and find flowers in your dressing room. Then suddenly you're on tour, drying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/in-tv-you-get-driven-to-work-in-a-luxury-car-and-find-flowers-in-your/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [If I was reading a book about a comedian, I wouldn't really care too much about their childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/if-i-was-reading-a-book-about-a-comedian-i-wouldn-t-really-care-too/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I suppose if your parents die in their 50s and you are approaching 50, you see that you are definitely not in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-suppose-if-your-parents-die-in-their-50s-and-you-are-approaching-50/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [From the age of 14, I remember thinking I wanted to be a comedian. But that was like saying I wanted to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/from-the-age-of-14-i-remember-thinking-i-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-but/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [Going on stage is a performance, it's an act; you're playing a version of yourself. I don't give it a lot of thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/going-on-stage-is-a-performance-it-s-an-act-you-re-playing-a-version/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I would say about 90 per cent of drunken idiots in comedy clubs wear ties, particularly in London where I work most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-would-say-about-90-per-cent-of-drunken-idiots-in-comedy-clubs-wear/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [There are probably about 50 comedians who would come to my 50th birthday party but I'm not sure how many of them would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/there-are-probably-about-50-comedians-who-would-come-to-my-50th/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) [Explore all 94 Lee Mack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. 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