--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That makes entertaining television. That…" description: "\"That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and the very, very worst. It's the boring peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png" --- # That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of… ![“That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and the very, very worst. It's the boring people that we don't want to see on television.” quote by Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png) > “That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and the very, very worst. It's the boring people that we don't want to see on television.” [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The show mixes top-tier talent with low-quality acts, highlighting that audiences prefer either excellence or novelty, not mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Entertainment thrives on extremes, not average. Key Takeaway Embrace excellence or innovate to avoid blandness. Themes media culture talent audience quality Mood critical observational Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - producing TV shows - marketing - audience research - content curation Key Concepts pop culture reality TV spectacle Questions to Reflect On - How does contrast affect viewer engagement? - What balance of quality and novelty keeps audiences interested? A Different Perspective Even the best productions can feel dull without contrast. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-idol/) [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Boring people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring-people/) [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Entertaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertaining/) [Entertaining Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertaining-television-5286923/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-circus-990767/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-television-475788/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [Television is god-damned amusement park. Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/television-is-god-damned-amusement-park-television-is-a-circus-a/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Television is not the truth! Television is a goddamned amusement park. Television is a circus, a carnival, a travelling troupe of acrobats and story-tellers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/television-is-not-the-truth-television-is-a-goddamned-amusement-park/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Hip-hop is a way of life. It isn't a genre in truth in 'American Idol.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/hip-hop-is-a-way-of-life-it-isn-t-a-genre-in-truth-in-american-idol/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I don't think rap really fits in to 'American Idol' in the sense that I believe rap is an art form in itself more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-don-t-think-rap-really-fits-in-to-american-idol-in-the-sense-that-i/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > ['American Idol' became a juggernaut of epic proportions, but to me it was always like home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/american-idol-became-a-juggernaut-of-epic-proportions-but-to-me-it/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [This whole thing about reality television to me is really indicative of America saying we're not satisfied just watching television, we want to star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/this-whole-thing-about-reality-television-to-me-is-really-indicative/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Frankly, I didn't want to do a television series because of the grind mainly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/frankly-i-didn-t-want-to-do-a-television-series-because-of-the-grind/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I look at television as a giant commercial for promoting this mission that I'm on. It's the best way for me to show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-combs/i-look-at-television-as-a-giant-commercial-for-promoting-this-mission/) [Jessi Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-combs/) > [I feel that, at this point in my career, I don't want to do another television show. I don't want to do a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/i-feel-that-at-this-point-in-my-career-i-don-t-want-to-do-another/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [I don't, frankly, want to be on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/i-don-t-frankly-want-to-be-on-television/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [I want television and film to reflect what the world is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-want-television-and-film-to-reflect-what-the-world-is/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Television isn't inherently good or bad. You go to a bookstore, there are how many thousands of books, but how many of those do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/television-isn-t-inherently-good-or-bad-you-go-to-a-bookstore-there/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [I didn't want to do television at all. I really didn't want to do it. I really thought I was just going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/i-didn-t-want-to-do-television-at-all-i-really-didn-t-want-to-do-it-i/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) > [I want to do television, film, music and designing. I want to do it all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-iman/i-want-to-do-television-film-music-and-designing-i-want-to-do-it-all/) [Chanel Iman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-iman/) ## More by Nigel Lythgoe > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [We've had nothing but support from everybody in the dance world for a National Dance Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/we-ve-had-nothing-but-support-from-everybody-in-the-dance-world-for-a/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I trained in every form of dance - started as a tap dancer when I was a kid, then contemporary, ballet, ballroom, everything. Russian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-trained-in-every-form-of-dance-started-as-a-tap-dancer-when-i-was-a/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [It takes two to make a relationship, but only one to screw it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/it-takes-two-to-make-a-relationship-but-only-one-to-screw-it-up/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [The minute you take away somebody the public's voting for, you're screwing with the program. There's no logic to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/the-minute-you-take-away-somebody-the-public-s-voting-for-you-re/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I've never believed that 'Idol' as a franchise is beholden to any individual because everybody said it would die the minute Simon Cowell left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-ve-never-believed-that-idol-as-a-franchise-is-beholden-to-any/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [In my lifetime, I've discovered a great many incredibly talented individuals. Some have achieved stardom. Simultaneously, I've seen many dreams shattered, egos destroyed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/in-my-lifetime-i-ve-discovered-a-great-many-incredibly-talented/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > ['American Idol' became a juggernaut of epic proportions, but to me it was always like home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/american-idol-became-a-juggernaut-of-epic-proportions-but-to-me-it/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [There's no question 'Amazing Race' is a beautifully produced show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/there-s-no-question-amazing-race-is-a-beautifully-produced-show/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [With dancing, so much is about sexuality and sensuality and without life experience it becomes much more of a performance, rather than a living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/with-dancing-so-much-is-about-sexuality-and-sensuality-and-without/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [So many people report to be contemporary dancers, and they're not. They are sort of jazz dancers that feel like they're throwing a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/so-many-people-report-to-be-contemporary-dancers-and-they-re-not-they/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I don't go into my dentist and say, 'Are you gay?' I don't say to contestants on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-don-t-go-into-my-dentist-and-say-are-you-gay-i-don-t-say-to/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [We put too much on contemporary dancers. A lot of them cannot change styles; a lot of them can't do anything else other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/we-put-too-much-on-contemporary-dancers-a-lot-of-them-cannot-change/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I think rap in the street when they have rap competitions is thrilling because these kids are making it up and having a go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-think-rap-in-the-street-when-they-have-rap-competitions-is/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I don't think rap really fits in to 'American Idol' in the sense that I believe rap is an art form in itself more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-don-t-think-rap-really-fits-in-to-american-idol-in-the-sense-that-i/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) [Explore all 36 Nigel Lythgoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) ## More American idol quotes > [I learned about this talent show on TV that was basically the Estonian version of 'American Idol.' So I lied about my age, went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/i-learned-about-this-talent-show-on-tv-that-was-basically-the/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [Being on 'American Idol,' the blessings of glasses have rained from the sky. I really would like to start a Danny line or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/being-on-american-idol-the-blessings-of-glasses-have-rained-from-the/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [I tried out for American Idol, I got a record deal, and now it's like my best days are ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/i-tried-out-for-american-idol-i-got-a-record-deal-and-now-it-s-like/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The brutality of the pace. This was my third presidential campaign and it was a thousand times faster paced than my first one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-madden/the-brutality-of-the-pace-this-was-my-third-presidential-campaign-and/) [Kevin Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-madden/) > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I've never seen American Idol but I am grateful to them. That show is one of Fox's biggest moneymakers, and some of that money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-ve-never-seen-american-idol-but-i-am-grateful-to-them-that-show-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [American Idol allowed us to find Carrie Underwood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/american-idol-allowed-us-to-find-carrie-underwood/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [At the end of the day, it is about the album and book and also about setting the record straight, because 'American Idol' has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-clark/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-is-about-the-album-and-book-and-also-about/) [Corey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-clark/) > [I think American Idol is a great career launcher. A blessing for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-london/i-think-american-idol-is-a-great-career-launcher-a-blessing-for-all/) [LaToya London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-london/) > [When one person does something that works, everyone else wants to do it. So it didn't surprise me at all to see people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/when-one-person-does-something-that-works-everyone-else-wants-to-do/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) > [What made 'American Idol' different from 'The Voice' and all these other singing competitions... 'American Idol' just gave regular old normal people like me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-porsha-renae/what-made-american-idol-different-from-the-voice-and-all-these-other/) [La'Porsha Renae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-porsha-renae/) > [I can't watch American Idol... it's like karaoke without the booze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-can-t-watch-american-idol-it-s-like-karaoke-without-the-booze/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [On 'American Idol,' I felt like one of my challenges was picking songs because I've definitely been exposed to a lot of music. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/on-american-idol-i-felt-like-one-of-my-challenges-was-picking-songs/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) [Browse all 262 American idol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-idol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and the very, very worst. It's the boring people that we don't want to see on television.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nigel Lythgoe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/that-makes-entertaining-television-that-is-the-circus-of-american/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American idol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/that-makes-entertaining-television-that-is-the-circus-of-american/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nigel-lythgoe-17711_american-idol_that-makes-entertaining-television-that_664227.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That makes entertaining television. That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and…” — Nigel Lythgoe", "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": "Nigel Lythgoe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That makes entertaining television. That is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/that-makes-entertaining-television-that-is-the-circus-of-american/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/that-makes-entertaining-television-that-is-the-circus-of-american/#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 } } ] } ```