--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Frankly, as much as I love to improvise…" description: "\"Frankly, as much as I love to improvise, it hasn't been difficult to stick to the script on 'Mad Men.' The writing is so precise, and the story so care..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/rich-sommer-15874_ad_frankly-as-much-as-i-love-to-improvise-i_1113205.jpg" --- # Frankly, as much as I love to improvise, it hasn't been… ![“Frankly, as much as I love to improvise, it hasn't been difficult to stick to the script on 'Mad Men.' The writing is so precise, and the story so carefully crafted, that I don't think there's room - or need - for ad libbing. I could never come up with dialogue as lovely as these writers do, anyway.” quote by Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/rich-sommer-15874_ad_frankly-as-much-as-i-love-to-improvise-i_1113205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/rich-sommer-15874_ad_frankly-as-much-as-i-love-to-improvise-i_1113205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/rich-sommer-15874_ad_frankly-as-much-as-i-love-to-improvise-i_1113205.jpg) > “Frankly, as much as I love to improvise, it hasn't been difficult to stick to the script on 'Mad Men.' The writing is so precise, and the story so carefully crafted, that I don't think there's room - or need - for ad libbing. I could never come up with dialogue as lovely as these writers do, anyway.” [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The precise, tightly written script of the show leaves little room for improvisation, highlighting the craft of the writers. **In simple terms:** The show's exact script limits improvisation, showcasing writer skill. Key Takeaway Appreciate the value of disciplined writing in collaborative projects. Themes writing craft television production discipline collaboration creative process Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical reflective When to use this quote - screenwriting workshops - TV production meetings - director-writer collaborations - actor rehearsals Key Concepts Script fidelity authorial voice production constraints Questions to Reflect On - How does strict scripting affect actor creativity? - When might ad‑libbing improve a scene? A Different Perspective Improvisation can sometimes enhance authenticity if managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crafted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafted/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mad men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I love to improvise when it's appropriate and encouraged by a producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-paulsen/i-love-to-improvise-when-it-s-appropriate-and-encouraged-by-a-producer/) [Rob Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-paulsen/) > [I love to improvise, but I always thought "Man, it's like the final frontier for improvisational actors, to really go for something emotional, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-love-to-improvise-but-i-always-thought-man-it-s-like-the-final/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [I love to improvise!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/i-love-to-improvise/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [Say what you will about the leadership of 'SNL,' they have crafted an institution as opposed to just running a show. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lamarr/say-what-you-will-about-the-leadership-of-snl-they-have-crafted-an/) [Phil LaMarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lamarr/) > [“You have been crafted with utmost care and creativity by your Creator. There is none other like you in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-ruprell/you-have-been-crafted-with-utmost-care-and-creativity-by-your-creator/) [Pooja Ruprell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-ruprell/) > [With portable cameras and affordable data and non-linear digital editing, I think this is a golden age of documentary filmmaking. These new technologies mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-walker/with-portable-cameras-and-affordable-data-and-non-linear-digital/) [Lucy Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-walker/) > [I feel like my imagination was crafted by Tolkien. He seemed to tap into that childhood intrigue of secret doors and hidden worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-feel-like-my-imagination-was-crafted-by-tolkien-he-seemed-to-tap/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [America's legacy has been crafted by generations of hard-working men and women who moved to the United States from all over the globe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/america-s-legacy-has-been-crafted-by-generations-of-hard-working-men/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I still love a well-crafted joke. Twitter's been great for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/i-still-love-a-well-crafted-joke-twitter-s-been-great-for-that/) [Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/) > [I feel like there's too many areas in my game that I've sharpened and crafted and brought to a really high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-plant/i-feel-like-there-s-too-many-areas-in-my-game-that-i-ve-sharpened-and/) [Caleb Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-plant/) > [I've crafted a really weird career for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-ve-crafted-a-really-weird-career-for-myself/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [I'm inspired every time I see a role I'd like to play, an actor turn in a well crafted performance, a story I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/i-m-inspired-every-time-i-see-a-role-i-d-like-to-play-an-actor-turn/) [T'Keyah Crystal Keymah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/) > [You hoop with a certain expression. That's your art. You've crafted it, so it is your art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-hoop-with-a-certain-expression-that-s-your-art-you-ve-crafted-it/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-am-very-much-interested-in-the-so-called-useless-object-i-mean-it/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I'm not handled. I'm not crafted by slick, high-priced consultants. I'm a real person, a genuine person, a struggling person in Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-whitnum/i-m-not-handled-i-m-not-crafted-by-slick-high-priced-consultants-i-m/) [Lee Whitnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-whitnum/) ## More by Rich Sommer > [In college, my friend Melanie and I used to have weekly Jimmy Stewart viewings, and 'Harvey' seemed to make its way into the rotation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/in-college-my-friend-melanie-and-i-used-to-have-weekly-jimmy-stewart/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [Part of what I love about games is that, even if you're best friends with somebody, it gives you these sort of moments where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/part-of-what-i-love-about-games-is-that-even-if-you-re-best-friends/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I listen to a lot of podcasts, which are split down the middle between comedy and board game podcasts, and a couple of eclectic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-podcasts-which-are-split-down-the-middle-between/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I'm a bit of a nerd, and my extracurricular activity is nerd games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-m-a-bit-of-a-nerd-and-my-extracurricular-activity-is-nerd-games/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [The amount of times my wife has rolled her eyes at board games is impossible to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/the-amount-of-times-my-wife-has-rolled-her-eyes-at-board-games-is/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I only aim for fashion that's long dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-only-aim-for-fashion-that-s-long-dead/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I abhor 'baby talk.' I speak to kids like I would any other person, and they seem to respond to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-abhor-baby-talk-i-speak-to-kids-like-i-would-any-other-person-and/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [The work that I've gotten in the hiatuses seems to indicate that I will have a little more work after 'Mad Men' than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/the-work-that-i-ve-gotten-in-the-hiatuses-seems-to-indicate-that-i/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [Gaming has been a great way to get to know people. That's part of what I love about games, that they are social.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/gaming-has-been-a-great-way-to-get-to-know-people-that-s-part-of-what/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I think not every improviser is a good stage actor. Certainly not every stage actor is a good improviser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-think-not-every-improviser-is-a-good-stage-actor-certainly-not/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I would be lucky to be remembered as Harry Crane. That being said, I think it's a goal for most actors to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-would-be-lucky-to-be-remembered-as-harry-crane-that-being-said-i/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I'm very happy to say goodbye to the three-button suits. I hate three-button suits. Some people can pull them off, but they're legitimately really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-m-very-happy-to-say-goodbye-to-the-three-button-suits-i-hate-three/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [My only foray into anything stock-market-related was in my eighth grade social studies class. I have steered clear ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/my-only-foray-into-anything-stock-market-related-was-in-my-eighth/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I wonder if games are maybe a terminus for ideas. Things can be books or movies or operas or plays, but once they're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-wonder-if-games-are-maybe-a-terminus-for-ideas-things-can-be-books/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I have an RSS reader, Feeddler. 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