--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I see it, there's mainstream comedy…" description: "\"As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.\" — Rik Mayall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg" --- # As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's… ![“As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.” quote by Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg) > “As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.” [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees mainstream comedy as mainstream, positioning himself as outsider in a niche. **In simple terms:** He’s the oddball of comedy. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique comedic voice. Themes comedy identity outsider Mood humorous defiant Type self‑reflective observational When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - writing workshops - alternative comedy shows Key Concepts cultural critique self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What defines “badlands” comedy? - How to balance niche and broad appeal? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating mainstream audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really know what 'selling out' is exactly. I would sell out if I could, but nobody's buying it. I would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-don-t-really-know-what-selling-out-is-exactly-i-would-sell-out-if-i/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's that I wasn't suited to do the kind of comedy that these people were coming to hear - mainstream comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/it-s-that-i-wasn-t-suited-to-do-the-kind-of-comedy-that-these-people/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) > [I felt that mainstream comedy caters to men and people don't even notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-matafeo/i-felt-that-mainstream-comedy-caters-to-men-and-people-don-t-even/) Rose Matafeo > [“For me, the badlands are entirely too naughty. The whole time I was in South Dakota I felt like I needed a spanking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/for-me-the-badlands-are-entirely-too-naughty-the-whole-time-i-was-in/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“So, what happens next to a couple of outlaws like us, hopped up on caffeine and sugar, and on the lam?" "I figure it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/so-what-happens-next-to-a-couple-of-outlaws-like-us-hopped-up-on/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [One of my fave TV shows is Into the Badlands because martial arts staged well and magically and saturated colours and eye candy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-larbalestier/one-of-my-fave-tv-shows-is-into-the-badlands-because-martial-arts/) [Justine Larbalestier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-larbalestier/) > [I'm crawling down the doorway to the badlands and kicking down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avantasia/i-m-crawling-down-the-doorway-to-the-badlands-and-kicking-down/) [Avantasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avantasia/) > [I think 'Badlands' is my favorite movie because it reminded me of where I was from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/i-think-badlands-is-my-favorite-movie-because-it-reminded-me-of-where/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [I grew up with Apocalypse Now and Badlands, so I had a real awe thing going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-grew-up-with-apocalypse-now-and-badlands-so-i-had-a-real-awe-thing/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Badlands, you got to live it everyday, let the broken hearts stand as the price you've got to pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/badlands-you-got-to-live-it-everyday-let-the-broken-hearts-stand-as/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [We'll see what I do after 'Badlands' to show audiences that I have more in my repertoire besides martial arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wu/we-ll-see-what-i-do-after-badlands-to-show-audiences-that-i-have-more/) [Daniel Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wu/) > [“Luke picked up a piece of paper lying on the seat. "Camden Hills Avenue in the Badlands Golf Club." Luke chuckled. "Going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-carlson/luke-picked-up-a-piece-of-paper-lying-on-the-seat-camden-hills-avenue/) [Amanda Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-carlson/) > [I want to spit in the face of these badlands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-want-to-spit-in-the-face-of-these-badlands/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“I look up into the starless sky. My heart pounds. This silent badlands scares me more than nighttime in the city, with its noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-look-up-into-the-starless-sky-my-heart-pounds-this-silent-badlands/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [All the earth colours of the painter's palette are out there in the many miles of badlands...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/all-the-earth-colours-of-the-painter-s-palette-are-out-there-in-the/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) ## More by Rik Mayall > [“Crop rotation in the 14th century was considerably more widespread after John?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/crop-rotation-in-the-14th-century-was-considerably-more-widespread/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [You perform for a different audience each night. People who don't understand just think that you go out there every night and do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/you-perform-for-a-different-audience-each-night-people-who-don-t/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [When I was young, I saw some of my heroes doing it on the telly. We're talking about Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Arthur Lowe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/when-i-was-young-i-saw-some-of-my-heroes-doing-it-on-the-telly-we-re/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [Bring me another bad one, and I shall protect my British people - I brought down Thatcher to protect my people, and I'm bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/bring-me-another-bad-one-and-i-shall-protect-my-british-people-i/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I don't have moments of weakness. I'm Rik Mayall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-don-t-have-moments-of-weakness-i-m-rik-mayall/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [With 1,000-seater venues, rather than 5,000-seaters, there are richer opportunities for sucking the audience in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/with-1-000-seater-venues-rather-than-5-000-seaters-there-are-richer/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I have always tended toward extremism: I'm Motorhead rather than REO Speedwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-have-always-tended-toward-extremism-i-m-motorhead-rather-than-reo/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [On stage you can group 200 people together and scare them or embarrass them or whatever. You can't do that on TV. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/on-stage-you-can-group-200-people-together-and-scare-them-or/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I would love to do more on the stage; having actual contact with the audience is great. You can give them a good seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-would-love-to-do-more-on-the-stage-having-actual-contact-with-the/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I was in a coma for five days - I was dead longer than Jesus before he was raised from the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-was-in-a-coma-for-five-days-i-was-dead-longer-than-jesus-before-he/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I had a very happy childhood, happy teenage years and I was famous by the time I was 22. A charmed life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-had-a-very-happy-childhood-happy-teenage-years-and-i-was-famous-by/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I've always had live audiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-ve-always-had-live-audiences/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [Storytelling has always been one of my great pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/storytelling-has-always-been-one-of-my-great-pleasures/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [I live on the limit, Vyvyan. The limit, because I'm a rider at the gates of dawn and I take no prisoners!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/i-live-on-the-limit-vyvyan-the-limit-because-i-m-a-rider-at-the-gates/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) > [Something that has been important to me is never to repeat myself, never to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/something-that-has-been-important-to-me-is-never-to-repeat-myself/) [Rik Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) [Explore all 30 Rik Mayall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/) ## 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. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. 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. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rik Mayall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-and-then-there-s-me-out-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-and-then-there-s-me-out-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/rik-mayall-20580_comedy_as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-an_465819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I see it, there's mainstream comedy - and then there's me, out in the badlands.” — Rik Mayall", "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": "Rik Mayall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rik-mayall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As I see it, there's mainstream...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-and-then-there-s-me-out-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rik-mayall/as-i-see-it-there-s-mainstream-comedy-and-then-there-s-me-out-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```