--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difficulty with American television…" description: "\"The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck.\" — Robert Rinder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg" --- # The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck. ![“The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck.” quote by Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg) > “The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck.” [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. TV quality is random, lacking consistent standards. **In simple terms:** TV quality is unpredictable. Key Takeaway Seek reliable content sources. Themes media quality randomness Mood critical observational Type media cultural When to use this quote - media literacy - content recommendation - production planning Key Concepts Broadcast standards audience expectations content curation Questions to Reflect On - How can viewers find consistent quality? - What role should regulators play? A Different Perspective Does not account for niche high‑quality programming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-television/) [Difficulty American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty-american-1548653/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot/) [Pot Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot-luck-1548651/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-pot-1548652/) ## Related quotes > [“They had all comprehended the idea in an instant, and saw no real difficulty in it. An American sees no real difficulty in anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/they-had-all-comprehended-the-idea-in-an-instant-and-saw-no-real/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“I went to a self-help group. I helped myself to their buffet. It was a pot down on luck. (I brought corn.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/i-went-to-a-self-help-group-i-helped-myself-to-their-buffet-it-was-a/) [Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/) > [I think the reality is Michael Jackson's humanity is so deep, the implications and inferences of his art so monumentally and magnificently global, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-think-the-reality-is-michael-jackson-s-humanity-is-so-deep-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Even though I'm English, I've all my life been heavily exposed to American television and culture in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/even-though-i-m-english-i-ve-all-my-life-been-heavily-exposed-to/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [The best of American television is thought-provoking, original, brilliant, exciting - from 'The Sopranos' on, whether it's 'The Wire' or 'Breaking Bad' or 'House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/the-best-of-american-television-is-thought-provoking-original/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I'm not seeing tough questions asked on American television. I'm not seeing those correspondents that would question those in power. It's like a club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-ramos/i-m-not-seeing-tough-questions-asked-on-american-television-i-m-not/) [Jorge Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-ramos/) > [I didn't watch a lot of American television growing up. I just liked to read a lot and watch movies - movies, movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-didn-t-watch-a-lot-of-american-television-growing-up-i-just-liked/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind being one of them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-james-collier/there-s-definitely-a-wave-of-brits-doing-great-work-on-american/) [Rob James-Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-james-collier/) > [I think American television changed world television in its reinvention of the series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-think-american-television-changed-world-television-in-its/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy. It is unrelenting; the news, the stock-exchange reports, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/laughter-on-american-television-has-taken-the-place-of-the-chorus-in/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Unlike any other player on the board, the press has no oversight, no mandate, few penalties, and even fewer consequences. Because there are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-sanchez/unlike-any-other-player-on-the-board-the-press-has-no-oversight-no/) [Matt Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-sanchez/) > [The good thing is that I really think that American television is in kind of a second golden age. Even though there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-good-thing-is-that-i-really-think-that-american-television-is-in/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [What I can say that's different in American television... in Britain, they wouldn't cancel something after a couple of episodes. In the States they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/what-i-can-say-that-s-different-in-american-television-in-britain/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [The American television industry is a Darwinian environment where success is usually measured in inches, not yards. That is, for most TV media, audiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/the-american-television-industry-is-a-darwinian-environment-where/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) ## More by Robert Rinder > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [If a deal advertised on an unknown website looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/if-a-deal-advertised-on-an-unknown-website-looks-too-good-to-be-true/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [In our 'Strictly' group, we really did bond. It's seemingly disappointing to some that we had no diva meltdowns. I made true friends during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/in-our-strictly-group-we-really-did-bond-it-s-seemingly-disappointing/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [Even my trolls have started taking the trouble to spell their Tweets correctly, which is thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/even-my-trolls-have-started-taking-the-trouble-to-spell-their-tweets/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [There are plenty of organisations making a real difference to the lives of gay people around the country that do need our help, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/there-are-plenty-of-organisations-making-a-real-difference-to-the/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [People form strong attachments to their properties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/people-form-strong-attachments-to-their-properties/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [The only thing I knew would make my grandmother more proud than watching my TV courtroom was to see me dressed up in white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-only-thing-i-knew-would-make-my-grandmother-more-proud-than/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [Let's start spreading work experience and opportunities a little wider so that the photographers, writers, and TV producers of tomorrow are drawn from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/let-s-start-spreading-work-experience-and-opportunities-a-little/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [The state of some of our roads is a matter of national embarrassment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-state-of-some-of-our-roads-is-a-matter-of-national-embarrassment/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [By the time I finished doing regular practice, most of my work was in international regulatory law, so I was advising foreign governments about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/by-the-time-i-finished-doing-regular-practice-most-of-my-work-was-in/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [I hope I'm always appropriate on 'JR' if it's a serious case. But if you have a case of a man who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-hope-i-m-always-appropriate-on-jr-if-it-s-a-serious-case-but-if-you/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [Before starting a building project, it is wise to discuss your plans in full with the neighbours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/before-starting-a-building-project-it-is-wise-to-discuss-your-plans/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [I don't want to be a total moron and be just known as the jazz-handed judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-total-moron-and-be-just-known-as-the-jazz-handed/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [On TV, the nitty-gritty of trials takes place between commercial breaks, whereas, of course, reality is infinitely more complex. True crime also makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/on-tv-the-nitty-gritty-of-trials-takes-place-between-commercial/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [I find it amusing when you look at plastic surgeons because they don't seem to have had anything done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-find-it-amusing-when-you-look-at-plastic-surgeons-because-they-don/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) [Explore all 100 Robert Rinder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [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/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Rinder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-difficulty-with-american-television-is-it-s-pot-luck/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-difficulty-with-american-television-is-it-s-pot-luck/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/robert-rinder-5551_american_the-difficulty-with-american-television_2554176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The difficulty with American television is it's pot luck.” — Robert Rinder", "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": "Robert Rinder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The difficulty with American television is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-difficulty-with-american-television-is-it-s-pot-luck/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/the-difficulty-with-american-television-is-it-s-pot-luck/#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 } } ] } ```