--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that good television should be…" description: "\"I believe that good television should be challenging and frustrating and maddening and thrilling. If you just want to see people who look like you and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/shonda-rhimes-1866_adventure_i-believe-that-good-television-should-be_2476786.jpg" --- # I believe that good television should be challenging and… ![“I believe that good television should be challenging and frustrating and maddening and thrilling. If you just want to see people who look like you and think like you and do what you would do in any given situation, you'd have to stop looking at TV and start looking in a mirror. But would that be…” quote by Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/shonda-rhimes-1866_adventure_i-believe-that-good-television-should-be_2476786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/shonda-rhimes-1866_adventure_i-believe-that-good-television-should-be_2476786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/shonda-rhimes-1866_adventure_i-believe-that-good-television-should-be_2476786.jpg) > “I believe that good television should be challenging and frustrating and maddening and thrilling. If you just want to see people who look like you and think like you and do what you would do in any given situation, you'd have to stop looking at TV and start looking in a mirror. But would that be as much fun?” [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Television should provoke thought and emotion, not merely reflect the audience’s own experience. **In simple terms:** TV should challenge, not just mirror viewers. Key Takeaway Seek shows that push boundaries. Themes creativity challenge media criticism Mood provocative reflective Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - watching TV - producing content - media studies - personal reflection Key Concepts Narrative complexity audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer comfort or challenge in entertainment? - How does discomfort foster growth? A Different Perspective It may alienate viewers who prefer comfort and familiarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Looking In A Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-in-a-mirror/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no styles, no standards. We're reflections. It's a distorted mirror in the fun house. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/comedy-is-a-reflection-we-create-nothing-we-set-no-styles-no/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [I am not looking at my TV show to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-am-not-looking-at-my-tv-show-to-change-the-world/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [I've been looking to do TV for a while. I've always done guest starring stuff. I've done a couple of multi-episode arcs, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-ve-been-looking-to-do-tv-for-a-while-i-ve-always-done-guest/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [“It was like looking in a mirror. The same flickering hope in Loo, the same desperate need to be loved, was right here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-tinti/it-was-like-looking-in-a-mirror-the-same-flickering-hope-in-loo-the/) [Hannah Tinti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-tinti/) > [“I looked him in the eyes and said, “I don’t trust you.” I’ll tell you, it’s like looking in a mirror when you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-looked-him-in-the-eyes-and-said-i-don-t-trust-you-i-ll-tell-you-it/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Poetry looking in the mirror sees art, and art looking in a mirror sings poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/poetry-looking-in-the-mirror-sees-art-and-art-looking-in-a-mirror/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [So I said to myself, "There but for the grace of God go I," only to realize I was looking in a mirror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/so-i-said-to-myself-there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-go-i-only-to/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [If you ever catch on fire, try to avoid looking in a mirror, because I bet that will really throw you into a panic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-ever-catch-on-fire-try-to-avoid-looking-in-a-mirror-because-i/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“Cage felt like he was looking in a mirror thirty years in the future. A cranky, pissed off, judgmental bastard of a mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-sheehan/cage-felt-like-he-was-looking-in-a-mirror-thirty-years-in-the-future/) [Madeline Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-sheehan/) > [“Love is a trumpet, Donald Trump’s hair, and a turnip all turned up and facing west. Sorry, east. I am looking in a mirror,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-trumpet-donald-trump-s-hair-and-a-turnip-all-turned-up-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Judging others is like looking in a mirror, reflecting the disappointments and frustrations you have in your own life, restraining you from praising others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-a-babb/judging-others-is-like-looking-in-a-mirror-reflecting-the/) [Frederick A Babb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-a-babb/) > [Who doesn't have a dark place somewhere inside him that comes out sometimes when he's looking in a mirror? Dark and light, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macdonald-harris/who-doesn-t-have-a-dark-place-somewhere-inside-him-that-comes-out/) [MacDonald Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macdonald-harris/) > [Looking in a mirror and telling yourself to feel better doesn't work when you're a girl, but finding something that you love to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/su-chin-pak/looking-in-a-mirror-and-telling-yourself-to-feel-better-doesn-t-work/) [Su-chin Pak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/su-chin-pak/) > [“I remember the moment I realized I was free, looking in a mirror and saying, “I choose my motherfucking self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/i-remember-the-moment-i-realized-i-was-free-looking-in-a-mirror-and/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“The kid's driving me bat-shit," Cam complained as he stalked into the kitchen. "You can't say boo to him without him squaring up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/the-kid-s-driving-me-bat-shit-cam-complained-as-he-stalked-into-the/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More by Shonda Rhimes > [My philosophy was always try to look like Whitney Houston at all times. That did not work out so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-philosophy-was-always-try-to-look-like-whitney-houston-at-all/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Being numb no longer suits me. It’s ill-fitting and I’m antsy about it. I find myself snapping back at people more. Or writing little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/being-numb-no-longer-suits-me-it-s-ill-fitting-and-i-m-antsy-about-it/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [You don't necessarily have to watch something for 14 seasons. It's not necessarily the way everything's supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/you-don-t-necessarily-have-to-watch-something-for-14-seasons-it-s-not/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes our expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-all-think-we-re-going-to-be-great-and-we-feel-a-little-bit-robbed/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My worst trait is that I'm an introvert. When I've led stuff, the hardest thing for me to overcome has been my natural desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-worst-trait-is-that-i-m-an-introvert-when-i-ve-led-stuff-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There are stories to be told that are still untold and characters to be portrayed that haven't been portrayed correctly. So there's work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-are-stories-to-be-told-that-are-still-untold-and-characters-to/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I say it in the writers' room all the time: My black is not your black. What's terrifying is that, just the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-say-it-in-the-writers-room-all-the-time-my-black-is-not-your-black/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't think of myself as a television producer. Obviously, that's crazy. Because I should. That's what I do. But I don't actually see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-television-producer-obviously-that-s/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My father used to say to me, 'The only limit to your success is your own imagination.' I actually believed that - like, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-father-used-to-say-to-me-the-only-limit-to-your-success-is-your/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't identify with her, but I highly admire Eleanor Roosevelt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-identify-with-her-but-i-highly-admire-eleanor-roosevelt/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring it out will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-spend-our-whole-lives-worrying-about-the-future-planning-for-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [What I found fascinating for me was, I've never gotten so much approval and accolades and warmth and congratulations as when I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/what-i-found-fascinating-for-me-was-i-ve-never-gotten-so-much/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Look. I will not be told what size to be. I do not care about anyone else’s judgment about my body. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/look-i-will-not-be-told-what-size-to-be-i-do-not-care-about-anyone/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My parents created a world in which the only ­barrier to your success is your own imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-parents-created-a-world-in-which-the-only-barrier-to-your-success/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There have to be practical steps. There's no point in holding out for a magic door because there are no magic doors. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-have-to-be-practical-steps-there-s-no-point-in-holding-out-for/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) [Explore all 194 Shonda Rhimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. 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