--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Things I learned from Lorne Michaels)…" description: "\"“(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about discouraging creativity”\" — Tina Fey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg" --- # (Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about… ![“(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about discouraging creativity” quote by Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg) > ““(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about discouraging creativity”” [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Producing often suppresses creative ideas to maintain control. **In simple terms:** Production can stifle creativity. Key Takeaway Find ways to protect creative freedom. Themes creativity production control media Mood critical insightful practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - film/TV production - creative workshops - team leadership Key Concepts censorship artistic expression industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can producers encourage rather than discourage creativity? - What structures support artistic freedom? A Different Perspective Creative suppression can limit innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Discouraging Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraging-creativity-3304763/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lorne-michaels-714805/) [Michaels Producing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michaels-producing-3304764/) [Producer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producer/) [Producing Discouraging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producing-discouraging-3304765/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv/) ## Related quotes > [ “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30. This is something Lorne \[Michaels\] has said often about Saturday… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-show-doesn-t-go-on-because-it-s-ready-it-goes-on-because-it-s-11/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [In my experience, 'SNL' has Lorne Michaels, who is, you know, the captain of the ship and gives the show direction and a singular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taran-killam/in-my-experience-snl-has-lorne-michaels-who-is-you-know-the-captain/) [Taran Killam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taran-killam/) > [At the beginning of each week at 'Saturday Night Live,' we have a full cast meeting where Lorne Michaels introduces the upcoming host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/at-the-beginning-of-each-week-at-saturday-night-live-we-have-a-full/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I actually have huge respect for Lorne Michaels. I think that guy is really something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-watkins/i-actually-have-huge-respect-for-lorne-michaels-i-think-that-guy-is/) [Michaela Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-watkins/) > [I could listen to Lorne Michaels tell stories for a hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/i-could-listen-to-lorne-michaels-tell-stories-for-a-hundred-years/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I watched Master Class with Lorne Michaels on OWN. How can somebody produce a sketch show and talk for an hour and not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/i-watched-master-class-with-lorne-michaels-on-own-how-can-somebody/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [The only two TV shows I saw do that, where they don't warm them up and you can really bomb, was Saturday Night Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-only-two-tv-shows-i-saw-do-that-where-they-don-t-warm-them-up-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [This sounds fake, but my first job lead when I moved to New York City, someone emailed me and asked, 'Would you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-shookus/this-sounds-fake-but-my-first-job-lead-when-i-moved-to-new-york-city/) [Lindsay Shookus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-shookus/) > [Pete Davidson - he's in the movie 'Trainwreck.' He has a small part in it. I told Lorne Michaels about him, said he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/pete-davidson-he-s-in-the-movie-trainwreck-he-has-a-small-part-in-it/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [“To paraphrase Lorne Michaels (my countryman), it’s the kind of place where they award Miss Canada to the runner-up, because the prettiest already gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/to-paraphrase-lorne-michaels-my-countryman-it-s-the-kind-of-place/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [They say that every Jewish person is supposed to love one black person in his life. I'm glad Lorne Michaels chose me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/they-say-that-every-jewish-person-is-supposed-to-love-one-black/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [I was lucky that when Lorne Michaels came looking for women comedy writers, there werent too many in New York at the time. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-beatts/i-was-lucky-that-when-lorne-michaels-came-looking-for-women-comedy/) [Anne Beatts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-beatts/) > [I admire my boss, Lorne Michaels. He never stops producing. I think, for him, comedy is a tool of compassion, a way of rallying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/i-admire-my-boss-lorne-michaels-he-never-stops-producing-i-think-for/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) > [I have no regrets. The best thing to happen to me was for Lorne Michaels to hire me and fire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-have-no-regrets-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-me-was-for-lorne/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [ \[Wayne's World and Tommy Boy\] was all from hosting Saturday Night Live the first time \[in 1990\]. I just had such a great time,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/wayne-s-world-and-tommy-boy-was-all-from-hosting-saturday-night-live/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## More by Tina Fey > [I really like John McCain. He's an awesome dude and was a lot of fun when he hosted "SNL." I'd love to see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-really-like-john-mccain-he-s-an-awesome-dude-and-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I was a very confident little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-was-a-very-confident-little-kid/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-can-tell-how-smart-people-are-by-what-they-laugh-at/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/whatever-the-problem-be-part-of-the-solution-don-t-just-sit-around/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Pentagon records show that at least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. Army have deserted since the Iraq war began. Hey, at least somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/pentagon-records-show-that-at-least-8-000-members-of-the-all/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“That summer I got to know four families in which half the children were gay. In case you’re interested from a sociological point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/that-summer-i-got-to-know-four-families-in-which-half-the-children/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [The topic of working moms is a tap-dance recital in a minefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-topic-of-working-moms-is-a-tap-dance-recital-in-a-minefield/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [You can be a little bit darker and rougher on the stage, partly because when you're in the theater, people have come to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-can-be-a-little-bit-darker-and-rougher-on-the-stage-partly/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [ \[...\] things most people do naturally are often inexplicably difficult for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-most-people-do-naturally-are-often-inexplicably-difficult-for/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“To this day, all I know is there are between two and four openings down there and that the set up inside looks vaguely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/to-this-day-all-i-know-is-there-are-between-two-and-four-openings/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Wafah Dufour bin Laden, niece of Osama bin Laden has signed a contract to star in a reality show... called Skating with the Nieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/wafah-dufour-bin-laden-niece-of-osama-bin-laden-has-signed-a-contract/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [It's not vanity, because if you look weird, it will distract from what your trying to do. If you look as good as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/it-s-not-vanity-because-if-you-look-weird-it-will-distract-from-what/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Sometimes, you can feel or see how a movie can... how you can do it. Sometimes it's just like seeing, "Can that work? Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/sometimes-you-can-feel-or-see-how-a-movie-can-how-you-can-do-it/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/forward-women-embraced-their-diversity-and-realized-that-all-shapes/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) [Explore all 527 Tina Fey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) [Andrei Amalrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-amalrik/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about discouraging creativity”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tina Fey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-producing-is-about-discouraging/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creativity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-producing-is-about-discouraging/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/tina-fey-484_creativity_things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-pro_2780224.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels) Producing is about discouraging creativity” — Tina Fey", "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": "Tina Fey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“(Things I learned from Lorne Michaels)...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-producing-is-about-discouraging/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-i-learned-from-lorne-michaels-producing-is-about-discouraging/#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 } } ] } ```