--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first saw stand-up it was Lee…" description: "\"When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.\" — Tom Rosenthal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg" --- # When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got… ![“When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.” quote by Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg) > “When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.” [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker’s comedic influences trace back to personal origins and shared geography. **In simple terms:** Comedians shape tastes, linked by hometown. Key Takeaway Explore diverse comedy roots. Themes comedy influence origin culture Mood nostalgic lighthearted Type cultural personal When to use this quote - stand-up shows - podcasts - local festivals - friend groups Key Concepts media studies personal history regional identity Questions to Reflect On - Who else shaped your humor? - How does place affect comedic style? A Different Perspective May overlook other influences beyond those named. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evans/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [ I think Chris \[Evans\] has got Captain America locked up. The role is in good hands. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-think-chris-evans-has-got-captain-america-locked-up-the-role-is-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Ricky Gervais captured the staggering laziness that comes with a boring job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/ricky-gervais-captured-the-staggering-laziness-that-comes-with-a/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [My ultimate is Peter Sellers - his ability to go broad and somehow humanize that and be hilarious at the same time. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/my-ultimate-is-peter-sellers-his-ability-to-go-broad-and-somehow/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [On a daily basis, you're working with Steve Carell; you're not working with Ricky Gervais. You try a line, and you can't be writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/on-a-daily-basis-you-re-working-with-steve-carell-you-re-not-working/) [Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/) > [I've always wanted to work with Ricky Gervais.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/i-ve-always-wanted-to-work-with-ricky-gervais/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [Ricky Gervais, met him a couple times. He wouldn't remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/ricky-gervais-met-him-a-couple-times-he-wouldn-t-remember-it/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [I like 'The Office.' I particularly like the British version with Ricky Gervais. Of course, I liked the 'Seinfeld' show a lot. I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-like-the-office-i-particularly-like-the-british-version-with-ricky/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [Ricky Gervais is a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-nunez/ricky-gervais-is-a-genius/) [Oscar Nunez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-nunez/) > [I like characters like Ignatius Reilly in 'A Confederacy of Dunces' and Ricky Gervais's character in 'The Office.' They think one thing about themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-like-characters-like-ignatius-reilly-in-a-confederacy-of-dunces-and/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I'm a pretty big Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-roberts/i-m-a-pretty-big-ricky-gervais-fan/) [Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-roberts/) > [I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-a-big-comedy-show-watcher-but-i-love-ricky-gervais-stuff-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I love British voicing and British humour in general. I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcg/i-love-british-voicing-and-british-humour-in-general-i-m-a-huge-ricky/) [McG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcg/) > [I'll watch Ricky Gervais in anything he does. The guy's hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-devito/i-ll-watch-ricky-gervais-in-anything-he-does-the-guy-s-hilarious/) [Danny DeVito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-devito/) > [I was a huge standup fan, so used to get videos every Christmas: Alan Davies, Jack Dee, Lee Evans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/i-was-a-huge-standup-fan-so-used-to-get-videos-every-christmas-alan/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [I very much looked up to Janet Evans and Summer Sanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/i-very-much-looked-up-to-janet-evans-and-summer-sanders/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) ## More by Tom Rosenthal > [I got really into 'Episodes.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-got-really-into-episodes/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [My parents think I am crazy in the proudest way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/my-parents-think-i-am-crazy-in-the-proudest-way/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I've had a lovely life, born with a silver spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-ve-had-a-lovely-life-born-with-a-silver-spoon/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I've never been a massive Christmas fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-ve-never-been-a-massive-christmas-fan/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [In modern times there are so few shows that actually do bring people together like TV is supposed to do - so to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/in-modern-times-there-are-so-few-shows-that-actually-do-bring-people/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I went to Mongolia as a teenager and I thought it would be cool to dye my hair into a Mongolian flag; a red-blue-red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-went-to-mongolia-as-a-teenager-and-i-thought-it-would-be-cool-to/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [If I could do any scenes that would just involve me being asleep, that would be gold. Anything outside or where I'm standing up...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/if-i-could-do-any-scenes-that-would-just-involve-me-being-asleep-that/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [My parents know I am not normal but it doesn't make a difference in their mind whether I am or I am not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/my-parents-know-i-am-not-normal-but-it-doesn-t-make-a-difference-in/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [If I didn't love sport that would kind of have meant I didn't get on with my dad but I have a lovely relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/if-i-didn-t-love-sport-that-would-kind-of-have-meant-i-didn-t-get-on/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [If people ask me for one-liners I always say: 'Hoovering. That sucks.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/if-people-ask-me-for-one-liners-i-always-say-hoovering-that-sucks/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [The great part of being in a play or a sitcom is that you're telling someone else's story. Standup is just you, exposing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/the-great-part-of-being-in-a-play-or-a-sitcom-is-that-you-re-telling/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I love standup, but it's self-indulgence. Me saying what I think and thinking people should listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-love-standup-but-it-s-self-indulgence-me-saying-what-i-think-and/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I didn't have a bar mitzvah, my family aren't practising Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-didn-t-have-a-bar-mitzvah-my-family-aren-t-practising-jews/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I'll keep doing stand-up, but there are other options on the table, although I might just end up playing a load of 'FIFA.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-ll-keep-doing-stand-up-but-there-are-other-options-on-the-table/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [I'm doing my best. I've got a famous dad give me some credit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/i-m-doing-my-best-i-ve-got-a-famous-dad-give-me-some-credit/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) [Explore all 50 Tom Rosenthal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) ## More Evans quotes > [I very much looked up to Janet Evans and Summer Sanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/i-very-much-looked-up-to-janet-evans-and-summer-sanders/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) > [“Evans made himself their spokesman. "Charlie and Joe," he offered. "Remember us? We brought a friend back with us this time." Girls evidently didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/evans-made-himself-their-spokesman-charlie-and-joe-he-offered/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“I think I finally understand the saying like a moth to a flame. I’m the moth. My heart flutters like the paper thin wings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-evans/i-think-i-finally-understand-the-saying-like-a-moth-to-a-flame-i-m/) A.D. Evans > [Assuredly, the size of (Cadel) Evans' heart will come to be compared to Phar Lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ramadge/assuredly-the-size-of-cadel-evans-heart-will-come-to-be-compared-to/) Paul Ramadge > [“Tray Fucking Evans,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tijan/tray-fucking-evans/) [Tijan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tijan/) > [Jonny Evans plays sort of international football with Northern Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-thompson/jonny-evans-plays-sort-of-international-football-with-northern-ireland/) Phil Thompson > [Donald Evans is a favorite person of mine. His worth ethic, his attitude and his dedication really set him apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/donald-evans-is-a-favorite-person-of-mine-his-worth-ethic-his/) [Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/) > [“Why didn't they ask the Evans?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/why-didn-t-they-ask-the-evans/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“You look surprised. You shouldn’t be. Drew Evans doesn’t burn bridges. He sets dynamite to them. Decimating the bridge, the mountains it connects, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/you-look-surprised-you-shouldn-t-be-drew-evans-doesn-t-burn-bridges/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [“I want to move my hands, but they’re fused to his rib cage. I feel his lung span, his heartbeat, his very life force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-evans/i-want-to-move-my-hands-but-they-re-fused-to-his-rib-cage-i-feel-his/) A.D. Evans > [“When I was laying there in his arms nothing else mattered. My parents, my lack of funds, everything just seemed to melt away as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/when-i-was-laying-there-in-his-arms-nothing-else-mattered-my-parents/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [ I think Chris \[Evans\] has got Captain America locked up. The role is in good hands. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-think-chris-evans-has-got-captain-america-locked-up-the-role-is-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Bill Evans is a real serious jazz pianist who, in my book, crossed over boundaries in terms of color. He used the piano as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-flack/bill-evans-is-a-real-serious-jazz-pianist-who-in-my-book-crossed-over/) [Roberta Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-flack/) > [I will if you go out with me, Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-if-you-go-out-with-me-evans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding. Andy Evans raped me in August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/it-happened-there-is-no-avoiding-it-no-forgetting-no-running-away-or-2/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) [Browse all 17 Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rosenthal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-evans-then-i-got-into-ricky/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evans" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-evans-then-i-got-into-ricky/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/tom-rosenthal-13425_evans_when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-eva_2941924.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I first saw stand-up it was Lee Evans. Then I got into Ricky Gervais - we're both from Reading.” — Tom Rosenthal", "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": "Tom Rosenthal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I first saw stand-up it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-evans-then-i-got-into-ricky/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/when-i-first-saw-stand-up-it-was-lee-evans-then-i-got-into-ricky/#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 } } ] } ```