William Devane Quotes

Most sitcoms and cartoons, especially, you can rely on, because they go back to square one at the beginning of every episode.

Networks don't want a show with a continuing story. There's no backend potential.

Soap opera seems to be a dirty word, but actually they are the most popular shows we have.

Soap opera seems to be a dirty word, but actually they are the most popular shows we have. People want to know what happens next, people hate the villains and love the lovers. It's good, fun TV. But I wouldn't call 'Downton' a soap opera as such.

There are so many shows that go on endlessly until they lose their original spark, or mysteries that are cancelled before they ever get a chance to payoff.

I love a good cliffhanger. I love when big events happen in shows. I love shows that aren't afraid to take risks and to really do what's best for the story line and realistic for the story line.

I have played Blair Cramer for 20 years, I feel a personal investment in the success of 'One Life to Live.' I love the show, I'm a fan of the characters, and I have invested in the journey these fictional characters have traveled.

You know, I was a kid when I went into 'Coronation Street' and I had an amazing time. I got some fantastic opportunities from Corrie and from 'Soapstar' and I'd never say they did anything other than help me.

A show that no one thought had a chance has just finished its fifth year: Charmed. I think it's tougher for the younger networks, so I think they have a little more patience for the sake of the show. But who knows?

'Homeland' really is one of those shows where they start to write more or less depending on what's kind of going on in a relationship between characters.

I honestly love nothing better than digging into a really good serialized show, whether it's 'Breaking Bad' or 'Game of Thrones' or 'Justified.'

What frustrates me about some high-concept shows is that they don't give you information until sweeps, but 'Jericho's' audience will get a large piece of the puzzle every week.

People who come to 'The Country House' are like, 'You're on 'The Good Wife' now.' But I've been on since the second season! I feel that the interest in the children in that series is almost tangential.

Obviously, a lot of TV shows are based on chronological episode viewing, and the stories are contingent upon watching it in order. Syndicated shows, you don't have to watch in order. You're just watching characters that don't change that much.

Hill Street Blues might have been the first television show that had a memory. One episode after another was part of a cumulative experience shared by the audience.

Sometimes shows get into their 5th and 6th season and you're like, where can you go? But 'Dexter' is still so strong, it's really refreshing.

There are a lot of shows that have secrets and string people along and use the secrets of the narrative engine to keep people coming back every week. I don't know if those programs even have an answer. I don't know how they build their shows.

There's a lot of successful procedural shows that are out there. A lot of them are very successful. I just know there's an audience out there that wants character also.

I'm obsessed with 'The Americans.' It's one of my favorite shows. I also love 'Baskets' - low-brow, high-art comedy.

I can't imagine soaps will ever stop, because people will always watch as long as they have great stories and characters. But the soaps will have to keep evolving, won't they?

I think what 'Emmerdale' are excited about is that my exit storyline is the catalyst for other storylines for characters like Chrissie and Lawrence.

I've been watching 'Two and a Half Men.' That's my number one. Then 'Gossip Girl' and '90210.'

'Humsafar' is addictive; it's a good nasha to have. I remember, when the show was on here in Pakistan, my friends would keep asking me what's going to happen next. And those who didn't see it when it was aired the first time watched all episodes back-to-back because they found it very gripping.

Soap operas are like acting boot camps.

The only thing that works is a good script!