Mark Burnett Quotes

We tried to make a movie that had sex and violence because we like sex and violence.

Every single television product has the ambition to chase ratings, every one of them. Many have other ambitions, for many, ratings are not #1. But my experience on TV, and on the entertainment side, has been entirely ratings-based. When I look at TV I look at ratings. And I never second guess ratings. Never.

They're reacting and that's wonderful. It's better than them sitting there doing nothing. I say make them react - do whatever's in your power to move the audience, and if that's where it is, and there where it is with America, sex and violence, then I say project it.

I think violence has always been popular, way before movies started being made.

Reality TV is really just based for sensationalism. So, it's extreme versions and extreme caricatures of personalities.

All the songs we do are basically about one of three things: booze, sex or rock n roll.

I think there's really no rhyme or reason as to what keeps a show on air. Surely it's a numbers game, but some of the best shows get canceled, and some shows where you don't totally understand why they're on the air stay on for 15 or 20 years.

I think people like watching edgy things.

'Shameless' is going to shake up television. Any drama is good drama. Bring it.

I'm more offended when someone's killed on television than when there's something that's sensuous or sexual. So what?

I think 'Y&R's future is contingent upon the ratings. Obviously, none of the soaps are kept alive for the sake of loyalty. It's all about ratings. It's show business. Period.

On TV, the children can watch people murdering each other, which is a very unnatural thing, but they can't watch two people in the very natural process of making love. Now, really, that doesn't make any sense, does it?

Boxing should probably be banned. But until then, I'm a big fan.

I've been on shows that go for shock value.

We need to take on Hollywood. They are poisoning the minds of our kids.

Violent content on television is more dangerous to children than indecency.

We have pleaded to the entertainment industry to raise their standards and protect our children.

What we watch on television, we approve.

'Tis no festival unless there be some fightings.

Television is really fertile ground, and it's because of platforms like Netflix and Hulu and, of course, the cable channels like HBO and Showtime.

I can't create magic, where all my serials will have the highest ratings.

I don't think that swearing or gratuitous violence or sex make a show better. I just think there are natural rhythms to a human being in these situations, and what happens in these situations that cable allows is a natural reaction.

Old people, don't watch it because you might die just watching it.

The words are the words. Seriously. Meaning you don't have boo-boo words. You can do boo-boo things. You can have sex, carnage, mayhem, whatever you're looking for. "The Evil Dead" movies, in my opinion, function better in an unrestricted world.

Violence is interesting. This is a great obstacle to world peace and also to more thoughtful television programming.