Laurie Metcalf Quotes

I had a great time on News Radio, I got to make tons of money in relative obscurity and learn a lot about the TV biz and work on my standup act constantly. It was a dream gig.

I think there's a lot of interesting stuff on TV. I feel much more optimistic about TV than I do about movies. There will always be good movies but I think, for the most part, it's always going to be a huge fight to get those movies made. TV is the best place to be as a writer, I think.

I kind of got into TV when I went to visit a show my brother was working on. Soon I got the second lead in a TV show.

I used to say when I was working in the theater that if I ever had five seasons of a hit TV show I'd never have to worry about money and wouldn't have to do anything I didn't want to do.

I'll get to make a lot of money and do some bad sitcoms.

I've really dreamed of doing television. All of us do television, coming up. But when I was coming up, television was a black hole for actors. Now, television has a certain cache. Now everybody wants to be on TV because they're doing adult dramas. If you're an actor, it's like, "Well, get me on television," because it's the only place you can do it and also make a living at it. If my kids need shoes, I better do a TV show because I damn sure don't make any money with independent films.

TV directing is fine because you can come in and do a TV show in a relatively short period of time, and that can pay the bills.

In the U.S., there are around 300 shows in different networks, so there's a lot of work here.

And I would never accept a film because of the money. I have enough money.

Many players want to make as much money as they can and change teams for ten grand. How is that going to make much difference to their lives?

With TV, you get on a show and you're there for 11 years playing the same character. I would pull my hair out. Yes, the money is good. But I'm really not in this business to chase dollars.

The only people who do plays in LA are people who can't get jobs in TV shows.

Today, they're just up there for the money, just packaged and be gone.

I've always been really picky about roles and make a point of reminding myself that it's not about the money - because, obviously, there's a lot of money to be made in this business if you're willing to do anything.

Let me tell you, if you're ever making a decision and the principle reason you'll do it is because of money, then it is absolutely the incorrect decision.

It was like there's got to be some way to stay working and stay productive in Los Angeles. TV is that kind of thing for an actor. Unless you get stuck in one of these shows where you have to go to Vancouver.

Most of the TV shows I've done have all been in the U.S.

Most of my work had been in theater, and I was jumping not just into television but 'L.A. Law,' which had all these megastars in it.

From an actor's point of view, you never really like to hope that anything will go beyond the pilot. I'd always say to my agent every time I filmed a pilot, 'Great! Well, I'll see you at pilot season.'

Acting was something that just came along. But I made good money, so it wasn't something I was just going to put aside and pretend it didn't exist.

To make money in New York, you have to add gigs when starting out, so while I was acting quite a bit, I would do modeling.

Well, I was getting a lot of money then, and I wasn't getting any Hollywood films, so I just did those. I'd always do a play in between. Whenever I ran low on funds, I'd always rush off to do a movie somewhere.

I am a theatre actor, but the last ten years I've taken parts in movies because it keeps me in money.

Money is not everything. My ambition was football itself, not the money I'd make from it. If that brings me and my family a more comfortable lifestyle, then that's fine. But I don't spend my time between games and training sessions thinking about figures.

I watched 'The Neighbors' when it first came on, and I thought it was hysterical. And every time I think something just tickles my funny bone, I call my agent and say, 'You know, I like this show. If they're ever looking for somebody, I'd like to work with them.'