With the stand-up comic on TV, whether it's Seinfeld or Cosby or Roseanne, more important than their knowledge of how to tell a joke is their knowledge of themselves, or the persona they've created as themselves. So that when you're in a room with writers, you can say, 'Guys, that's a funny line, but I wouldn't say it.'

Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart

Comic Cosby Created Funny Guys How Important Joke Knowledge Line More Persona Room Say Seinfeld Stand-Up Tell Than Themselves TV Whether Writers You

Related Quotes

I'm not a joke guy; I'm not a stand-up comic.

— Eugene Levy

I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.

— Bob Newhart

AnythingBringCertainly

It was a JOB; the video show was a JOB; you don't tell the Aristocrats joke at 8 o'clock at night on network tv, it would be funny though. But those guys know I like dirty stuff, I like clean stuff too.

AristocratCleanDirty

As a stand-up comic, you have to do the road.

ComicRoadStand-Up

I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in another person, he may never utter a funny line.

— Bob Newhart

AnotherBackgroundComedian