I don’t know why men are so fascinated with television and I think it has something to do with – if I may judge from my own father, who used to sit and stare at the TV while my mother was speaking to him – I think that’s a man’s way of tuning out.
Meaning of the quote
According to the comedian Garry Shandling, many men seem to be very interested in watching television. He thinks this is because men use TV as a way to ignore or "tune out" what their wives or partners are saying to them. Shandling noticed that his own father would sit and stare at the TV while his mother was trying to talk to him. The comedian believes this is a common behavior in men, who use the television as a way to avoid listening to their partners.
About Garry shandling
Garry Shandling was a renowned American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. He started his career writing for sitcoms and became a frequent guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Shandling created two acclaimed TV shows, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and The Larry Sanders Show, for which he received numerous Emmy nominations and awards.
More quotes from Garry shandling
First of all, I’m not the kind of guy that likes to rehash the show and so forth and so on.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I actually think I’m more of a turtle than Verne is. Where Verne is up on two legs and moving at full speed and doesn’t pull his head into the shell very often, I in reality was five or ten minutes later to every recording session.
American comedian (1949-2016)
Carol Burnett was particularly funny. She swore for the first time on television on Larry Sanders.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I think I look great in green, and I’m going to start wearing more green.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I guess he wanted to see a little more sexual activity because in real life, in bed I think less is more and let the woman come to me. Frankly, I don’t even need a woman there.
American comedian (1949-2016)
You know it’s funny that none of the regular late-night shows now use guest hosts the way Johnny did. No one talks about it much, but it’s curious that they don’t do it. They would each have to be asked the reason why they don’t.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I’m dating a woman now who, evidently, is unaware of it.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I’m not a party guy. I don’t carouse very much.
American comedian (1949-2016)
Because I am afraid of commitment. This movie certainly has some bearing and is some reflection of my real feeling about relationships, because I do have commitment issues. My friends tell me I have intimacy problems, but they don’t know me, so who cares what they think?
American comedian (1949-2016)
The only way I would go back to hosting would be if it were something entirely new. It would prevent me from wanting to host a standard-fare kind of talk show.
American comedian (1949-2016)
My first appearance as a guest on The Tonight Show was in ’81.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I practice safe sex – I use an airbag.
American comedian (1949-2016)
Here’s the thing – I’m single, I haven’t been married, I don’t have kids yet. If I do have kids I would be interested to see them in my life, so here’s a movie for kids and I’m in there and I’m supposed to be kind of funny for kids.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I’ve never had anyone put on a puppet show to convince me of anything. And I’ve done a lot of stuff. I don’t know that I would put the puppets on when I was pitching a show. This was the head of the studio putting a puppet show on. And I’ll tell you, he wasn’t bad.
American comedian (1949-2016)
Which is, I’m an optimist that two people can be together to work out their conflicts. And that commitment, I think, might be what love is, because they both grow from their relationship.
American comedian (1949-2016)
Without comedy as a defense mechanism I wouldn’t be able to survive.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I think it’s one of the main negative emotional ingredients that fuels show business, because there’s so much at stake and the fear of failure looms large.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I’m too shy to express my sexual needs except over the phone to people I don’t know.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I am pretty tenacious as a perfectionist in terms of getting something right.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I once made love for an hour and fifteen minutes, but it was the night the clocks are set ahead.
American comedian (1949-2016)
It’s not the hair on your head that matters. It’s the kind of hair you have inside.
American comedian (1949-2016)
But I really like hosting, I think it’s a strength of mine. It allows me to improvise, and I love the spontaneity of that, and I think I’m funny behind the desk when interviewing someone.
American comedian (1949-2016)
My friends tell me I have an intimacy problem. But they don’t really know me.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I like going into nature and that’s where I’m happiest.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I don’t know how to ground myself without the other actor present.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I play basketball on Sundays and I’m a very spiritual guy; I read a lot of Eastern philosophy and I meditate.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I don’t know why men are so fascinated with television and I think it has something to do with – if I may judge from my own father, who used to sit and stare at the TV while my mother was speaking to him – I think that’s a man’s way of tuning out.
American comedian (1949-2016)
I think sometimes I should do more carousing, because I don’t do much and maybe it would be fun occasionally. It’s hard for me to have fun and I’m a serious thinker and a searcher and funny from the front.
American comedian (1949-2016)