Creating Television: Conversations With the People Behind 50 Years of American TV
A Volume in LEA's Communication Series, © Copyright 2004
Robert Kubey (kubey@scils.rutgers.edu)
Director, Center for Media Studies (www.mediastudies.rutgers.edu)
Professor, Dept of Journalism & Media Studies, Rutgers University
Does Having a Great Deal of Money Make You Happy?
(buys comfort and freedom but not happiness, I would hate myself now)
Each quote is followed by the page number in Creating Television where the full quote can be found.
Matt Groening:
There is no good answer to give. Any answer that somebody who has money gives just makes
me want to punch them in the mouth.
It’s very nice being comfortable because you can turn your attention to other problems, and it’s
much more interesting to turn your attention to abstract creative problems.
But of course, money doesn’t buy you happiness. The great thing about being comfortable and having
the money is being able to choose your destiny and not have to worry about little stuff. So that’s really good.
It’s nice to be able to contribute to charities that you appreciate and political causes. There’s not much
gratification in throwing your money down the drain for hopeless political causes. 151, 153
Henry Winkler:
Is there a point at which the money doesn't matter?
The money always matters. I like money. I would like to have more money. I like money a lot, but you
must put it in proportion and so far, and I'm knocking on wood, I have never done anything for money.
I have done it because I wanted to do it. I have never fallen into the trap of living beyond my means
so that I was forced into a position.
Given all of the residuals you must receive, it's hard to imagine how you could live beyond your means.
But, it starts to creep in. By itself, my car started to turn itself into a Rolls Royce dealership. It would just turn
off Sunset Boulevard into a Rolls Royce dealership and I had no control. It starts to overtake you.
And you must exert great will power not to allow it to do so. 337-338
Sid Caesar:
For a time, you were the biggest star on television. Did you enjoy the success and the money?
You don't realize what 39 shows is. Nine and-a-half months of the year was devoted strictly to getting the show
out every week. You don't just throw that over your shoulder.
When do you get time to enjoy your money? 31
Lee Rich, Producer and Executive:
You have money. Is it true, that money doesn't buy happiness?
Oh, there's no question about it. Money doesn’t necessarily buy happiness. It may buy some comfort, but it may
not buy happiness. 103
Writer-Producer Susan Harris:
Let me put it this way. I still think poor. I have to ask my business manager once a month if I can still fly first class.
That's really a euphemism for "Am I still OK?" I'm asking, "If I never work again, is there money there?" I still think that
there's been some sort of mistake. I never had money my entire life really. I still don't grasp the concept that there is
that money there. But on the other hand it doesn't really change anything. Once you get a house, and the car that
you want, it doesn't change your life. 127
It doesn't make you happy?
God no. It doesn't do anything really except alleviate the worry of money. It does give you a certain amount of freedom
to pick and choose and do what you want, or not do anything at all. Beyond that it does nothing for the inner person at all.
That's not what it's about. And that's a very big surprise because you think that when you get there, it's going to be
different and it was a little depressing actually.
For a certain amount of time, life for me was attaining certain goals. When I started writing, it was being able to get assignments.
Once I got assignments, it was being able to have my own show. Once I had my own show, it was have that show be a hit.
So there were always goals to attain. When I attained them all and saw that it made no difference, that was the point at
which I got a little depressed. What now?
Now the point is really to find out what makes me happy. And having money allows you to do that. You have more time to find out. 128
Larry David:
It doesn't change your disposition, you just transfer your worries and concerns to other areas. I don't feel like I'm happier
than when I didn't have a lot of money, because now instead of worrying about money I worry about something else.
Now I can worry about my health more.
But I used to have a lot of hostility towards the rich, definitely. I'm sure I've become a person I would have hated ten years ago. 170
Do you ever think about buying a place in the south of France and just letting your hair grow long?
Impossible. I would be bored to death. Anyways, what’s so special about the south of France?
Maybe people in the south of France dream about coming to New York. 170-171
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