Nell Scovell Quotes

Powerful Nell Scovell for Daily Growth

About Nell Scovell

Nell Scovell is an acclaimed American writer, television producer, and comedian, renowned for her significant contributions to popular television shows and movies. Born on March 15, 1961, in Orange County, California, Scovell showed an early aptitude for storytelling and humor. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in English Literature. Her professional journey began at 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) as a staff writer, where she honed her comedic skills and collaborated with renowned comedians such as Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. Scovell was the first female writer on SNL to be given solo writing credit for an episode in 1985. After leaving SNL, Scovell wrote for several other popular television series, including 'The Simpsons,' 'Murphy Brown,' and 'Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.' She also penned scripts for numerous films, most notably 'Night at the Museum' and its sequels. Scovell is known for her work on 'The Office' as a writer and supervising producer, where she played a crucial role in shaping the beloved character of Pam Beesly, portrayed by Jenna Fischer. Her influence extends beyond writing; she has been an advocate for gender equality in Hollywood and has spoken extensively about women's roles in comedy. Quotes by Nell Scovell reflect her unique perspective on life and humor: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This sentiment underscores the impact she strives to make in her work. In 2016, Scovell published 'Just The Funny Parts:... and a Few Hard Truths About Writing in Late Night Television,' a memoir that offers an inside look at her career and the challenges faced by women in comedy. Her work continues to inspire and entertain audiences worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Be brave enough to be bad at something new."

The quote by Nell Scovell, "Be brave enough to be bad at something new," emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing the learning process associated with trying something new. It encourages individuals to be bold in their pursuit of growth and personal development, even if it means being initially less skilled or proficient. By taking on challenges that push us beyond our current abilities, we can foster resilience, develop adaptability, and ultimately, progress towards mastery.

"If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on."

This quote emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities when they present themselves, regardless of one's specific role or position. The "rocket ship" symbolizes significant and potentially life-changing experiences or projects. When such an opportunity arises, it's crucial to prioritize jumping aboard without hesitation over questioning the exact role, as the value comes from being part of the journey rather than trying to determine one's specific place within it initially. The message encourages proactivity, adaptability, and a readiness for growth and adventure.

"The most important part of any writing project is starting it."

This quote by Nell Scovell emphasizes that the initial step in any writing project – taking action to start – is crucial for its success. Procrastination or hesitation can hinder the creative process, so beginning a writing project is not just an initial act but a vital foundation upon which the rest of the work is built. The importance of starting a project applies broadly to all endeavors and tasks, serving as a reminder that taking action and making progress is essential for any significant outcome.

"A good idea is only a good idea if it gets implemented."

The quote emphasizes that the true value of an idea lies in its execution, not merely its conception. No matter how innovative or revolutionary an idea may seem, it holds no weight unless it's translated into actionable steps and ultimately implemented. This underscores the importance of following through on ideas, as they only bring about positive change when put into practice.

"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

This quote by Nell Scovell emphasizes that the initial version of a creative work, be it a script, book, or any other artistic piece, serves as a means for the author to understand and explore their own ideas. It's essentially a personal journey, helping the creator to define the plot, characters, and themes before they are shared with an audience. In simpler terms, the first draft is the storyteller's way of discovering what they want to tell.

Retaining a child-like sense of wonder is a boon for creative types like Steven Spielberg and J. K. Rowling.

- Nell Scovell

Like, Types, Spielberg, Boon

When blue-eyed Donald Trump married hazel-eyed Ivana Zelnickova, he probably figured his broad-shouldered DNA would dominate her girly alleles. But genetics played a cruel trick on Trump: Of the couple's three children, only the youngest, Eric, wound up with his father's fishy blue eyes.

- Nell Scovell

Trump, Couple, Donald, Girly

Garry Shandling's stand-up specials were masterpieces of tightly crafted stories that delivered both hard jokes and hard truths. He was neurotic and self-deprecating, and his observations on life cut deep.

- Nell Scovell

Deep, Self-Deprecating, Cut, Observations

I traveled to Israel in a small party assembled by Marty Peretz, the editor-in-chief of 'The New Republic.' Other guests included Senator Al Gore and his wife, Tipper. Like every tourist group, we climbed Masada, floated in the Dead Sea, and visited a kibbutz.

- Nell Scovell

Small, Other, Republic, Guests

Male writers don't want to be judged in the room. They want to be able to scarf an entire bag of potato chips while cracking fart jokes and making lewd comments without fear of feminine disapproval. But we're your co-workers, not your wives.

- Nell Scovell

Chips, Scarf, Feminine, Disapproval

I'm a little sad that they actually came up with the metaphor of waves for feminism. By definition, a wave goes in, and it comes out. I would really like it to be a tsunami that creates a flood that forever changes the landscape.

- Nell Scovell

Waves, Goes, Like, Flood

The Kennedy Center Honors reflects our humanity and higher purpose. We are a great nation, in part, because we value culture.

- Nell Scovell

Purpose, Nation, Center, Honors

Smash together the Grammys, Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys, and you get the Green Room at the Kennedy Center Honors.

- Nell Scovell

Green, Center, Grammys, Honors

We have so many great memoirs from women in front of the camera, from Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, and Amy Schumer.

- Nell Scovell

Memoirs, Many, Amy, Tina

The creative process is often wrapped up in bottomless anxiety, and when the world applauds the product of that process, it soothes the anxiety. Briefly. Then the anxiety returns and even intensifies.

- Nell Scovell

Process, Product, Often, Bottomless

An ocean of ink - real and virtual - has been spilled critiquing the appearance of female politicians.

- Nell Scovell

Appearance, Been, Virtual, Spilled

Arts are a luxury, proof that a civilization has risen above 'politics and war.'

- Nell Scovell

Politics, Civilization, Risen

In the writers' room, I know the difference when someone brushes up against me and makes a sexist crack and when they've stepped over the line and made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

- Nell Scovell

Over, Sexist, Stepped, Unsafe

I'm on the board of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which is run by Dr. Stacy Smith - she conceived of the inclusion rider. What I love about the inclusion rider is it uses the fact that Hollywood is based on hierarchies, and it knows that these key players have persuasive power.

- Nell Scovell

Love, Fact, Persuasive, Rider

I'd like to see David Letterman adopt the inclusion rider on his Netflix show.

- Nell Scovell

Inclusion, See, His, Rider

Albert Brooks. Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Larry David. The best comedic actors play broad and real simultaneously, coming across as both larger than life and all too human.

- Nell Scovell

Best, Play, Larger, Simultaneously

Unfortunately, my system for tracking down funny female writers isn't methodical. It's mainly based on word-of-mouth, which can cast a limited net.

- Nell Scovell

Limited, Which, Based, Word-Of-Mouth

My criticisms of late-night TV blew up some old friendships and sparked some new ones.

- Nell Scovell

New, Some, Late-Night, Blew

There have always been women who were successful against the odds. Now we need to change the odds so more women can be successful.

- Nell Scovell

Need, Always, Been, Odds

I was the second female writer ever hired at 'Late Night.' When I applied for the job in 1988, I had no way of knowing how much the odds were stacked against me.

- Nell Scovell

Against, Stacked, Applied, Odds

There's this perception that there's a pipeline problem for women and people of color. I don't buy into that. I think we have a broken doorbell problem, and there are plenty of women and people of color standing at the doorstep trying to get in the door, and nobody's opening it.

- Nell Scovell

Color, Door, I Think, Doorstep

At 26, I was single, living in Manhattan, and working as a journalist at 'Vanity Fair.' I was Carrie Bradshaw... in sensible shoes.

- Nell Scovell

Living, Vanity Fair, Carrie, Sensible

Like leggings, comedies created by women came into vogue in the late 1980s, exploded in the early '90s, went mainstream in the mid-'90s, and were shoved into the back of the closet around 1997.

- Nell Scovell

Like, Exploded, Created, Vogue

If necessity is the mother of invention, urgency is the uncle of change. Without it, progress slows and then stops and then reverses.

- Nell Scovell

Change, Uncle, Then, Invention

I'm such an admirer of Wendy Davis.

- Nell Scovell

Davis, Admirer

Moms Mabley blazed a path for female stand-ups in a housecoat and floppy hat. Phyllis Diller worked equally hard to make herself unattractive to men and non-threatening to women.

- Nell Scovell

Path, Equally, Worked, Unattractive

Like Lindsay Lohan and Lauren Conrad, Barack Obama is addicted to his BlackBerry.

- Nell Scovell

Barack, Lauren, His, Lindsay

I think it's an uphill battle in every field. You hear late-night comedy is hard on women. And then you hear investment banking is hard on women. And tech is hard on women. And then you start digging, and you learn philosophy departments are hard on women!

- Nell Scovell

Think, Late-Night, Tech, Uphill

My first joke that ever aired on 'Late Night' was for a list of 'Top 10 Least Popular Summer Camps.' My contribution - 'Camp Tick in beautiful Lyme, Connecticut' - squeaked in at No. 10. Like a trip to Camp Tick, my time at 'Late Night' faded into memory like a short session at a dicey summer camp.

- Nell Scovell

Memory, Summer Camp, Session, Connecticut

I have a husband who didn't just resign himself to staying home but was happy to be the primary parent.

- Nell Scovell

Parent, Himself, Staying, Primary

Studies do show that in hierarchical structures, you do get more harassment. There's more power concentrated at the top, which means there's more abuse of power concentrated at the top. And every TV show is very much a hierarchy.

- Nell Scovell

Abuse Of Power, Which, Means, Concentrated

The Pulitzer Prize was established when Joseph Pulitzer died in 1911, leaving a bequest to create the eponymous award. An immigrant from Hungary, Pulitzer struck it rich by combining the 'St. Louis Post' and the 'St. Louis Dispatch' to make the - wait for it - 'St. Louis Post-Dispatch.'

- Nell Scovell

Wait, Prize, Died, Combining

The average career span for a TV writer is 11 years. The only other thing I could find that had the same career span was a police dog.

- Nell Scovell

Career, Average, TV, Span

The focus on male politicians extends beyond clothes, legs, and pretty faces. It's hard to find an article about former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich that doesn't mention his mop.

- Nell Scovell

Pretty, About, Rod, Article

I think, in all fields, there's this motherhood pay penalty where, the second you become a mother - and this is true whether you give birth or adopt - you're perceived to not be as committed to your job. Whereas men are perceived as breadwinners who now need more money and promotions because they're fathers.

- Nell Scovell

I Think, Penalty, Fathers, Whereas

I think empathy is undervalued in a lot of these comedy writers' rooms.

- Nell Scovell

Empathy, Think, Lot, Undervalued

Sensitivity training is a fine idea but isn't taken seriously by those who need it most.

- Nell Scovell

Need, Fine, Most, Sensitivity

Once, after a long week, I felt so insecure that I decided to make a list of people who thought I was funny even if I didn't think I was. At the top of the list, I wrote, 'Garry Shandling.' His early praise protected me like a comedy-writer version of Harry Potter's scar.

- Nell Scovell

Thought, Week, Garry, Potter

An executive producer with an all-male writing staff once inadvertently revealed his deep, dark fear. While discussing a full-time position for me, he mused out loud, 'I wonder if having a woman in the room will change everything.' Of course, what he really meant was: 'I wonder if having a woman in the room will change me.'

- Nell Scovell

Deep, Woman, Full-Time, Inadvertently

Broad City's first season is full of moments that are insane... and yet make total sense.

- Nell Scovell

City, Moments, Total, Season

When you start a memoir, you think, 'I'm going to blast all the people who were mean to me.' And then you start writing, and you go, actually, it's so much more fun to say nice things about people who were kind and generous to you.

- Nell Scovell

Writing, Me, About, Blast

One of the great things about being in entertainment is you have access to the media. People pay attention to you.

- Nell Scovell

Pay Attention, Access, About, Media People

Blondness is a core Trump-family value: Both Donald Jr. and Eric got the memo and married blondes.

- Nell Scovell

Core, Donald, Eric, Blondes

It's notoriously difficult to get actors to go on record speaking about other actors. Such requests are usually met with terse replies from publicists explaining that their clients are on set and too busy to reply.

- Nell Scovell

Other, Clients, About, Explaining

I've worked on over twenty TV staffs, and nine out of ten male colleagues are wonderful, inclusive, and professional. Still, there's usually one guy - the Tenth Man - who turns a fun job into a dental appointment.

- Nell Scovell

Nine, TV, Tenth, Twenty

You want a diverse writers' room, not because it's the fair thing to do or the right thing to do, but because it's the best thing to do for your show. I've seen that to be true.

- Nell Scovell

Be True, Want, Show, Diverse

The vocabulary of my cynical world doesn't allow me to explain the success of 'Lean In.'

- Nell Scovell

Explain, Vocabulary, Allow, Cynical

By June 1990, I'd racked up 'written by' credits on both 'Newhart' and 'The Simpsons.'

- Nell Scovell

June, The Simpsons, Racked, Credits

There have been many great newspapermen, but to my mind, only two have achieved immortality: Pulitzer for his endowment and William Randolph Hearst for his castle.

- Nell Scovell

Mind, Immortality, Been, Pulitzer

In over thirty years working in TV and movies, I've never had an exit interview or contributed to a 360 assessment.

- Nell Scovell

Over, TV, Had, Assessment

The more successful you are as a man, the more you're liked. And the more successful you are as a woman, the more you're disliked.

- Nell Scovell

Man, Woman, More, Disliked

Howard Dean is no longer the brilliant mastermind of the Fifty State Strategy that enabled the Democrats to storm the White House and Congress. He's the idiot wearing an ugly sweatshirt.

- Nell Scovell

Storm, Brilliant, Dean, Strategy

Sometimes, not knowing what you're doing allows you to do things you never knew you could do.

- Nell Scovell

Doing, Never, Knowing, Not Knowing

I'm both an insider and an outsider.

- Nell Scovell

Both, Insider, Outsider

Moral licensing comes into play when people rely on past behavior to dismiss current prejudiced behavior. This is better known as the 'Some of my best friends are...' defense.

- Nell Scovell

Past, Play, Some, Dismiss

In her darkest hours, Diana, Princess of Wales, could have used a friend like Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The two lived similar lives, a century apart.

- Nell Scovell

Hours, Similar, Lives, Apart

I've been speaking out about harassment and gender disparity for years.

- Nell Scovell

Gender, Been, Speaking, Disparity

Feminists cried, 'Sexism!' when New York Senator Hillary Clinton was judged not by the content of her character but by the color of her pantsuits.

- Nell Scovell

Color, New, Clinton, Feminists

In TV, you look to make characters consistent, but in real life, we're not consistent. Sometimes we're brave, and sometimes we're not. Sometimes we're very aggressive, and sometimes we back right down.

- Nell Scovell

Sometimes, Very, TV, Aggressive

Early on in my career, I was often the only woman in the room, writing for shows like 'Late Night with David Letterman,' 'The Simpsons,' 'Newhart,' and 'Coach,' and sometimes I'd feel like I didn't belong.

- Nell Scovell

Woman, Career, Belong, Simpsons

For thirty years, I've been hearing that it's getting better for women. And until I see statistical proof over enough years that that's true, I won't believe it.

- Nell Scovell

Over, Been, Statistical, Hearing

One of the greatest benefits to come out of 'Lean In' was convincing women to help and support other women - not out of this sense of duty and that you'd be condemned to hell forever if you didn't, but because it will make all your lives better.

- Nell Scovell

Benefits, Other, Your, Condemned

Hated 'The Imitation Game.' Totally inaccurate. A gay man with a messy room? Don't buy it.

- Nell Scovell

Game, Imitation, Buy, Gay

In March 2010, I attended an art opening for Kimberly Brooks's show 'The Stylist Project' in Los Angeles. It was a starry celebration hosted by Dior and 'Vanity Fair' to benefit P.S. Arts. But even as fun-to-gape-at actresses like Christina Hendricks arrived, I couldn't take my eyes off the oil portraits.

- Nell Scovell

Portraits, Vanity Fair, Dior, Los Angeles

When I write, I feel like an optometrist, constantly flipping between lenses and asking, 'Is this better? Is this?' Slowly, the work comes into focus.

- Nell Scovell

Like, I Write, Lenses, Slowly

The first Emmys I went to was in 1990 when the five nominees for best comedy were 'Designing Women,' 'Golden Girls,' 'Murphy Brown,' 'Cheers,' 'Wonder Years.' Three and a half were created by women.

- Nell Scovell

Comedy, Half, Created, Designing

Jenny McCarthy has used her celebrity and sex appeal to attract attention to autism. And while no one questions McCarthy's determination and passion, many scientists have debunked her anti-vaccine message and her claims that a gluten-free diet can provide a cure.

- Nell Scovell

Celebrity, Attract, Claims

Misogyny - and racism - are 'hidden in plain sight,' and the burden of eliminating them should fall on the institutions, not the victims.

- Nell Scovell

Racism, Hidden, Them, Victims

Everyone - male and female - is biased. But no one wants to admit it, so our brains search for examples that disprove the accusation.

- Nell Scovell

Everyone, Biased, Our, Accusation

Constant exercise can keep the body trim and taut, but the face is another thing.

- Nell Scovell

Face, Constant, Keep, Trim

Hollywood is hard on everyone, but it really is harder on women and people of color.

- Nell Scovell

Color, Hollywood, Everyone, Harder

Give me a rock, and I will roll it.

- Nell Scovell

Rock, Give, Will, Give Me

When threatened, the nervous system sometimes goes into a 'freeze response.' You assess the risk and determine that fight or flight doesn't help you. Staying put does.

- Nell Scovell

Flight, Goes, Determine, Threatened

Making someone laugh is the simplest, most basic positive human connection.

- Nell Scovell

Making, Most, Simplest, Basic

For me, TV had always been a medium for entertainment.

- Nell Scovell

Always, Been, TV, Medium

I realize that 'hire qualified women!' is the sort of outraged demand that's often met with a sigh. No one disagrees, and yet gender inequality in high-paying positions extends into all professions.

- Nell Scovell

Hire, Qualified, Sigh, Met

Trump Tower is no ordinary property: It is the jewel in Donald Trump's brass crown.

- Nell Scovell

Trump, Jewel, Donald, Tower

Given the long history of global anti-Semitism and continued calls for the destruction of Israel, it's tough to be a Jew.

- Nell Scovell

History, Global, Given, Calls

If women who don't help women get a special circle in hell, I think women who do help women should get a special cloud in heaven.

- Nell Scovell

Hell, Think, I Think, Heaven

I fantasize about the networks making a rule that each show's writing staff needs to reflect the gender and racial makeup of its audience.

- Nell Scovell

Makeup, Making, Needs, Staff

Writing is not what you start. It's not even what you finish. It's what you start, finish, and put out there for the world to see.

- Nell Scovell

World, See, Even, Finish

I loved working on 'Murphy Brown,' and I loved working on 'Monk.'

- Nell Scovell

Loved, Working, Murphy, Monk

If I were to write a sequel to 'Lean In' for men, I would call it 'Make Room.'

- Nell Scovell

Call, Would, Were, Lean

In Hollywood, you kind of trick yourself into feeling like you have impact.

- Nell Scovell

Kind, Hollywood, Like, Impact

Writing for TV made way more sense than writing for magazines. And by sense, I mean money.

- Nell Scovell

Money, Made, TV, Magazines

One of the most rebellious things a woman can do is allow people to think she's mean.

- Nell Scovell

Think, Most, Allow, Rebellious

Together, we must all remember that one of the most effective responses to hate speech is more speech.

- Nell Scovell

Remember, Effective, Most, Responses

Even when powerful men stumble, they inspire fear.

- Nell Scovell

Powerful, Stumble, Even, Inspire

I basically lived like a guy for, certainly, the first decade of my career, and I just wanted to blend in.

- Nell Scovell

Career, Decade, Certainly, Basically

I think I'm funnier in my writing than in person.

- Nell Scovell

Think, Person, I Think, Funnier

The desire to keep doing what we love supersedes the desire to penalize bad behavior.

- Nell Scovell

Love, Desire, Doing, Bad Behavior

Hollywood is built on relationships, and the way you keep relationships is by playing nice.

- Nell Scovell

Hollywood, Keep, Built, Relationships

To be happy about the fall of one powerful man is to know there are another 10 that need to follow.

- Nell Scovell

Happy, Need, Another, Be Happy

I was ahead of the gender curve, but I wasn't ahead of the intersectionality curve, and I get it now. It's important to me.

- Nell Scovell

Gender, Important, Ahead, Curve

People say, 'Dress for the job you want,' and since I wanted a job that guys had, I dressed like a guy.

- Nell Scovell

Dress, Want, Like, Dressed

I turned 40, and things started to go south.

- Nell Scovell

Go, Things, Turned, South

I learned not to get too happy about good news or too distraught about bad.

- Nell Scovell

News, Bad, Good News, Learned

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.