If You Watch a Lot of TV, You’re Not Considered Well-Viewed

Lily Tomlin? Jane Wagner? Barbara Rowes? Anonymous?

Dear Quote Investigator: People who read numerous books are perceived positively by society. The term “well-read” implies knowledgeable and discerning. However, people who view television for endless hours are perceived negatively. The term “well-viewed” is uncommon. I have only heard it used within the punchline of a joke from comedian Lily Tomlin. Would you please help me to find a citation?

Quote Investigator: The earliest match located by QI appeared in the 1979 compilation “The Book of Quotes” edited by Barbara Rowes. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:[ref] 1979, The Book of Quotes, Compiled by Barbara Rowes, Chapter 23: Tube, Quote Page 211, A Sunrise Book: E. P. Dutton, New York. (Verified with hardcopy) [/ref]

If you read a lot of books, you’re considered well-read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well-viewed.
—Lily Tomlin

Interestingly, Lily Tomlin’s personal website includes a webpage listing a collection of jokes. The statement under investigation is ascribed to Jane Wagner who is Tomlin’s longtime collaborator and wife:[ref] Website: Tomlin Wagner, Webpage title: Lily speaks, Date: Quotation present on November 24, 2012 within snapshot in Internet Wayback Machine, Description: Classic section of comedian Lily Tomlin’s personal website. (Accessed classic.lilytomlin.com on June 16, 2020) link [/ref]

If you read a lot of books, you’re considered well-read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well-viewed. – written by Jane Wagner for Lily’s act

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

In 1980 a columnist in a Lafayette, Indiana newspaper printed the quip with an attribution to Tomlin:[ref] 1980 February 21, Journal and Courier, Norberg at Large: TV horizon to grow along with the cable by John Norberg (Staff Columnist), Quote Page A6, Column 1, Lafayette, Indiana. (Newspapers_com) [/ref]

“If you read a lot of books, you’re considered well-read,” comedienne Lily Tomlin has observed. “But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well-viewed.”

In 1996 the book “That’s Funny: A Compendium of Over 1,000 Great Jokes from Today’s Hottest Comedians” printed the joke and credited Tomlin.[ref] 1996, That’s Funny: A Compendium of Over 1,000 Great Jokes from Today’s Hottest Comedians, Chapter: Some Final Thoughts…, Quote Page 171, (Andrews and McMeel, A Universal Press Syndicate Company, Kansas City), Cader Books, New York. (Verified with scans)[/ref]

In conclusion, QI believes that his quip should be credited to prize-winning playwright Jane Wagner. Lily Tomlin popularized the remark when she used it in her comedy act, but she did not craft it.

Image Notes: Illustration of a television from Clker-Free-Vector-Images at Pixabay. Image has been retouched, resized, and cropped.