I was born in L.A. County Hospital, but I grew up in Pasadena. I married my 8th grade sweetheart, Marcia. Stephen J. Cannell More Quotes by Stephen J. Cannell More Quotes From Stephen J. Cannell I never waited for my Irish Cream coffee to be the right temperature, with a storm happening outside and my fireplace crackling ... I wrote every day, at home, in the office, whether I felt like it or not, I just did it. Stephen J. Cannell coffee office home Since I was the stupidest kid in my class, it never occurred to me to try and be perfect, so I've always been happy as a writer just to entertain myself. That's an easier place to start. Stephen J. Cannell perfect class kids The character's attitude is more important than plot. Stephen J. Cannell writing attitude character Failure in school does not mean failure in Iife. Stephen J. Cannell parent mean school I'm hoping that these series, that originally aired in the 80's and 90's, prove to be as entertaining online and on portable devices as they were when first broadcast on network television. Stephen J. Cannell online television firsts I really hesitate to say that any of my shows influenced other writers. Stephen J. Cannell shows I can write a book in probably three months. Stephen J. Cannell three writing book A lot of making TV is lightening in a bottle. Stephen J. Cannell bottles tvs So many people get involved with carrying grudges and having these moral battles with people, where they cast themselves as the righteous and the other guy is the dirtbag. They waste tons of energy on it, create all kinds of darkness around themselves and the other person. It gets you nothing. Stephen J. Cannell you energy darkness people I'm a very conservative businessman. I don't work on credit. My father was the guy who taught me how to think straight, not to delude myself and think I was larger than I was. Stephen J. Cannell myself me work father I'm generally a very happy guy because I'm doing what I want. I'm willing to tell you that there are people who are much better than I am in writing. I don't have to be the fastest gun in the West. Stephen J. Cannell i-am you happy people Having a support system is huge for writers. My parents were always encouraging and told me they were behind me, whether or not I made it in the business. My wife was always there for my successes and failures. Stephen J. Cannell parents me wife business My dad was an interior design and furniture person. I started working with him for four years before my first TV writing break. Stephen J. Cannell person design dad writing I believed in the concept of over-performing. I believe anyone can achieve their goals in life if they over-perform, and that means you have to work ten times harder than anybody you see. Stephen J. Cannell goals you work life I formed my own studio, carried my own deficits, owned one-hundred percent of my negatives, and made a lot of mistakes, but we ended up being the third largest TV studio in Hollywood. Stephen J. Cannell mistakes own being my-own Everyone starts out desperately trying to make a hit, but some people are just more mistake-prone than others. I happened to be fairly mistake-prone. Of the 40 shows I made, I'd say ten were hits, which is a pretty good average. Stephen J. Cannell some-people good trying people Once you put something like 'The A-Team' on the map, it does become part of the DNA of television. People grab little pieces of it. I certainly grabbed little pieces of other people's shows when I was creating my shows. Stephen J. Cannell something you people television I've been very successful at selling my things, but I've also been getting up at 4 in the morning for 40 years. Stephen J. Cannell things successful morning years I flunked three grades before I got out of high school. Stephen J. Cannell grades high-school three school My dad was my best friend. I worshipped him. All of my success in life really comes from him. He believed that you get nothing from negativity. Stephen J. Cannell best you success life
