There are technologies you couldn't predict at all when I started. John Ratzenberger More Quotes by John Ratzenberger More Quotes From John Ratzenberger I don't know how many days I worked there [on Star Wars]. The thing I do remember was I somehow got a parking space next to Kermit the Frog. It was Jim Henson's space, with this Kermit the Frog sign. I took a photo of it and sent it to my mom with a caption that read, "Look, Mom. I made it. I got a parking space next to Kermit the Frog." I was always fascinated by the film-set infrastructures. John Ratzenberger starsmomwar [ Oval House] director, Peter Oliver, gave you the right to fail. He had a philosophy that came from Winston Churchill that you go from failure to failure with enthusiasm. So Peter gave us a go and that's how Ray [Hassett] and I ended up starting Sal's Meat Market at the Oval House. John Ratzenberger rayshousephilosophy I speak to women's groups, Chambers of Commerce, manufacturing organizations. Just did the Mike Huckabee Show. I do about two speaking engagements a month. I still enjoy travelling. John Ratzenberger engagementorganizationtwo I don't want to go back to sitcoms - I'm a middle-aged, white guy - the high school principal who's a buffoon. It's hard enough raising kids now a days, and I don't want to be a part of a show that I'll be embarrassed watching shows like that with my kids and my mother. A lot of shows feel they need to get that for humor. You've have to have had a life experience; otherwise, it's toilet humor. If you've had a job before or experienced something, you get it. Some of these people haven't and they look for the cheap laugh. John Ratzenberger motherkidsschool I look at the calendar. If it's a nice place, I go, like I did in London when it came to choosing to do a film. I always choose the best locations. New Orleans. That's fun. I'm available. Let's go. John Ratzenberger new-orleansnicefun Maybe, I got a sense when [Star Wars] came out, and there were always these lines around the block. We didn't understand the popularity of Cheers until maybe five years into the series. John Ratzenberger blockcheerstars I don't know that I ever did see Star Wars as any different. I was certainly proud that I did it. John Ratzenberger differentstarswar [At Conventions] they give me all the photos to sign. Star Wars, Superman. And Hammy the Pig is right up there. John Ratzenberger starspigswar It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only [Star Wars] cast member skeptical of the willingness of people to come out to see us five actors drive by in antique cars in the Boston rain. Well, it was the first time I really understood the show's popularity. John Ratzenberger starsrainwar I was a carpenter in Northern Vermont and got this tax refund check that just about covered a one-way airfare to London. So this I saw as a sign from God. So I went over to see Ray [Hussett] for a couple of weeks and ended up staying 10 years. I got work as a stage carpenter at the Oval House in Kennington, South London. John Ratzenberger couplehouseyears Two days later I got a call that they wanted to try out the character for seven episodes. Eleven years and 22 Emmys later, Cliff was still sitting at that bar. John Ratzenberger trysittingcharactertwo They need to be re-supplied with energy, and that energy comes from asking not what your country can do for you, but from what you can do for your country. John Ratzenberger youryouenergycountry To them, the real United States is just flyover country. John Ratzenberger justunited-statesrealcountry The pollution they produce, market, sell, and show to billions around the world is at its core contemptuous of the country that gave them better lives than nearly 100 percent of everybody who's ever lived. And they pass that contempt along for everyone to see. John Ratzenberger betterpollutioncountryworld I started improvising the Cliff character, based on someone I grew up with. John Ratzenberger cliffsomeoneupcharacter In fact, my son learned his first swear word from E.T. at age five. The way I look at it, E.T. stole a bit of my son's childhood. John Ratzenberger lookchildhoodageson The road is in my DNA, they’re no strangers to truck stops. John Ratzenberger We just have fun on the road seeing what happens. John Ratzenberger
