Darren McGavin said there was no ''freedom'' in television before he starred in the 1972 TV movie, The Night Stalker.
"Television has got worse and worse," said the actor.
We've all said things we're not proud of, and sooner or later, you're forced to eat your own words.
According to an article in The Washington Post, Darren McGavin was forced to live through one of those moments when a previous quote of his was brought to light.
"Television has got worse and worse," McGavin said to Vernon Scott of United Press International. "The medium is all boxed in. There's no freedom in it. No originality and few, if any, fresh ideas for anyone to work with."
One might assume that McGavin was talking out of turn, but in reality, he was speaking from experience. McGavin had previously appeared in shows like The Outsider and Riverboat. While these shows had merit, you might have some trouble arguing whether they were successful amongst viewers.
However, it seemed that McGavin's bitterness with the medium did not last long, as he was soon back on television with Kolchak: The Night Stalker. At the very least, it was a show that the actor was passionate about - McGavin had previously starred in the films preceding the series, and enjoyed the more supernatural elements of the mystery series.
Ultimately, however, it seemed that McGavin kept a very frank attitude surrounding his profession. "An actor has four alternatives today - the theater, motion pictures, television, or unemployment," said McGavin. "Any of the first three is better than the last one."
