Just saw this on the NYT. Creator of “All In The Family” and other edgy comedies, he was 101.
Damn.
Well, you can’t say it was unexpected. I was amazed to see him still appearing on TV at 100.
It wasn’t just the “All in the Family” collection. He did several unrelated comedies. And he was co-producer of the underrated movie Cold Turkey
Oh what a treat he was. RIP Sir. You have greatly enriched us all.
I highly recommend listening to his appearance on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. I think it is the one where he is asked for advice on living so long and he gave the only advice worth anything. Well worth a listen:
He lived a good long life. He probably changed TV more than any other person with “All in the Family”, “Maude” & “The Jeffersons”.
He was a WWII vet who flew 52 combat missions as a B-17 gunner or radio op.
His top shows: All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, What’s Happening!!,
Norman Lear put to bed the ‘vast wasteland’ criticism of television. That in itself is worthy of our applause and enduring respect. We have lost a giant.
He was truly magnificent, and his television programs perfectly captured real life, only giving it better dialog.
He supplied many hours of enjoyment and life lessons during my formative years. He greatly influenced who I am today.
A life well lived, RIP sir.
I thought he was gonna live forever. Thanks, Mr. Lear.
He held up a mirror to white middle class americans and showed them their racism and sexism and he made it more funny than shaming. And it was a formula which worked to change some hearts and minds, and plant seeds of doubt in others. And he sure pissed some folks off by doing it.
I bet he held it off until he got the news that Henry Kissinger was no longer alive, just in case he was up to something.
A couple of weeks ago I was thinking that maybe Norman Lear may be the most influential celebrity in my life. I grew up in a very conservative family and am the only one that isn’t. And I am the only one that watched a lot of Normal Lear. I believe there is a correlation.
I have the box sets for All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Every Monday I watch an episode of The Jeffersons and every Thursday is All in the Family (I have shows for the other days of the week).
And then there’s Maude!
“Cold Turkey” was originally rated G! When I first saw it, probably 15 years after it was in the theaters, I couldn’t believe it passed some of the censorship of the time. It has since been re-rated PG-13 because it shows people smoking, and also has some rather adult content, albeit off-screen.
Thanks. I just listened, and I loved the two words. I also learned something new about Frank Sinatra.