Norman Lear dies aged 101: Oscar-nominated comedy writer and producer behind 'All in the Family' and 'Sanford and Son' is credited with revolutionizing American television

Daily Mail UK ^ | December 6, 2023 | Joe Hutchison

[Allegra]

I love the fact that the viewing audience didn’t despise Archie and didn’t hold Meathead up as the enlightened hero despite Lear hoping they would.

I remember Meathead going on about something once and my mom shaking her head in disgust and saying “I can’t stand him.” My parents loved that show.

[Beowulf9]

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/norman-lear-influential-tv-producer-and-liberal-activist-dies-at-101

[Getready]

Sanford and Son was based on Steptoe and Son. An English comedy show about a junk collector..Coincidentally ,the actor who played Steptoe( whose character was an inveterate slob on the show) plays Paul’s grandfather in the Beatles movie HARD DAYS NIGHT. In the movie John refers to Paul’s grandfather as a “clean man”...only English TV viewers would understand that line.

[Beowulf9]

I’m right there with you.

[Clemenza]

Redd Foxx was an amazing standup comedian whose albums still hold up. Also hung out with Malcolm Little (who later became more famous as Malcolm X) pre the latter’s conversion in prison.

[Sirius Lee]

“I can’t stand him.”

Nobody likes being preached at by a sententious lefty.

[x]

First cousin of another TV innovator, David Susskind, who had the misfortune of dying 35 or so years ago. Lear was doing in “comedy” what Susskind had been doing with the talk show years before. It wasn’t really that good for the country.

[Vermont Lt]

If you can get a chance, see if you can fold OLD Redd Fox comedy. He was dirty and funny. She was as well.

[ought-six]

I used to listen to Redd Foxx albums when I was in high school in the ‘60s. Crude and edgy (for those days); but funny stuff.

[LeonardFMason]

Is his casket made of asbestos?

“Lear described himself as a “total Jew” but said he was never a practicing one.”

Died without HOPE.

[2nd Amendment]

My late brother in law wouldn’t tolerate any criticism of Archie. Agreed with him on everything!

[Red Badger]

So did I...........................😁😉

[Red Badger]

I had a friend who was a big rig short haul truck driver, that had Redd Foxx’s albums on 8 track tapes he bought at truck stops. Also Doug Clark and his Hot Nuts tapes. Dirty as heck and funny as hell..........................

[No name given]

That’s right.

[Vahan1987]

May he rest in peace. However, I just bet Ben Shapiro is probably cheering this news right about now. He hated Norman Lear & Aaron Spelling, and made it clear that he hated those two in his book Primetime Propaganda. I wouldn't doubt he also cheered when he heard Spelling died in 2006.

[Midwesterner53]

Family shows were funny without an edge to them before this guy. Never again afterwards.

[Borges]

They weren’t supposed to despise him. But to see the human frailties.

[Borges]

Lear wrote the 1967 film “Divorce American Style” and was nominated for an Oscar.

[Red Badger]

Okay, I remember that film, I thought the writer was mistaking an EMMY for an OSCAR..........

[Jean2]

I guess that just proves what I always thought. You may be able to change a person’s behavior; but, you can’t change their basic nature. It didn’t help that meathead came off as so self-righteous.