Norman Lear


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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Norman Lear
Norman Lear with Emerson College
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Berle Adams

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Berle Adams on a deal he negotiated for his clients Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin for the Neil Simon play, "Go Blow Your Horn"

Lee Adams

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Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme to All in the Family
Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on presenting their song "Those Were The Days" - the title song to All in the Family - to Norman Lear

John Amos

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John Amos on his problems with the scripts of Good Times and Norman Lear dismissing him from Good Times
John Amos on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy
John Amos on repairing his relationship with Norman Lear and his thoughts on the then-current state of television

Beatrice Arthur

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Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear casting her on The George Gobel Show
Beatrice Arthur on Maude read-throughs with Norman Lear
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear's response when she didn't like a Maude script
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear's taboo-breaking work

Paul Bogart

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Director Paul Bogart on some of the behind-the-scenes difficulties on the set of All in the Family
Paul Bogart on Norman Lear leaving All in the Family

Paul Rodriguez with Emerson College

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Paul Rodriguez on how he came to star on Norman Lear's a.k.a. Pablo

Beatrice Arthur with Emerson College

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Beatrice Arthur on tackling social issues like abortion and death through the guise of laughter in Norman Lear's shows -- particularly on Maude; on mail she received after the abortion storyline on the show
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear wanting her to come to Los Angeles to work on shows he was writing for

Irma Kalish with Emerson College

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Rocky and Irma Kalish on working for Norman Lear as a writer
Rocky and Irma Kalish on working for Norman Lear as a writer

Bill Dana with Emerson College

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Bill Dana on working with Norman Lear on writing the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit," featuring Sammy Davis, Jr.
Bill Dana on writing the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit" for producer Norman Lear

Hal Cooper

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Hal Cooper on being hired to direct Maude; on the first episode he directed; on the creative atmosphere
Hal Cooper on Norman Lear's extraordinary ability to cast actors

David Crane

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David Crane and Marta Kauffman on what they learned from working with Norman Lear
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on working on The Powers That Be with Norman Lear
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on what they learned from working with Norman Lear
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on working on The Powers That Be with Norman Lear

Richard Crenna

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Richard Crenna on starring in the short-lived Norman Lear sitcom All's Fair with Bernadette Peters

Billy Crystal

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Billy Crystal on Norman Lear casting him for a guest spot on All in the Family, where he met Rob Reiner

Greg Daniels

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Greg Daniels on interviewing Norman Lear in college

Sam Denoff

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Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams, executive produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear

Garvin Eddy

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Garvin Eddy on the look of the Norman Lear shows he assistant art directed early in his career

Hector Elizondo

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Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family created by Norman Lear

Nanette Fabray

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Nanette Fabray on being cast by Norman Lear as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

Bob Finkel

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Bob Finkel on Norman Lear

Michael J. Fox

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Michael J. Fox on working on Palmerstown U.S.A. with Norman Lear and Alex Haley
Michael J. Fox on how impressed he was to meet Norman Lear; admired Lear's show All in the Family

Ron Friedman

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Ron Friedman on writing for All in the Family and working with Norman Lear

Pamela Fryman

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Pamela Fryman on working with Norman Lear on the One Day at a Time reboot

Betty Garrett

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Betty Garrett on being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family

Marla Gibbs

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Marla Gibbs on being cast on The Jeffersons, and on staying behind at the first table read to offer her opinions to Norman Lear
Marla Gibbs on Norman Lear's involvement with The Jeffersons
Marla Gibbs on how 227 came about with competing interest from Brandon Tartikoff and Norman Lear

Leonard H. Goldenson

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Leonard H. Goldenson on asking Norman Lear to adapt the British show 'Til Death Do Us Part, in what became All in the Family, and passing it up

Louis Gossett, Jr.

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Louis Gossett, Jr. on the impact producer Norman Lear had on opportunities for African-American actors in television

Robert Guillaume

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Robert Guillaume on working with Norman Lear

Sherman Hemsley

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Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear making the rounds of Broadway shows to look for talent, and being spotted when Hemsley was part of the cast of the musical Purlie
Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear working with the actors during the cast "readings" on The Jeffersons

Louis J. Horvitz

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Louis J. Horvitz on directing Fernwood 2 Night with Martin Mull and Fred Willard

Geri Jewell

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Geri Jewell on her relationship with Norman Lear and Ed Simmons and a show she and Simmons tried to sell starring Jewell and Sid Caesar
Geri Jewell on Norman Lear's role in her career, including casting her on his special I Love Liberty

Hal Kanter

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Hal Kanter on being executive producer during All in the Family's 1975-1976 season; on his difficulties working with Norman Lear

H. Wesley Kenney

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H. Wesley Kenney on directing All in the Family and a typical work week with Norman Lear

Michael King

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Michael King on attempting to do a The Little Rascals revival with Norman Lear

Mort Lachman

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Mort Lachman on Norman Lear's relationship with the writing staff of All in the Family
Mort Lachman on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear

Perry Lafferty

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Perry Lafferty on Norman Lear

Angela Lansbury

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Angela Lansbury on turning down a Norman Lear show to do Murder, She Wrote

Louise Lasser

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Louise Lasser on working with producer Norman Lear, and director Joan Darling on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and on the show's production schedule
Louise Lasser on "Mary Hartman's" breakdown on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and on working with Norman Lear on the episode
Louise Lasser on hosting Saturday Night Live, and on Norman Lear's reaction to the show

Jerry Lewis

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Jerry Lewis on staff members of The Colgate Comedy Hour

Ann Marcus

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Ann Marcus on how she came to work for Norman Lear on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Ann Marcus on Norman Lear's contributions to Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Rue McClanahan

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Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude
Rue McClanahan on various pilots she did for Norman Lear

Michael Moye

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Michael Moye on beginning to write original plays and winning the American College Theater Festival Play-writing Award sponsored by Norman Lear; on getting an offer to write for Lear's Good Times
Michael Moye on working with the producers of Good Times

Thad Mumford

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Thad Mumford on writing for Good Times, Maude, and various other Norman Lear shows

Anne Nelson

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Anne Nelson on how contracts have changed since she started in the industry, and on working with Norman Lear
Anne Nelson on her working relationship with Norman Lear

Bob Newhart

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Bob Newhart on appearing in the Norman Lear film "Cold Turkey"

Carroll O'Connor

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Carroll O'Connor on his rewrite of the pilot script of All in the Family and developer/executive producer Norman Lear telling the story on The Mike Douglas Show
Carroll O'Connor on his contentious working relationship with Norman Lear and how he resented Lear's not offering him an interest in the All in the Family spin-offs  

Bernie Orenstein

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Bernie Orenstein on he and Saul Turteltaub being hired to produce Sanford and Son by Norman Lear, and Redd Foxx almost dropping out of the show before they started

Pam Polifroni

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Pam Polifroni on casting the third pilot for All in the Family, and on working with Norman Lear

Charlotte Rae

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Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman because of Louise Lasser

Hector Ramirez

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Hector Ramirez on working with John Rich and Norman Lear on All in the Family
Hector Ramirez on working with Norm Lear on the day-to-day work of All in the Family

Marian Rees

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Marian Rees on joining Tandem Productions with Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear
Marian Rees on the overriding mission of Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, when it started
Marian Rees on Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, being on the Paramount lot and Tandem producing a feature film
Marian Rees on her day-to-day duties during her early years at Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin
Marian Rees on Tandem productions producing feature films with Norman Lear
Marian Rees on being dismissed from Tandem Productions by Norman Lear

Rob Reiner

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Rob Reiner on working with show creator Norman Lear on All in the Family
Rob Reiner on Carroll O'Connor and Norman Lear's relationship on All in the Family

Larry Rhine

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Larry Rhine on the relationship between Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor while working on All in the Family

John Rich

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John Rich on working with Norman Lear on The Colgate Comedy Hour
John Rich on All in the Family's co-creator Norman Lear
John Rich on casting Mike Evans as "Lionel Jefferson" on All in the Family
John Rich on Norman Lear's involvement and casting on All in the Family
John Rich on how Sherman Hemsley was cast as George Jefferson on All in the Family, and later, The Jeffersons (spin-off)
John Rich on the difficulties of getting All in the Family on the air

Rita Riggs

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Rita Riggs on working for Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin on the feature "Divorce, American Style"
Rita Riggs on working with Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, and on heading up the costume department at their Tandem Productions
Rita Riggs on working on costuming with the creative team of All in the Family, and the freedom she enjoyed working under Norman Lear

Stanley Ralph Ross

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Stanley Ralph Ross on writing an episode of All in the Family for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and on working with Norman Lear
Stanley Ralph Ross on Norman Lear

Isabel Sanford

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Isabel Sanford on watching All in the Family before she was cast as "Louise Jefferson", and on auditioning for Norman Lear

William Schallert

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William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear

Bob Schiller

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Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude; on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines

Nina Shaw

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Nina Shaw on Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's company, Tandem Productions/T.A.T. Communications, playing a major role in creating the business of syndication
Nina Shaw on Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's company, Tandem Productions/T.A.T. Communications, being a client of O'Melveny & Myers
Nina Shaw on Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin bringing more Black characters to television and on the number of women who worked for Tandem
Nina Shaw on how the skills she learned at her first job at O'Melveny & Myers negotiating for Normal Lear helped her throughout her career

Jack Shea

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Jack Shea on Sanford and Son producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin
Jack Shea on how he got involved with directing The Jeffersons
Jack Shea on directing 704 Hauser starring John Amos, produced by Norman Lear

Hazel Shermet

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Hazel Shermet on working with various people in her career

Fred Silverman

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Fred Silverman on the autonomy given to Norman Lear to create All In The Family

Doris Singleton

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Doris Singleton on working on All in the Family and getting direction from Norman Lear

Jean Stapleton

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Jean Stapleton on All in the Family executive producer/series developer Norman Lear
Jean Stapleton on the decision by Norman Lear to have the character of "Edith Bunker" die, in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone"
Jean Stapleton on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," which dealt with breast cancer, and how Norman Lear convinced her to do the story

Ben Starr

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Ben Starr on working with Norman Lear while writing for All in the Family

Jeremy Stevens

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Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night

Howard Storm

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Howard Storm on pitching to Norman Lear for All in the Family with writing partner Paul Lichtman

Charles Strouse

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Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme to All in the Family
Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on presenting their song "Those Were The Days" - the title song to All in the Family - to Norman Lear

George Sunga

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George Sunga on working with Norman Lear on All in the Family and The Jeffersons

William Tankersley

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Norman Lear on All In The Family
William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Norman Lear on All In The Family, (contd.)

Mel Tolkin

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Mel Tolkin on writing for All in the Family with writing partner Larry Rhine, and on working with Norman Lear
Mel Tolkin on Norman Lear's day-to-day involvement with All in the Family, and on the shooting schedule of the show
Mel Tolkin on writing Joe's World with Norman Lear

Saul Turteltaub

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Saul Turteltaub on Norman Lear asking him and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce Sanford and Son
Saul Turteltaub on producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin being hands-off on the production of Sanford and Son

Jimmie Walker

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Jimmie Walker on his first days playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times, and on working with producer Norman Lear
Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!," and on how Norman Lear felt about it
Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch
Jimmie Walker on Norman Lear wanting to cover controversial topics on Good Times

Bob Weiskopf

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Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude; on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines

Tucker Wiard

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Tucker Wiard on working on the Norman Lear show, Good Times and other Norman Lear shows

Fred Willard

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Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"

Bud Yorkin

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Bud Yorkin on the writers for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show: Norman Lear, Danny Arnold, and Roland Kibbee
Bud Yorkin on partnering up with Norman Lear to form Tandem Productions
Bud Yorkin on sharing an office with Norman Lear
Bud Yorkin on Norman Lear

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