Norman Lear


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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Interviews
Norman Lear
Norman Lear with Emerson College
Highlights
Marla Gibbs on Norman Lear's involvement with The Jeffersons
01:40
Pamela Fryman on working with Norman Lear on the One Day at a Time reboot
00:54
Rob Reiner on working with show creator Norman Lear on All in the Family
03:40
Bud Yorkin on Norman Lear
01:32
John Amos on repairing his relationship with Norman Lear and his thoughts on the then-current state of television
04:10
Jean Stapleton on All in the Family executive producer/series developer Norman Lear
00:57
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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"
03:22

Lee Adams

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Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on writing the theme to All in the Family
07:24
Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on presenting their song "Those Were The Days" - the title song to All in the Family - to Norman Lear
01:08

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
02:40
John Amos on starring on 704 Hauser and Norman Lear's legacy
05:58
John Amos on repairing his relationship with Norman Lear and his thoughts on the then-current state of television
04:10

Beatrice Arthur with Emerson College

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Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear casting her on The George Gobel Show
01:23
Beatrice Arthur on Maude read-throughs with Norman Lear
01:31
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear's response when she didn't like a Maude script
01:19
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear's taboo-breaking work
01:11
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
03:25
Beatrice Arthur on Norman Lear wanting her to come to Los Angeles to work on shows he was writing for
01:17

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
04:13
Paul Bogart on Norman Lear leaving All in the Family
00:31

Hal Cooper

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Hal Cooper on being hired to direct Maude; on the first episode he directed; on the creative atmosphere
04:29
Hal Cooper on Norman Lear's extraordinary ability to cast actors
01:18

David Crane

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David Crane and Marta Kauffman on what they learned from working with Norman Lear
03:36
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on working on The Powers That Be with Norman Lear
09:59
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on what they learned from working with Norman Lear
03:36
David Crane and Marta Kauffman on working on The Powers That Be with Norman Lear
09:59

Richard Crenna

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Richard Crenna on starring in the short-lived Norman Lear sitcom All's Fair with Bernadette Peters
05:45

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
03:37

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.
09:18
Bill Dana on writing the All in the Family episode "Sammy's Visit" for producer Norman Lear
07:43

Greg Daniels

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Greg Daniels on interviewing Norman Lear in college
01:14

Sam Denoff

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Sam Denoff on being influenced by the Colgate Comedy Hour with Martin and Lewis
02:04
Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams, executive produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear
04:30

Garvin Eddy

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Garvin Eddy on the look of the Norman Lear shows he assistant art directed early in his career
03:45

Hector Elizondo

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Hector Elizondo on appearing on All in the Family created by Norman Lear
05:13

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"
03:35

Bob Finkel

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Bob Finkel on Norman Lear
02:23

Michael J. Fox

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Michael J. Fox on working on Palmerstown U.S.A. with Norman Lear and Alex Haley
00:49
Michael J. Fox on how impressed he was to meet Norman Lear; admired Lear's show All in the Family
02:13

Ron Friedman

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Ron Friedman on writing for All in the Family and working with Norman Lear
00:54

Pamela Fryman

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Pamela Fryman on working with Norman Lear on the One Day at a Time reboot
00:54

Betty Garrett

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Betty Garrett on being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family
02:59

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
04:19
Marla Gibbs on Norman Lear's involvement with The Jeffersons
01:40
Marla Gibbs on how 227 came about with competing interest from Brandon Tartikoff and Norman Lear
02:13
Marla Gibbs on Norman Lear's involvement with The Jeffersons
01:40

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
00:43

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
00:24

Robert Guillaume

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Robert Guillaume on working with Norman Lear
00:29

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
01:04
Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear working with the actors during the cast "readings" on The Jeffersons
00:43

Louis J. Horvitz

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Louis J. Horvitz on directing Fernwood 2 Night with Martin Mull and Fred Willard
09:21

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
04:16
Geri Jewell on Norman Lear's role in her career, including casting her on his special I Love Liberty
04:28

Irma Kalish with Emerson College

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Rocky and Irma Kalish on working for Norman Lear as a writer
02:16
Rocky and Irma Kalish on working for Norman Lear as a writer
02:16

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
07:12

H. Wesley Kenney

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H. Wesley Kenney on directing All in the Family and a typical work week with Norman Lear
02:24

Michael King

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Michael King on attempting to do a The Little Rascals revival with Norman Lear
03:35

Mort Lachman

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Mort Lachman on Norman Lear's relationship with the writing staff of All in the Family
03:07
Mort Lachman on Carrol O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family and on O'Connor's relationship with Norman Lear
03:12

Perry Lafferty

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Perry Lafferty on Norman Lear
01:00

Angela Lansbury

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Angela Lansbury on turning down a Norman Lear show to do Murder, She Wrote
00:22

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
13:29
Louise Lasser on "Mary Hartman's" breakdown on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and on working with Norman Lear on the episode
07:25
Louise Lasser on hosting Saturday Night Live, and on Norman Lear's reaction to the show
04:37

Jerry Lewis

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Jerry Lewis on staff members of The Colgate Comedy Hour
01:09

Ann Marcus

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Ann Marcus on how she came to work for Norman Lear on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
08:51
Ann Marcus on Norman Lear's contributions to Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
04:14

Rue McClanahan

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Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude
04:52
Rue McClanahan on various pilots she did for Norman Lear
01:50

Donald A. Morgan

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Donald A. Morgan on how Norman Lear's shows were shot at KTTV in the 1970s
04:31

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
03:38
Michael Moye on working with the producers of Good Times
00:56

Thad Mumford

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Thad Mumford on writing for Good Times, Maude, and various other Norman Lear shows
06:36

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
03:33
Anne Nelson on her working relationship with Norman Lear
01:51

Bob Newhart

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Bob Newhart on appearing in the Norman Lear film "Cold Turkey"
03:37

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
01:52
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  
01:21

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
02:33

Pam Polifroni

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Pam Polifroni on casting the third pilot for All in the Family, and on working with Norman Lear
10:51

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
06:21

Hector Ramirez

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Hector Ramirez on working with John Rich and Norman Lear on All in the Family
00:45
Hector Ramirez on working with Norm Lear on the day-to-day work of All in the Family
02:53

Marian Rees

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Marian Rees on joining Tandem Productions with Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear
03:14
Marian Rees on the overriding mission of Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, when it started
03:13
Marian Rees on Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, being on the Paramount lot and Tandem producing a feature film
05:59
Marian Rees on her day-to-day duties during her early years at Tandem Productions, headed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin
01:55
Marian Rees on Tandem productions producing feature films with Norman Lear
12:22
Marian Rees on being dismissed from Tandem Productions by Norman Lear
08:25

Rob Reiner

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Rob Reiner on working with show creator Norman Lear on All in the Family
03:40
Rob Reiner on Carroll O'Connor and Norman Lear's relationship on All in the Family
02:23

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
01:23

John Rich

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John Rich on working with Norman Lear on The Colgate Comedy Hour
00:19
John Rich on All in the Family's co-creator Norman Lear
01:17
John Rich on casting Mike Evans as "Lionel Jefferson" on All in the Family
06:43
John Rich on Norman Lear's involvement and casting on All in the Family
05:21
John Rich on how Sherman Hemsley was cast as George Jefferson on All in the Family, and later, The Jeffersons (spin-off)
03:35
John Rich on the difficulties of getting All in the Family on the air
01:06

Rita Riggs

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Rita Riggs on working for Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin on the feature "Divorce, American Style"
02:08
Rita Riggs on working with Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, and on heading up the costume department at their Tandem Productions
04:10
Rita Riggs on working on costuming with the creative team of All in the Family, and the freedom she enjoyed working under Norman Lear
04:34

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
05:17

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
05:55
Stanley Ralph Ross on Norman Lear
00:58

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
04:26

William Schallert

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William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear
01:49

Bob Schiller

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Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
01:34
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
02:52
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude; on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines
04:07

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
02:55
Nina Shaw on Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's company, Tandem Productions/T.A.T. Communications, being a client of O'Melveny & Myers
00:11
Nina Shaw on Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin bringing more Black characters to television and on the number of women who worked for Tandem
01:01
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
00:41

Jack Shea

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Jack Shea on Sanford and Son producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin
01:04
Jack Shea on how he got involved with directing The Jeffersons
01:40
Jack Shea on directing 704 Hauser starring John Amos, produced by Norman Lear
01:04

Hazel Shermet

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Hazel Shermet on working with various people in her career
11:16

Fred Silverman

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Fred Silverman on the autonomy given to Norman Lear to create All In The Family
02:10

Doris Singleton

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Doris Singleton on working on All in the Family and getting direction from Norman Lear
00:42

Jean Stapleton

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Jean Stapleton on All in the Family executive producer/series developer Norman Lear
00:57
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"
03:27
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
01:01

Ben Starr

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Ben Starr on working with Norman Lear while writing for All in the Family
01:15

Jeremy Stevens

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Jeremy Stevens on writing for Fernwood 2-Night
07:31
Jeremy Stevens on working with Norman Lear and the cast of Fernwood 2-Night
04:04

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
07:24
Lee Adams and Charles Strouse on presenting their song "Those Were The Days" - the title song to All in the Family - to Norman Lear
01:08

George Sunga

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George Sunga on working with Norman Lear on All in the Family and The Jeffersons
01:34

William Tankersley

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William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' workings with Norman Lear on All In The Family
01:15
William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' work with Norman Lear on All In The Family, (contd.)
06:13

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
04:02
Mel Tolkin on Norman Lear's day-to-day involvement with All in the Family, and on the shooting schedule of the show
01:56
Mel Tolkin on writing Joe's World with Norman Lear
01:08

Saul Turteltaub

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Saul Turteltaub on Norman Lear asking him and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce Sanford and Son
01:01
Saul Turteltaub on producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin being hands-off on the production of Sanford and Son
01:32

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
05:15
Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!," and on how Norman Lear felt about it
04:24
Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch
06:16
Jimmie Walker on Norman Lear wanting to cover controversial topics on Good Times
02:31

Bob Weiskopf

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Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on writing for Maude and working with Norman Lear
01:34
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the writing process on Maude and Norman Lear's involvement with the writing
02:52
Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf on the famous two-part abortion episode on Maude; on Norman Lear's contributions to storylines
04:07

Tucker Wiard

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Tucker Wiard on working on the Norman Lear show, Good Times and other Norman Lear shows
16:04

Fred Willard

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Fred Willard on playing "Jerry Hubbard" on Fernwood 2-Night
12:27
Fred Willard on Fernwood 2-Night "going too far"
03:56

Bud Yorkin

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Bud Yorkin on the writers for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show: Norman Lear, Danny Arnold, and Roland Kibbee
04:40
Bud Yorkin on partnering up with Norman Lear to form Tandem Productions
04:53
Bud Yorkin on sharing an office with Norman Lear
01:32
Bud Yorkin on Norman Lear
01:32

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