Norman Lear
Kenya Barris Remembers Mentor Norman Lear: “He Made Other People See Me”
On Dec. 5, Hollywood lost an icon. At 101, Norman Lear passed away at his home in Los Angeles. Among the many hats he had worn — prolific TV creator, legendary boundary pusher, major philanthropist — was mentor to Kenya Barris. As so many of Lear’s shows did, Barris’ Black-ish used comedy to tackle big […]
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‘Good Times’ Voice Cast Revealed for Seth MacFarlane-Norman Lear Animated Series
Netflix’s animated Good Times update from Seth MacFarlane and the late and great Norman Lear is moving full steam ahead. The streamer has tapped J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown and Jay Pharoah to lead the voice cast of the animated and adult-leaning series. Additionally, Ranada Shepard (Family Affair, Lizzie McGuire) has signed on to serve […]
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“My Second Father”: Rob Reiner Remembers Norman Lear
I was about 8 years old when I first met Norman Lear. My dad, Carl Reiner, was working on Sid Caesar’s Show of Shows and Norman was writing for Colgate Comedy Hour, so they were both in New York. In those days, it was a small world of people who trafficked in sketch comedy. Mel […]
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David Mandel Recalls Norman Lear 2017 Emmys Moment
Norman Lear was my babysitter. Every day, the school bus would drop us off, and in the two hours or so until my mother got home, I was “taken care of” by Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time and Sanford and Son. Later on, as I got more interested in […]
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Norman Lear’s Legacy of Inclusive Storytelling: “He Was a Conscience for America”
Norman Lear was woke before “woke” became a derogatory smear. He was woke before it was briefly appropriated in mainstream parlance as a liberal badge of honor. Before he died on Tuesday at the age of 101, Norman Lear was one of the few people alive who entirely preceded the term, which can trace its […]
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‘One Day at a Time’ Co-Creator Pays Tribute to Norman Lear
Welcome to the 240th episode of TV’s Top 5, The Hollywood Reporter’s TV podcast. Every week, hosts Lesley Goldberg (West Coast TV editor) and Daniel Fienberg (chief TV critic) break down the latest TV news with context from the business and critical sides, welcome showrunners, executives and other guests, and provide a critical guide of what to watch (or skip, as […]
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Norman Lear’s Family Sang His Sitcom Theme Songs as He Passed
Some of the last things Norman Lear heard were the songs that he made iconic. Lear’s son-in-law, Dr. Jon LaPook, revealed Thursday that their family was singing TV theme songs from Lear’s classic shows to him as he passed away. Lear died Tuesday at the age of 101. “The family was gathered around the bed, […]
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6 Norman Lear TV Episodes That Changed the World
TV giant Norman Lear, who died Dec. 5 at 101, leaves behind arguably the single most valuable body of work ever committed to the medium. On seminal series like All in the Family, Maude and The Jeffersons, Lear dared to tackle issues then considered unthinkable sitcom fodder — rape, abortion, homosexuality, racism, alcoholism — with a genius’ eye and ear for […]
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‘Fleishman Is in Trouble,’ ‘Mrs. Davis’ Among 2023 Sentinel Awards Winners, as Norman Lear’s Wife Lyn Pays Tribute to the Icon
Hollywood, Health and Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center toasted its 2023 Sentinel Awards winners on Wednesday at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, where Lear’s life took center stage after his passing was announced earlier in the day at the age of 101. Lear’s wife Lyn sent a statement to be […]
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Norman Lear Was Still Making TV a Week Before His Death
Norman Lear was still active in developing television shows at age 101. The television icon, who passed away Dec. 5 of natural causes, was in recent weeks working on his TV slate, including redeveloping a reboot of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman after TBS exited the scripted originals business and the cable network released the project, […]
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In Rare Move, All Major Broadcast Networks to Honor Norman Lear in Primetime
Broadcast television, the medium to which Norman Lear dedicated most of his career, will honor him in primetime Wednesday evening. In a rare joint effort, all of the major broadcast networks will run a simulcast of “an on-air in memoriam card” paying tribute to the iconic TV writer and producer. The tribute, “in recognition of […]
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Critic’s Appreciation: Norman Lear Was Television’s Comedy Lodestar
The creator of 'All in the Family,' 'The Jeffersons,' 'Maude' and many other shows pushed the medium to engage with the world, and made us laugh in the process.
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