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Groundbreaking television producer Norman Lear. Source: https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Today, just a few days after that, I learned that Norman Lear, the creator of “Sanford and Son”, and so much more groundbreaking comedy, died at the age of 101.
His courage, talent, and longevity have always inspired me, starting when I was just a kid getting into television.
The prologue
Norman Lear got started in the 1970s, with “All in the Family” in 1971. It was the story of a bigoted working class man named Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor; his beleagered and somewhat dimwitted wife Edith, played by Jean Stapleton; their daughter Gloria Stivic, played by Sally Struthers; and her liberal husband Mike, played by Rob Reiner. The show brought a lot of social issues to the sitcom, addressing topics such as racism, abortion, death, and the politics of the day. It was groundbreaking, so much so the opening episode played a disclaimer before the show began.
Norman Lear got started in the 1970s, with “All in the Family” in 1971. It was the story of a bigoted working class man named Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor; his beleagered and somewhat dimwitted wife Edith, played by Jean Stapleton; their daughter Gloria Stivic, played by Sally Struthers; and her liberal husband Mike, played by Rob Reiner. The show brought a lot of social issues to the sitcom, addressing topics such as racism, abortion, death, and the politics of the day. It was groundbreaking, so much so the opening episode played a disclaimer before the show began.
He had a lot of other great shows too
Edith had a cousin named Maude Findlay, played by Bea Arthur, who got her own show in 1972. Maude was a prickly, outspoken, liberal woman married to Walter Findlay, played by Bill Macy, who owned an appliance store. “Maude” ran until 1978, also attacking a lot of social issues including abortion, mental health, alcoholism, domestic violence and much more.
“Sanford and Son” ran from 1972 to 1977. It told the story of Fred Sanford and his son Lamont, played by Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson respectively, who owned and operated a junkyard. They were African-American so there was a lot of racial humour.
“Good Times” was a spin-off of “Maude”, running from 1974 to 1979. It featured Esther Rolle as Maude’s housekeeper Florida Evans, and delved into her personal life living in a poor, Black neighbourhood in inner-city Chicago.
The Bunkers’ African-American neighbours were George and Louise Jefferson, played by Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Stanford. He was a loud mouthed dry-cleaning magnate, while she was a strong-minded wife, and the perfect foil for George. They would get their own show too, “The Jeffersons” in 1975.
“One Day at a Time” also debuted in 1975. It starred Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano, a recently divorced woman raising her two teenage daughters, played by Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips, in Indianapolis.
“Diff’rent Strokes” debuted in 1978 with Conrad Bain playing Phillip Drummond, a rich businessman living on Park Avenue with his daughter Kimberly, played by Dana Plato. He then adopts the two Black, orphaned sons of his former housekeeper, played by Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges. This show also dealt with a lot of social issues including pedophilia, racism, alcoholism, and more.
There were other shows but these were his most popular, and the ones I saw in the three-channel universe on the farm.
As the 1980s dawned, many of these shows would continue on into the new decade, and would all have their fitting conclusions.
Wrapping up
Four of Norman Lear’s productions continued on into the 1980s when they concluded.
Four of Norman Lear’s productions continued on into the 1980s when they concluded.
“All in the Family” had something interesting happen. It continued on until 1979 then became “Archie Bunker’s Place”. It was based at Kelsey’s, Archie’s old watering hole which he bought and renamed after himself. Over those years Archie softened as he took on a Jewish partner, an Irish cook, and a Black maid. Mike and Gloria were long gone, and divorced, while Edith died in its first season. In her place, was a 10-year-old relative of Edith’s they took in. Later a niece of Archie’s came to stay with him. I recall watching the last few seasons on Sunday nights, but never did see the conclusion. It would run four seasons through 1983.
“The Jeffersons” would run until 1985, for a total of 11 seasons and 253 episodes. Unfortunately, this show was harder to find on peasant vision, and it didn’t air on our channels the last few seasons, so I am not sure how it ended either.
The same goes for “One Day at a Time” which ran from 1975 to 1984, for nine seasons and 209 episodes. It went through a lot of changes over the years, but by then it wasn’t on peasant vision. I do recall hearing about its series finale on “Entertainment Tonight”, and even saw the last scene. Lead character Ann Romano, played by Bonnie Franklin, turns the lights out in her apartment for the last time as the screen turns black.
And for “Diff’rent Strokes”, which run from 1978 to 1986, and also disappeared from the peasant vision dial. It ran eight seasons for 189 episodes. I read about changes to “Diff’rent Strokes” and, actually, the other shows in “TV Guide”. That’s where I read the series moved from NBC to ABC for its last season, and how Mr. Drummond re-married, to a woman first played by Dixie Carter then Mary Ann Mobley. Again, I never saw the series finale.
Brief runs
Norman Lear also launched two shows in the 1980s that I liked, and wished I could see more of.
Norman Lear also launched two shows in the 1980s that I liked, and wished I could see more of.
“Palmerstown, U.S.A.” only lasted 17 episodes over two seasons from 1980 to 1981, but I just loved it. The show centred on Booker T. Freeman and David Hall, two boys, one Black and one white, and their friendship in a rural Southern community during the Great Depression. Lear teamed up with Alex Haley, best known as the author of “Roots”, on the show. In fact, Haley based the series on his own childhood. Of note was a very young Michael J. Fox playing an older brother.
“a.k.a. Pablo” lasted just six episodes in March and April of 1984. It starred comedian Paul Rodriguez and centred on his character Paul Rivera, who still goes by his given name Pablo around his family. “a.k.a. Pablo” delved into the life of a comic from a Hispanic family, who often made ethnic jokes about his Mexican-American heritage.
The years after
Norman Lear did not produce much later on, although I have seen all or part of the shows he did produce.
Norman Lear did not produce much later on, although I have seen all or part of the shows he did produce.
In the summer of 1991 he produced “Sunday Dinner” which starred Robert Loggia and Teri Hatcher who played his much younger wife. CBS tried to boost the ratings by using the first few original episodes of “All in the Family” as a lead-in. I remember this well, because I was home from university that summer.
“The Powers that Be” starred John Forsythe as a United States senator and aired for two seasons and 21 episodes in 1992 and 1993.
“704 Houser Street” had by far the most interesting premise. It was set in Archie Bunker’s old house, but a Black family was now living there. The father, played by John Amos who had starred in Lear’s earlier series “Good Times”, was a grumpy old man clashing with his up and coming son. The twist is the old man is a liberal and the son a conservative. It aired for six episodes in April and May of 1994. I happened to catch the pilot of this show another time I was home from university.
Parting thoughts
The hallmark of Norman Lear’s work in television was the fact he tackled social issues without fear of reprisal. It is fitting his career is book-ended by “All in the Family” and “704 Houser Street”, two shows with the same setting tackling similar issues.
The hallmark of Norman Lear’s work in television was the fact he tackled social issues without fear of reprisal. It is fitting his career is book-ended by “All in the Family” and “704 Houser Street”, two shows with the same setting tackling similar issues.
I will always remember him as a producer with a social conscience who bothered the conscience of others.
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