Television and movies have been largely devoid of actual comedy and compelling characters in recent years, mostly due to the proliferation of cancel culture. It is increasingly obvious that network television is dying a slow, painful death under the weight of virtue signaling and forced diversity, while movies aren’t faring much better. Writers are afraid to joke about the wrong demographic, and actors and comedians are going out of their way so as not to run afoul of the woke mob.
It certainly is a far cry from the heyday of network comedy. In fact, it’s a far cry from the 2000s, as shows like The Office would never be made today, at least not with the era’s biting, slightly inappropriate humor. Recently, comedy lost perhaps the most innovative, creative, and sometimes controversial figure of the last half-century.
Norman Lear, the creative force behind some of the funniest, most thought-provoking series in television history, died Tuesday at the age of 101. The iconic screenwriter and producer died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. The family released this statement via social media: “Thank you for the moving outpouring of love and support in honor of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Norman lived a life of creativity, tenacity, and empathy. He deeply loved our country and spent a lifetime helping to preserve its founding ideals of justice and equality for all. Knowing and loving him has been the greatest of gifts.”
Lear broke previously uncharted ground in the 70s. Following an era of feel-good family comedies like “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Gomer Pyle: USMC,” Lear shocked viewing audiences with shows like “Sanford and Son,” “Maude,” “Good Times,” and “The Jeffersons,” touching on social issues such as abortion, race, and homosexuality. However, his biggest accomplishment in terms of television was “All In the Family.”
The program followed a blue-collar family in New York City and the battles between the conservative patriarch and his live-in, liberal daughter and son-in-law. One of the funniest, most influential sitcoms in television history, it is still considered the benchmark for network television comedy. More importantly, Lear tackled the political and social issues of the day with humor and class, winning four Emmys and a Peabody award in the process.
Lear shared one of his secrets for success in a 2005 interview. He said: “Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs. It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared – we were working before, on average, 240 live people – if you could get them caring, the more they cared, the harder they laughed.” Beyond television, Lear was also the creative force behind wildly popular movies like “The Little Rascals,” “The Princess Bride,” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.”
Norman Lear was born in Connecticut in 1922 and attended college in Boston before dropping out to serve his country in 1942. As an Army tail gunner, he flew 52 combat missions and received the Air Medal with four leaf clusters. Lear was discharged in 1945, where he then moved to California and began his career as a press agent before transitioning to comedy writing. Besides his achievements in Hollywood, Lear was also a philanthropist and a social advocate.
Lear created People for the American Way in 1981 with the goal of “reducing social tension and polarizations, encouraging community participation, fostering understanding among different segments of our society, and increasing the level and quality of public dialogue.” All of those are in short supply in 2023, as is actual comedy. There will unlikely ever be a pioneer like Norman Lear in the entertainment industry again. His contribution to American culture cannot be understated and can still be enjoyed on streaming.
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