Norman Lear at his Los Angeles home in 1984. Photo: Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images Norman Lear — the writer and producer who revolutionized TV with groundbreaking sitcoms in the 1970s — has died at 101. - His shows, starting with "All in the Family," depicted political and social upheaval that was rarely seen on American TV.
They reached vast audiences that would be unthinkable for TV shows today. - At one point in the mid-70s, Lear had eight series watched by an estimated 120 million Americans each week — more than half of the country's population.
- This year's Super Bowl, by contrast, had about 113 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
Lear's other shows included "Sanford and Son," The Jeffersons" and "Maude." "But none had the impact of 'All in the Family,'" the Los Angeles Times writes. - In a 2002 interview, he said: "People always say, 'Did it change anything?' I can't say. But when people turned the shows off, conversation ensued."
Go deeper: Norman Lear, TV's Greatest American (N.Y. Times — gift link) |
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