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Quote by Norman Lear

“As a matter of fact, when people ask where my 'point of view' comes from, it was there in one of the first sketches we wrote for [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis.”

Quote by Norman Lear

Author

Norman Lear, born on July 27, 1922, is an influential American television writer. His career began in the 1950s, and he is known for his innovative and influential contributions to television. Lear's works include 'All in the Family', 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and 'Maude', which not only achieved commercial success but also had a profound cultural impact by addressing social issues. more

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“The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'”

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“We mocked that concept ['movies are better than ever'] by doing a sketch that was about a theater trying to get one customer to come in...and that customer was Jerry Lewis. It generated so much controversy that Dean [Martin] and Jerry [Lewis] had to apologize in a full page ad in Variety.”

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“Archie Bunker used to call me 'the laziest white kid he'd ever met.'”

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“When I countered that Archie Bunker didn't have to put down a race of people to say that, he replied, 'and you're the dumbest white kid I've ever met.'”

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“In one question you are expressing a world of opinion. Because it is you who thinks that America has been mistakenly starting these conflicts. I happen to agree with you, and I will repeat what your question suggested...we have mistakenly gotten into one fracas after another. Why we do that [United States has insisted on keeping up a string of enemies, and the wars associated with creating those enemies], I think it's because we're afraid to look in the mirror and understand who we are.”

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“I think America, unfortunately, collectively thinks of itself as the 'chosen people.' To my knowledge, there are no chosen people, we are all human beings.”

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“First and foremost, I married for love. I can't believe I even have to defend this.”

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“'All in the Family' took ten weeks to take off in 1971, and we were lucky to start in January, because if it had started in the regular fall season of 1970, I don't know if we would have lasted. The ratings didn't take off until the end of that fall season, when the other two networks ran out of fresh shows.”

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“Culturally, I think 'All in the Family' was universal enough to have good timing at any time.”

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“As H.L. Mencken once said, 'nobody ever when broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.' Our show [All in the Family] countered that witticism. I think he was wrong.”

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