The TV thread

Norman Lear turns 100
and shares the meaning of life



Does he know the meaning of life? “Yes, the meaning of life can be expressed in one word: tomorrow.” What pieces of advice does he have that stand out above the rest? “There are two little words we don’t pay enough attention to: over and next. When something is over, it is over and we are on to next. Between those words, we live in the moment, make the most of them.” ...

You probably know of his tremendously prolific spell creating and producing some of the most vital TV sitcoms in the 1970s such as “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” “One Day at a Time” and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.” And you’re probably familiar with the fact that he and his colleagues received praise for addressing hot-button issues in those shows, including racism and abortion, using humor and the humanity of his characters to expose and explore what he considered the “the foolishness of the human condition.” ...

He remains a true believer that the best of the country’s citizens will save it, should it need saving.

“America has never been in more need of its solid, caring citizens,” Lear says. “At 100, we are a long way from the America I believe I was born into. I don’t want to wake up in the morning without hope so I have the faith that enough caring, sensible Americans are fully dedicated to the rights the Constitution guarantees us all and will find their way.”

Norman Lear turns 100 and shares the meaning of life

 

Watched the first episode of American Rust. Jeff Daniels is great, but I just can’t keep going with it. It feels like it was made from a Prestige Television kit.

 

I know that I’m an old man yelling at a cloud, but I was watching $100,000 Pyramid with my 14 year old. We like to play along, just like I did when I was a kid watching $10,000/$25,000 Pyramid.

The topics on the show were so adult — jokes about dick size, gay sex, what you might scream out in bed, etc. I’m not sure what the demo they are going for, but it is practically unwatchable.

 

Half the Family Feud highlights I see are similar.

 

What makes me think Richard Dawson's shtick would not play nearly as well today?

 

I think that of what I’ve seen of Family Feud, it’s far dirtier than the Dawson days. But that show is stupid entertainment — Pyramid is a bit more high minded.

 

Well, Dick Dawson would be clearly drunk and grabbing at contestants, though.

 

Is there anything funnier than in the Newlywed Game when the question posed was

 

"Killian...I'll be back."
"Only in a rerun."

 

Black Bird just keeps getting better. The tension they’re building is pretty good.

 

I know that there were serious health issues with Jeff Bridges, but the last few episodes of The Old Man were an ungodly mess.

 

There was a clip show of 'Gameshows' Most Outrageous Moments' or something similar and the host of that show was on it and swore it never happened. Pre-internet it was considered an urban legend.