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Norman Lear: His Life and Times
In the 1970s, writer and producer Norman Lear forever altered the television landscape by boldly tackling race, class, sexuality, politics, and religion—topics previously considered too taboo to be the subject of comedy on the small screen. Right up until 2023, when Lear passed away at the ripe age of 101, the mastermind behind such groundbreaking situation comedies as All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time continued working to shape the television landscape, even earning back-to-back Emmys in 2019 and 2020.
Norman His Life and Times is the unforgettable story of an extraordinary seven-decade career. Veteran author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell offers an intimate portrait of the writer and producer that is the product of years of research and numerous interviews. Whetsell shows how Lear created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to confront their own humanity and shortcomings. In the process, he explores one of television’s most transformative periods, of which Lear was one of the chief architects and catalysts.
This affectionate and candid tribute combines show-business history with an illuminating consideration of the inner workings of “the man in the white hat”—a figure who singlehandedly redefined an entire medium by reflecting the world around him.
Norman His Life and Times is the unforgettable story of an extraordinary seven-decade career. Veteran author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell offers an intimate portrait of the writer and producer that is the product of years of research and numerous interviews. Whetsell shows how Lear created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to confront their own humanity and shortcomings. In the process, he explores one of television’s most transformative periods, of which Lear was one of the chief architects and catalysts.
This affectionate and candid tribute combines show-business history with an illuminating consideration of the inner workings of “the man in the white hat”—a figure who singlehandedly redefined an entire medium by reflecting the world around him.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 19, 2025
"Norman Lear never stopped loving the production process . . . He believed in the power of the [live studio] audience, and the importance of earning those indelible, classic moments that elevate a sitcom to greatness. He would always rhapsodize about 'watching a couple of hundred people come together as one, when something makes them laugh. I don't think I've ever seen a more spiritual experience.' He knew what made the work good." -- TV screenwriter / producer Mike Royce, on page 276
For a brief blip on the U.S. pop culture continuum - approximately 1971 to 1983 - producer / writer Norman Lear was network television's 'man with the Midas touch,' churning out one hit sitcom after another, starting with the groundbreaking All in the Family and followed quick succession by Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time. Although the shows may seem unadventurous when viewed through a 21st century lens, they were incredibly revelatory at the time, especially in the aftermath of the the 1960's when sitcoms tended to focus on rural-based humor (such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres) or frothy, fantasy-laced plotting (like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie), thus completely avoiding any connection to the eventful and increasingly-troubled 'real world.' Author Whetsell's prosaically titled Norman Lear: His Life and Times begins and concludes as a standard-ish but yet informative bio - after serving in WWII Lear first cut his teeth as a joke and comedy writer for those live TV variety shows in the 1950's, before segueing into the role of a film producer essaying a string of moderately successful but now-somewhat forgotten flicks throughout the 1960's - but once the TV success arrives for him in the 1970's those various shows understandably receive the lion's share of attention and page time. It is all sort of a sad reminder that the true television auteurs are now rare and/or in short supply . . . and here is the perfect moment where I insert a YouTube clip of Archie and Edith Bunker warbling 'Those Were the Days.' 😉
For a brief blip on the U.S. pop culture continuum - approximately 1971 to 1983 - producer / writer Norman Lear was network television's 'man with the Midas touch,' churning out one hit sitcom after another, starting with the groundbreaking All in the Family and followed quick succession by Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time. Although the shows may seem unadventurous when viewed through a 21st century lens, they were incredibly revelatory at the time, especially in the aftermath of the the 1960's when sitcoms tended to focus on rural-based humor (such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres) or frothy, fantasy-laced plotting (like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie), thus completely avoiding any connection to the eventful and increasingly-troubled 'real world.' Author Whetsell's prosaically titled Norman Lear: His Life and Times begins and concludes as a standard-ish but yet informative bio - after serving in WWII Lear first cut his teeth as a joke and comedy writer for those live TV variety shows in the 1950's, before segueing into the role of a film producer essaying a string of moderately successful but now-somewhat forgotten flicks throughout the 1960's - but once the TV success arrives for him in the 1970's those various shows understandably receive the lion's share of attention and page time. It is all sort of a sad reminder that the true television auteurs are now rare and/or in short supply . . . and here is the perfect moment where I insert a YouTube clip of Archie and Edith Bunker warbling 'Those Were the Days.' 😉
December 2, 2024
This was terrific! Great to hear about childhood shows and some of the behind-the-scene info!!!
November 17, 2024
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Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Applause Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
At one time in the 1970s, Norman Lear’s production company had NINE television shows on the air. Isn’t that incredible? All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, etc. These shows were a part of the American television landscape in the 1970s and 1980s. The man behind them, Norman Lear, changed television with these shows, confronting such topics as bigotry and racism, abortion rights, divorce, and many more. He was THE trailblazer, who didn’t stop even after he moved away from television.
This biography is a great companion to Lear’s own memoir, which I listened to after finishing this book. It details Lear’s early life in a dysfunctional family, with a father who went to prison and a mother who was ambivalent enough about her son to ship him off to relatives while she took Lear’s sister to live with her. Lear’s way of surviving was to find the humor of every situation, which would serve him well in his professional and personal life.
His early years in television had him writing for greats like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. After honing his skills and staying gainfully employed throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he and a business partner decided to develop a TV show based upon a British television show. (Not the first or last time he did this) The result was All in the Family, featuring Archie Bunker and his family, who had to deal with his bombastic, bigoted tirades. It was not an instant hit, but the audience slowly grew until it became must-see TV.
That led to several spinoff series like Good Times. I had seen in a documentary, and it’s gone over in detail in this book, is the conflicts Lear had with some of his African American stars. They felt a sense of duty to portray their race as more than just a stereotype since this was the first television show focusing on a black family. They bristled at the white writer’s room and would frequently say “s/he wouldn’t say that.” That led to tensions and sometimes fights with the principal actors, and even led to John Amos, the main star, to leave the show. That’s not necessarily saying Lear was racist, in fact, he was shining the light on the racism in America in the 1970s, but his first focus was on the comedy. His experience on Good Times and with the actors there led him to develop The Jeffersons, showing an upwardly mobile black family.
The other major television shows Lear created are discussed in detail, far more detail than his memoir, in fact. And after Lear got out of the day-to-day television business, he used his clout, and his millions, to form a liberal Political Action Committee to protect the right of free speech. He had so much money, he bought one of the only surviving original copies of the Declaration of Independence, then had it tour all 50 states so people could see it in person. He was a passionately political person, who was involved in many causes, right up to his death in 2023 at the age of 101. Truly, a remarkable voice in the entertainment industry whose impact is still felt today.
Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Applause Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
At one time in the 1970s, Norman Lear’s production company had NINE television shows on the air. Isn’t that incredible? All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, etc. These shows were a part of the American television landscape in the 1970s and 1980s. The man behind them, Norman Lear, changed television with these shows, confronting such topics as bigotry and racism, abortion rights, divorce, and many more. He was THE trailblazer, who didn’t stop even after he moved away from television.
This biography is a great companion to Lear’s own memoir, which I listened to after finishing this book. It details Lear’s early life in a dysfunctional family, with a father who went to prison and a mother who was ambivalent enough about her son to ship him off to relatives while she took Lear’s sister to live with her. Lear’s way of surviving was to find the humor of every situation, which would serve him well in his professional and personal life.
His early years in television had him writing for greats like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. After honing his skills and staying gainfully employed throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he and a business partner decided to develop a TV show based upon a British television show. (Not the first or last time he did this) The result was All in the Family, featuring Archie Bunker and his family, who had to deal with his bombastic, bigoted tirades. It was not an instant hit, but the audience slowly grew until it became must-see TV.
That led to several spinoff series like Good Times. I had seen in a documentary, and it’s gone over in detail in this book, is the conflicts Lear had with some of his African American stars. They felt a sense of duty to portray their race as more than just a stereotype since this was the first television show focusing on a black family. They bristled at the white writer’s room and would frequently say “s/he wouldn’t say that.” That led to tensions and sometimes fights with the principal actors, and even led to John Amos, the main star, to leave the show. That’s not necessarily saying Lear was racist, in fact, he was shining the light on the racism in America in the 1970s, but his first focus was on the comedy. His experience on Good Times and with the actors there led him to develop The Jeffersons, showing an upwardly mobile black family.
The other major television shows Lear created are discussed in detail, far more detail than his memoir, in fact. And after Lear got out of the day-to-day television business, he used his clout, and his millions, to form a liberal Political Action Committee to protect the right of free speech. He had so much money, he bought one of the only surviving original copies of the Declaration of Independence, then had it tour all 50 states so people could see it in person. He was a passionately political person, who was involved in many causes, right up to his death in 2023 at the age of 101. Truly, a remarkable voice in the entertainment industry whose impact is still felt today.
September 18, 2024
Applause Books/Rowman and Littlefield provided an early galley for review
I grew up on Lear's shows, often watching them on first-run over at my grandmother's house along with my mother, my aunt and my cousin. These were thought-provoking, heartfelt comedies that could make you laugh and cry, sometimes in the same half hour.
Broken into twenty-eight chapters across four sections, the reader is taken through his early life, his start in the business, the successes and the later years. No surprise that the bulk of the book is devoted to those glory years of the 1970s when his shows were at the top of viewing numbers week after week. At a time when there were only three networks to choose from, it was very likely you would have someone to discuss the shows with the day after they aired. As a big fan, I was very eager to hear all the stories (some I knew, many I did not) about the making of these classic shows.
Whetsell is a scholar when it comes to television, and he shows his depth of knowledge even when going off on contextual tangents that show the relationships to things Lear did in his own career. I appreciated the stories about the early days of television when Lear was honing his writing chops.
I grew up on Lear's shows, often watching them on first-run over at my grandmother's house along with my mother, my aunt and my cousin. These were thought-provoking, heartfelt comedies that could make you laugh and cry, sometimes in the same half hour.
Broken into twenty-eight chapters across four sections, the reader is taken through his early life, his start in the business, the successes and the later years. No surprise that the bulk of the book is devoted to those glory years of the 1970s when his shows were at the top of viewing numbers week after week. At a time when there were only three networks to choose from, it was very likely you would have someone to discuss the shows with the day after they aired. As a big fan, I was very eager to hear all the stories (some I knew, many I did not) about the making of these classic shows.
Whetsell is a scholar when it comes to television, and he shows his depth of knowledge even when going off on contextual tangents that show the relationships to things Lear did in his own career. I appreciated the stories about the early days of television when Lear was honing his writing chops.
December 9, 2024
I have always admired Norman Lear. I am gen X. I have watched most of Norman Lear's shows MANY times. I was excited to read this book.
I had a really hard time getting into the book. The beginning of the book didn't grab my attention. I almost didn't finish the book. However, the book got BETTER. I almost want to reread the beginning.
The chapters are short. It wasn't a quick read for me. I was really interested in the chapters about the shows I adored ( and still like to watch the reruns). I had no idea about a lot of the strife that went on with the shows. I did know that the shoes were groundbreaking.
I didn't realize much about Lear's politics. I have so MUCH respect for him for trying to make the world better. The book let's you realize censorship and the religious right didn't just start. It is amazing how he was able to produce his shows with the pushback in those days ( would his shows be able to be on regular television today??).
I am thankful to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I did enjoy learning more about Norman Lear ( an American legend).
I had a really hard time getting into the book. The beginning of the book didn't grab my attention. I almost didn't finish the book. However, the book got BETTER. I almost want to reread the beginning.
The chapters are short. It wasn't a quick read for me. I was really interested in the chapters about the shows I adored ( and still like to watch the reruns). I had no idea about a lot of the strife that went on with the shows. I did know that the shoes were groundbreaking.
I didn't realize much about Lear's politics. I have so MUCH respect for him for trying to make the world better. The book let's you realize censorship and the religious right didn't just start. It is amazing how he was able to produce his shows with the pushback in those days ( would his shows be able to be on regular television today??).
I am thankful to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I did enjoy learning more about Norman Lear ( an American legend).
September 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I watched most of the television shows Lear was involved in and loved them, and this book gave me a greater appreciation of the person behind them. I also feel that because Lear was involved in so many shows, this book constitutes a good history of American television. Most of the writing was crisp, but I felt at times that the tone could have been more conversational. Overall this book was a highly enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley and Applause for the advance reader copy.
January 18, 2025
This is an interesting read about Norman Lear but be aware it is not just about Norman’s life but as the title describes, it is about the times in which he lived. Details about some of the actors he selected for his shows, their problems, their history. Sometimes I felt like the extra details made the book drag a bit. Still it was an enjoyable read.
February 17, 2025
Norman Lear’s shows are iconic so I enjoyed getting to read and learn more about the stories behind them.
March 2, 2025
Like the author, I grew up on Norman Lear's shows (All in the Family and Sanford and Son were my faves). I still find those two shows in particular hilariously funny.
It's not easy to comprehend just how much Norman Lear accomplished. He 1) injected topical issues and adult content into his shows, in a way that had never been done before, 2) made the shows incredibly entertaining, and 3) made them extremely successful. According to this book, he once had seven shows in the top 20.
This book gives you a lot of insight into how he accomplished that. Lear had a tough childhood but went through life with a firm moral compass and an unwavering belief that the American people were ready to see serious subjects discussed on their TV screens. And he was right.
Several of his shows were beset by personality conflicts, and Whetsell gives you a lot of scoop on that. It's almost like Lear thrived on turmoil both behind and on the screen. Still, the quality of the work speaks for itself. I can't say I liked all his later work that much (except for Mary Hartman), but Whetsell provides insight on some of his lesser shows (like One Day at a Time) that make them seem intriguing and interesting.
A readable, detailed, and insightful tribute to an amazing man.
It's not easy to comprehend just how much Norman Lear accomplished. He 1) injected topical issues and adult content into his shows, in a way that had never been done before, 2) made the shows incredibly entertaining, and 3) made them extremely successful. According to this book, he once had seven shows in the top 20.
This book gives you a lot of insight into how he accomplished that. Lear had a tough childhood but went through life with a firm moral compass and an unwavering belief that the American people were ready to see serious subjects discussed on their TV screens. And he was right.
Several of his shows were beset by personality conflicts, and Whetsell gives you a lot of scoop on that. It's almost like Lear thrived on turmoil both behind and on the screen. Still, the quality of the work speaks for itself. I can't say I liked all his later work that much (except for Mary Hartman), but Whetsell provides insight on some of his lesser shows (like One Day at a Time) that make them seem intriguing and interesting.
A readable, detailed, and insightful tribute to an amazing man.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews