Norman Lear with Emerson College

Writer / Producer / Director

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his one-hour interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Norman Lear (1922-2023) talks about his early years at Emerson College and his time in the television business, and recalls some significant lessons and memories throughout his career. He talks in depth about the healing power of laughter and about how comedy is an excellent vehicle for social change. He discusses some of his career highs and lows, and talks about his experience working on shows such as All in the Family, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and The Martha Raye Show. He also gives advice on how to maintain creative integrity in the business-savvy television industry, and comments on the rarity of true talent. Lear speaks about how a sense of humor can be sharpened but not acquired, and talks about how he gets inspiration for the comedy in his shows and characters. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on May 26, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Laughter is an intravenous -- instead of sticking it in the vein, causing people to think while they're laughing, it's the intravenous of messaging through laughter."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

Norman Lear on how a storyline on Good Times came about and how television can be a teaching tool

00:53

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled

03:53

Norman Lear on comedy as a tool for survival and laughter as a way to get messages across

01:43

Norman Lear on why he decided to pursue a career in television and the joys of working in television

01:41

Norman Lear on advice to those getting into comedy

01:56

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On attending Emerson College; on where he was on December 7, 1941 and on his time in the army; on comedy as a tool for survival and laughter as a way to get messages across; on why he decided to pursue a career in television and the joys of working in TV; on spreading messages in the television he's done and on not speaking up about something on The Colgate Comedy Hour; on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs; on he and Bill Dana's early years getting to know each other, socializing with Imogene Coca and others; on Danny Thomas and David Susskind being instrumental to the start of his career

On he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue; on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show; on the importance of knowing comedy legends who came before you; on a party the night The Colgate Comedy Hour concluded in New York; on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana; on maintaining creative integrity while navigating the business of television; on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family; on crafting who the characters were in All in the Family; on comparisons between a controversial kiss on The Martha Raye Show and the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family

On his creative process; on the healing power of comedy and laughter; on the incident that led to Norman Cousins writing Anatomy of an Illness; on exploring tough themes through comedy and contributing to PSAs about voting

On the business of show business; on whether good writing can be taught; on advice to those getting into comedy; on what makes people laugh; on being happy with his career -- and it was worth it; on needing more laughter today; on what he's most proud of; on a piece of wisdom - the jacket with two pockets

Shows

All in the Family

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

Norman Lear on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family

01:20

Norman Lear on crafting who the characters were in All in the Family

01:01

Norman Lear on comparisons between a controversial kiss on The Martha Raye Show and the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family

00:32

Norman Lear on educational tools learned when exploring the storyline of Edith Bunker's almost-rape on All in the Family

00:30

All in the Family: "Sammy's Visit"

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

Norman Lear on comparisons between a controversial kiss on The Martha Raye Show and the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family

00:32

Colgate Comedy Hour, The

Norman Lear on spreading messages in the television he's done and on not speaking up about something on The Colgate Comedy Hour

02:39

Norman Lear on a party the night The Colgate Comedy Hour concluded in New York

02:00

Norman Lear on originally being unhappy when Jerry Lewis broke the fourth wall on The Colgate Comedy Hour

01:42

Ford Star Revue

Norman Lear on he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue

00:56

Good Times

Norman Lear on how a storyline on Good Times came about and how television can be a teaching tool

00:53

Martha Raye Show, The

Norman Lear on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs

01:05

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled

03:53

Norman Lear on comparisons between a controversial kiss on The Martha Raye Show and the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family

00:32

Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled

03:53

Norman Lear on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family

01:20

Advice

Norman Lear on advice to those getting into comedy

01:56

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Norman Lear on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family

01:20

Emmy Awards

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

First Big Break

Norman Lear on he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue

00:56

Historic Events and Social Change

Norman Lear on where he was on December 7, 1941 and on his time in the army

03:10

Memorable Moments on Television

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

Pivotal Career Moments

Norman Lear on he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue

00:56

Television Industry

Norman Lear on why he decided to pursue a career in television and the joys of working in television

01:41

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled

03:53

Norman Lear on maintaining creative integrity while navigating the business of television

02:49

Norman Lear on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family

01:20

Norman Lear on the business of show business

03:24

Norman Lear on advice to those getting into comedy

01:56

War

Norman Lear on where he was on December 7, 1941 and on his time in the army

03:10

We Laughed

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

World War II

Norman Lear on where he was on December 7, 1941 and on his time in the army

03:10

Professions

Writers

View Profession

Norman Lear on his creative process

05:22

Norman Lear on whether good writing can be taught

01:41

Norman Lear on advice to those getting into comedy

01:55

Norman Lear on what makes people laugh

00:58

Genres

Comedy Series

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:46

Norman Lear on choosing his battles with Standards & Practices and sponsors on All in the Family and on crafting the characters

02:21

Norman Lear on how storylines on Good Times and All in the Family came about and how television can be a teaching tool

01:23

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Norman Lear on spreading messages in the television he's done and on not speaking up about something on The Colgate Comedy Hour

02:39

Norman Lear on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs

01:05

Norman Lear on he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue

00:56

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled

03:53

Norman Lear on originally being unhappy when Jerry Lewis broke the fourth wall on The Colgate Comedy Hour

01:42

People

Sid Caesar

View Interview Page

Norman Lear on tense moments between Nick Condos and Sid Caesar

02:44

Imogene Coca

View Person Page

Norman Lear on he and Bill Dana's early years getting to know each other, socializing with Imogene Coca and others

04:14

Norman Cousins

View Person Page

Norman Lear and Bill Dana on the incident that led to Norman Cousins writing Anatomy of an Illness

01:29

Bill Dana

View Interview Page

Norman Lear on Bill Dana running errands for The Martha Raye Show and on Dana and Lear's early years getting to know each other

05:35

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:47

Sammy Davis, Jr.

View Person Page

Norman Lear on Bill Dana writing the "Sammy's Visit" episode of All in the Family -- and the script not being submitted for an Emmy award for Bill Dana

03:47

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr

View Person Page

Norman Lear on a controversial moment on The Martha Raye Show

02:32

David Geffen

View Person Page

Norman Lear on a story David Geffen told him

00:25

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page

Norman Lear on spreading messages in the television he's done and on not speaking up about something on The Colgate Comedy Hour

02:39

Jerry Perenchio

View Person Page

Norman Lear on the business of show business

02:10

Norman Lear on the business of show business and the creativity of Jerry Perenchio

00:49

Martha Raye

View Person Page

Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show

03:53

Charles Revson

View Person Page

Norman Lear on controversial television moments on The Martha Raye Show

03:53

John Rich

View Interview Page

Norman Lear on a party the night The Colgate Comedy Hour concluded in New York

02:00

Ed Simmons

View Person Page

Norman Lear on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs

01:05

Neil Simon

View Person Page

Norman Lear on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs

01:05

Danny Thomas

View Person Page

Norman Lear on Danny Thomas and David Susskind being instrumental to the start of his career

00:52

Bud Yorkin

View Interview Page

Norman Lear on a party the night The Colgate Comedy Hour concluded in New York

02:00