“In 98 years, I’ve never lived through such a moment—nor anticipated such a moment. It amazes me the time we’re in, in terms of it being like no other time we’ve been in. I hate feeling imprisoned. I’ve never felt imprisoned before. Having to be here, wishing to see somebody and knowing I can’t go there, that person can’t come here…that’s terribly strange.”
– Norman Lear, episode 184 on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
TV Titan Norman Lear returns! This week, the legendary show-runner behind All in the Family and Maude sits down to discuss his feelings of imprisonment during the pandemic (3:00), the story of the dearest, darling Mr. President (10:02), understanding the bifurcation of his childhood (11:31), using laughter to make a living (19:00), remembering his glorious grandmother Bubby who represented love and listening (24:10), the “on to the next” mentality that got him through Hollywood (27:40). Then, finally, he shares his morning ritual with us (39:10), and what he hopes his legacy will be (40:53).
- Listen to our first conversation with Norman, from 2017.
- From The Daily: What Does Kamala Harris Stand For? and What Happened to Kamala Harris?
- For more, check out our episodes with Rob Reiner, Alan Alda, and Gloria Steinem.
- You can purchase Norman’s memoir, Even This I Get to Experience, here.
- Watch a clip from his 1982 interview on Open Mind.
- Learn more about People for the American Way on their website.
- You can stream Just Another Version of You, a documentary chronicling Norman’s life, on Netflix.
- Below is a wonderful documentary short directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.
Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.
Music by: Dylan Peck
Subscribe on: Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher.