We are a country of excess. So it's not the violence, per se, but the exacerbation and constant repetition. Norman Lear More Quotes by Norman Lear More Quotes From Norman Lear I got a call from an agent to come to New York City, and write for the 'Ford Star Revue.' Because at the time there wasn't much 'national television'. Norman Lear stars new-york writing I think what's dangerous is 24 hours a day, 335 channels, or whatever the hell there is. Too much is too much. Norman Lear hell too-much thinking 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. Norman Lear apologizing pages trying Bud [Yorkin] broke out big when he did 'The Fred Astaire Show' and won four Emmys. His wife at the time suggested that we team up. We got a lot of press in show business papers, and a number of offers...we eventually signed with Paramount Pictures. But I always like to say, his was the horse that we rode in on. That is my favorite recollection. Norman Lear horse team numbers The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of course they know. But they're comfortably ensconced in their country clubs and churches, and very far removed from the decisions that are made on their behalf. Norman Lear country sex people Ratings translate into corporations, corporations that need a profit statement this quarter that's larger than the last. Norman Lear corporations lasts needs Bud [Yorkin] was the kindest and dearest man, and one of the most talented directors there was. Norman Lear bud men directors 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. Norman Lear underestimate people thinking Culturally, I think 'All in the Family' was universal enough to have good timing at any time. Norman Lear timing enough thinking '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. Norman Lear lucky two fall I guess the story that best defines us [with Bud Yorkin] and our relationship goes back to the [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis show. The four stage managers on that show became major TV creators and directors - John Rich, Jack Smight, Arthur Penn and Bud Yorkin. Norman Lear bud stories directors Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But they might be choosing to do a whole lot of other things for the living they make. Norman Lear community might directors I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins. Norman Lear motherhood responsibility leadership You're in the business - when you're a writer, producer, director - to get ratings. Norman Lear rating producers directors Life is about having a good time, and it was a good time. We did some things well and some things poorly, but that was always the case. Norman Lear good-times cases life-is The trafficking of sex and violence is comes after the demand for ratings. Norman Lear demand violence sex TV that people will never see, that giant international corporations will never touch, will never pay your salary. Norman Lear salary giants people Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan. Norman Lear partisanship activity doubt Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more. You may even see another television show. Norman Lear couple goes-on television In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings. Norman Lear office leadership people
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