In this episode, we’ll discuss the life and work of television pioneer Norman Lear. We are joined by pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, whose bestselling books detail the stories and cultural impacts of television and film. Her latest book, So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (And Why We’re Still So Obsessed with It) was released in January and Jennifer will visit the American Writers Museum on March 6 to chat about her book and the legacy of Mean Girls. It will also be livestreamed and you can register to attend in person or online on the AWM’s website.
From Lear’s obituary on NormanLear.com, “Lear transformed American television with a groundbreaking series of shows in the 1970s that dominated ratings and generated national conversations by dealing openly with issues that challenged families and the country as a whole.” Lear’s more than 75-year-career began in the 1950s and really took off in the 70s with All in the Family. This iconic show was followed by more hits like Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, and many more.
At the end of the 1970s and at the height of his success, Lear stepped away from television to focus on activism. This led to him co-founding the People For the American Way, and in “campaigning to defend freedom of expression, oppose censorship, uphold religious liberty, support access to the ballot, and more.” In 2001, Lear purchased an original copy of the Declaration of Independence and toured it around the country, while encouraging almost 4 million young people to register to vote. He continued his activism until the end of his life.
Lear garnered many awards, including six Emmys, two Peabody Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 1999, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017, and the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021. He is also a member of the inaugural class of the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Jennifer is interviewed by Nate King, Digital Content Associate at the American Writers Museum. This conversation originally took place February 9, 2024 and was recorded over Zoom.