Depending on when you were born, you may have never heard of Norman Lear or even seen an episode of the groundbreaking TV That he created (including Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, All in the Family and The Jeffersons — to name a few).
Photo courtesy Music Box Films
Nevertheless, you have him to thank for changing television for the better. Before Lear, people on TV didn’t talk like people in real life, nor did they talk about issues that mattered to real people. But through Lear’s work, our nation was asked to grapple with issues like race, class, sexuality, politics, human rights and more. This innovative documentary allows stars like Jon Stewart, Amy Poehler, Lena Dunham, George Clooney, Mel Brooks and more to praise this most influential of television innovators. THE WORD: The film’s greatest star is 93-year-old Lear himself. The man who at one time had six out of the top ten shows on TV, fought in WWII and founded People for the American Way will inspire you with his continued vitality and creativity. COMING TO: Theaters
Last modified: August 22, 2017
