Norman Lear Center study on politics and entertainment preferences is intersting

no surprises really but it tries to put some numbers on what usually turn up as strawmen around here

House: one of the very successful TV shows with almost an equal number of adherents across the political spectrum.

That cranky doctor will bring about a peaceful bipartisan golden era for our country.

Lear is 90 today

Lear has an autobiography out.

“Of all the characters I’ve created and cast, the one who resembles me most is Maude. That’s the character who shares my passion, my social concerns and my politics,” he writes, adding, “Oh, and as important as all the rest combined, it was Maude who dealt best with the foolishness of the human condition because she knew herself to personify it. Oh, my Maude!”

...His memoir covers 92 extraordinary years of life in which, among other things, Lear flew 52 missions as a radio operator and gunner in World War II, wrote television scripts for the country singer Tennessee Ernie Ford and witnessed a naked Jerry Lewis blow out a birthday candle attached to his penis.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/books/review/norman-lears-even-this-i-get-to-experience.html

Documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsNod2_lZHY

At the library, so I can't hear the trailer--looks to be standard the-genius-of testimonials. Might be good, though.

Kennedy Center honoree Lear to avoid meeting Yam

NYT:

The 40th annual award recipients include the groundbreaking television writer and producer Norman Lear, the immigrant singer-songwriter and actress Gloria Estefan, and the hip-hop star, LL Cool J. They will be joined by the musician and record producer Lionel Richie as well as the dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade. In keeping with tradition, President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, will host a White House reception in December for honorees before appearing alongside them at one of Washington’s red-carpet events, the Kennedy Center Honors gala.

“This is a presidency that has chosen to neglect totally the arts and humanities — deliberately defund them — and that doesn’t rest pleasantly with me,” said Mr. Lear, the creative force behind pivotal sitcoms, including “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” that created political conversation in American households. He also founded People for the American Way, a nonprofit organization advocating against right-wing extremism. Mr. Lear said he had already informed the Kennedy Center that he would forgo the White House reception, a rare move in the Honors’ 39-year history.

Still Alive and Going There

I was 9 years old when my dad was found to have committed fraud & was sent to prison for a few years. Alone in bed one night, my father away, I was playing with a crystal set radio and came across the vicious antisemitic voice of Father Coughlin railing against American Jews. 1/3

— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) October 18, 2022

I’m confident that that horrifying moment resulted in my early enlistment in WWII and the 52 combat missions over Nazi Germany that followed. 2/3

— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) October 18, 2022

Today, having recently turned 100, I read Donald Trump’s appalling words about American Jews, and I am nine years old again. The phrase, a horse’s ass, was an everyday expression when I was nine and it occurs to me again now. 3/3

— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) October 18, 2022

Loved this

Rescreened Cold Turkey (Lear's only feature film, shot in '69 but held back by a confused United Artists until after All In The Family hit in '71) last night on Prime. Gets better with every viewing, loads of period charm, and a wonderful cast of comedy legends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMEMp6I4lSQ

[Lear]...witnessed a naked Jerry Lewis blow out a birthday candle attached to his penis.

How did this pass me by nine years ago when morbs posted it?