With the passing of Norman Lear at the age of 101, we bid a heartfelt farewell to one of television’s most influential figures. Lear’s impact extended beyond sitcoms, transforming television as a medium. When he created “All in the Family” in 1971, TV shows that addressed real-world issues were rare. Sitcoms, in particular, were predominantly white, heterosexual, and conservative, steering clear of controversial or polarizing topics.
Lear saw through this facade. In his autobiography, “Even This I Get to Experience,” he rejects the notion that his groundbreaking sitcom was more political than other shows of the time. He writes:
“For 20 years — until [‘All in the Family’] came along — TV comedy was telling us there was no hunger in America, we had no racial discrimination, there was no unemployment or inflation, no war, no drugs […] Tell me that expressed no point of view!”
“All in the Family” was inspired by “Till Death Us Do Part,” a British sitcom about a bigoted working-class man clashing with his liberal daughter and son-in-law, much to the dismay of his loving wife. Carroll O’Connor ultimately made Archie Bunker, the show’s prejudiced patriarch, an iconic character, but he wasn’t Lear’s first choice. Initially, Lear approached Mickey Rooney for the role. As Lear recalls in “Even This I Get to Experience,” Rooney’s response was less than enthusiastic:
“Norm, they’re going to kill you, shoot you dead in the streets. You want to do a TV show with the Mick, listen to this: Vietnam vet. Private eye. Short. Blind. Large dog.”
Despite Rooney’s dire prediction, Lear persevered. It wasn’t easy; he recounts clashing with CBS censors over the pilot just 20 minutes before the show’s premiere on January 12, 1971, winning by threatening to quit. This was a recurring battle as the show progressed, and Lear often found himself butting heads with the “murderously difficult” O’Connor.
Lear’s efforts paid off. Over nine seasons, “All in the Family” tackled issues like racism, marital infidelity, and abortion with unflinching honesty. The show didn’t shy away from controversy; it even introduced the first openly gay sitcom character in its fifth episode. Despite criticism from real-life Archie Bunkers who nostalgically sang “Those were the days” with the character, the show was a smash hit. It opened the door for a more progressive television landscape, proving Lear’s vision was right all along.