Preview: 10/24/2016 | 2m 18s | Video has closed captioning.
Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Aired: 10/24/16
(percussionist playing cadence) (audience applauding) - [Emcee] He has been around approximately forever.
He is 92 years old.
Ladies and gentlemen, Norman Lear.
(audience applauding and cheering) - You know what I like about you, Archie?
- What's that, Maude?
- Nothing.
(audience laughing) - [Mike Wallace] Norman Lear has changed the face of television.
At least 120 million Americans watch Norman Lear shows every week.
- Oh, no sir, Master Jefferson.
You done showed me the way.
- Stop it!
Stop it!
- Say please.
(audience laughing) - Television can be broken into two parts: before Norman and after Norman.
(musical flourish) - This is a period of time where we were at our, probably our greatest change socially.
Mainstream television was one of the last things to jump, and the first person to force it over that hill was Norman.
- "All in the Family" was the greatest.
- Do you have a quick answer for the people who say the show reinforces bigotry- - Yes, my quick answer is no.
- I never said a guy who wears glasses is a queer.
A guy who wears glasses is a four-eyes.
A guy who is a fag is a queer.
- He used to say is too hip for the room.
(jazzy percussion) - [John Amos] There weren't any African Americans on TV at that time, and I didn't wanna disparage a Black family.
- She's the fuse that sets off Kid Dy-no-mite!
(audience laughing) - There are lines that were meant for you to say because you were Black.
- It's time for God's people to come out of the churches and change America.
- I was concerned about what I was seeing on television, mixing politics and religion.
So I thought, I wanna take the flag back for all of us.
- He called me and said, "Guess what.
"I own the Declaration of Independence!"
(chiming) - Laughter, you know, just has to add time.
You know, if lifting weights or running can add time, God, how laughter can add time.
(chuckling) Remember, you heard it here.
♪ Guys like us we had it made ♪ ♪ Those were the days ♪ (audience applauding)
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