Bullseye with Jesse Thorne is a production of maximum fund.org and is distributed by NPR.

It's Bullseye, I'm Jesse Thorne.

Norman Lear died last month.

He was a writer and creator of some of the biggest and most influential sitcoms of all time.

In fact, Variety published at Top 100 TV shows of all time and three of Norman Lear's

shows were in there. It was just the other day. Indeed, Lear redefined what sitcoms could be.

With Sanford and Son, Lear created a show that would give rise to literally dozens of African American

sitcoms.

And on all in the family, characters took on huge topics like war, race, feminism, abortion,

in a way that was empathetic to both sides of every issue.

Archie Bunker, for all his flaws and all the despicable things he said, became one of the most

nuanced and beloved sitcom characters of all time. Lear also created the Jeffersons, Maud, Archie Bunker's place, and many, many more.

In 1981, he founded the Progressive Group People for the American Way.

When I talked with Lear back in 2016 he was the subject of a PBS American

Masters film called Norman Lear, Another Version of You. When he and I talked, he was in his 90s. He was still working in the year since he

rebooted one day at a time. New version was great by the way. He made a documentary

with Lin Manuel Miranda about Rita Moreno and he was still developing

TV shows right up until his passing at 101. Before I replay my conversation with Lear I want to play a clip from All in the Family, the

sitcom that changed everything.

What, you're sure with Sammy, Davis, Jr?

No, me it had it was some Zulu jockey. I know the man.

Besides, you can give me a five buck tip for a buck in a quarter hall anyway.

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