In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in the offices of people who spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying what will get them ratings.

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan.

Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan.

Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of...

Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of...

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared - we were...

It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared - we were...

I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.

I think the greater responsibility, in terms of morality, is where leadership begins.

I guess because the shows were activist in their own way - the marriage of...

I guess because the shows were activist in their own way - the marriage of...

So we gravitated to shows and issues and causes that made people care.

So we gravitated to shows and issues and causes that made people care.

Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs.

Originally, with all the shows, we went looking for belly laughs.

Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't...

Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't...

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

I stop and look at traffic accidents. I won't hang around, but when I hear...

We got ratings. It isn't that they won't quarrel with you, or say you're always...

We got ratings. It isn't that they won't quarrel with you, or say you're always...

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes....

Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes....

That's the heart of it: My shows were not that controversial with the American people....

That's the heart of it: My shows were not that controversial with the American people....

The trafficking of sex and violence is comes after the demand for ratings.

The trafficking of sex and violence is comes after the demand for ratings.

We did an episode on Good Times which came out of a newspaper article about...

We did an episode on Good Times which came out of a newspaper article about...

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But...

Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But...

The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.

The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.

But you know, my dad called me the laziest white kid he ever met. When...

But you know, my dad called me the laziest white kid he ever met. When...

Life is about having a good time, and it was a good time. We did...

Life is about having a good time, and it was a good time. We did...