It crossed our minds early on that the more an audience cared - we were working before, on average, 240, live people. If you could get them caring - the more they cared, the harder they laughed.

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

You're in the business - when you're a writer, producer, director - to get ratings.

You're in the business - when you're a writer, producer, director - to get ratings.

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

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

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

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...

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...

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...

In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in...

In the area we're discussing, leadership begins on Madison Avenue, on the desks and in...

But it also became the experience, or was the experience, of the writers who were...

But it also became the experience, or was the experience, of the writers who were...

I wanted to just do a one-act play for 26 minutes, with commercials at the...

I wanted to just do a one-act play for 26 minutes, with commercials at the...

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.

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...

Even when they don't know who Nixon was, these shows will continue to play.

Even when they don't know who Nixon was, these shows will continue to play.

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...

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....

At great, great remove sit the head of General Electric, the head of News Corp,...

At great, great remove sit the head of General Electric, the head of News Corp,...

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.

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...

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.

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...

When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one...

When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one...