Granted, the writers, directors, producers, and that community make a great deal of money. But they might be choosing to do a whole lot of other things for the living they make.

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.

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

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...

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...

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,...

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.

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...

We are a country of excess. So it's not the violence, per se, but the...

We are a country of excess. So it's not the violence, per se, but the...

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.

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.

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...

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...