Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to think.

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

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.

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....

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

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

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...

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...

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 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.

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 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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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.