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

Quote by Norman Lear

Topics: Norman Lear Quotes

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

In this nation, leadership is dollars.

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

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

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....

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...

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 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...

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 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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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,...

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 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...

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...