Norman Lear played an important role in the development of scripted television in the 1970’s. Lear created the hit show All In The Family, which was a sitcom that featured an African American family. The show was watched all throughout the country, giving Lear a platform to discuss controversial issues. The series began by making jokes while addressing various racial themes, but later evolved into talking about other topics such as menopause, impotency, homosexuality, and the ongoing Vietnam War (Page 231). Lear is credited with permanently changing the function of sitcoms, switching from a focus on silliness to mini-dramas with a strong presence of comedy (Page 231). Character development became more frequent in sitcoms, while humor stemming from the actual situation became less present.
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Lear often introduced plots pertaining to controversies discussed in the typical American household, such as the Watergate scandal during Nixon’s presidency (Page 231). Lear created several spinoffs of All In The Family as well as other, unrelated shows. The show Maude aired in 1972, and dealt with stereotypes faced by middle-aged women (Page 233). Lear had a wide audience he was able to address, and used this platform to push conversations often viewed as too controversial for
Lear often introduced plots pertaining to controversies discussed in the typical American household, such as the Watergate scandal during Nixon’s presidency (Page 231). Lear created several spinoffs of All In The Family as well as other, unrelated shows. The show Maude aired in 1972, and dealt with stereotypes faced by middle-aged women (Page 233). Lear had a wide audience he was able to address, and used this platform to push conversations often viewed as too controversial for