Biblioracle: A new biography of television's Norman Lear shows just how remarkable he was

Chicago Tribune

15-02-2025

For no particular reason that I can think of, lately I've been looking for good examples of people embodying the American spirit of hard work, creative entrepreneurship, and care for the well-being of others as part of a democratic society.
Fortunately, I had an example that's been sitting at the end of my desk since last fall: 'Norman Lear: His Life and Times,' a biography of the legendary television producer by Tripp Whetsell.
For those of us of a certain generation (namely mine), Norman Lear was television for a time: 'All in the Family,' 'Sanford and Son,' 'The Jeffersons,' 'One Day at a Time' and on and on.
What made Lear's work indelible was not just its popularity but how his shows shaped the culture by depicting the variety of viewpoints in America. We experienced the emotional and moral journey of Archie Bunker from a racist and sexist but lovable curmudgeon to someone with a more fully developed view of the rights and potential of all individuals.
With 'Sanford and Son,' 'Good Times' and 'The Jeffersons,' Lear helped give white America a window into a fuller range of African American experiences. 'Maude' tackled the challenges of being a feminist in the 1970s, often mixing drama and humor with serious topics like abortion and alcoholism.
Lear's life is like something out of a storybook. He was born in 1922 and raised in Connecticut and Massachusetts with a father who was jailed when Lear was 9, leaving him bouncing among relatives after his emotionally distant mother gave up on tending her children. Lear dropped out of college during World War II to enlist in the Air Force, flying dozens of combat missions as a B-17 radio operator and gunner.
After knocking around Los Angeles in entertainment-adjacent work, Lear secured a writing gig on the 'Colgate Comedy Hour,' then a producing role on 'The Martha Raye Show.' After years of trying, he managed to sell 'All in the Family' to CBS, launching his period as a dynastic force in television.
Not everything Lear touched turned to gold. Remember 'a.k.a. Pablo' starring comedian Paul Rodriguez? Me neither. After the dynastic age of the 1970s, Lear's shows had less impact, with the charming but not exactly profound 'Diff'rent Strokes' being the top hit of his latter period.
Lear used his fame and resources for good throughout his life, founding the People for the American Way. Well into his 90s, Lear was speaking out on issues important to him, including democracy and the environment.
There are different schools of thought on biographies, with some writers trying for a grand narrative interpretation of the life of an important figure, while others work from a steady accumulation of details meant to bring the subject into focus.
'Norman Lear: His Life and Times' takes the latter route through a meticulous accounting of Lear's life, including details like the street Lear's family lived on, and the names of his high school friends, as well as specific conversations between Lear and network executives about his various shows. At times, I felt myself bogged down in information that was interesting but also made me question the relevance. Whetsell's research is impressively exhaustive but is also sometimes more exhausting than illuminating.
I'm pleased to have spent time with the book, but I found myself picking it up, reading through an era and then letting is sit for a while before going back in.
Different readers will have different experiences, depending on what you're looking for in a life story as amazing as Lear's.
John Warner is the author of 'Why They Can't Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.'
Twitter @biblioracle
Book recommendations from the Biblioracle
John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you've read.
1. 'Rejection' by Tony Tulathimutte
2. 'Y/N' by Esther Yi
3. 'The Candy House' by Jennifer Egan
4. 'Fire Sermon' by Jamie Quatro
5. 'Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead' by Emily Austin
— John M., Chicago
John is a previous request customer that was pleased with my choice of Percival Everett's 'Erasure.' I'm going to take another big swing with 'When We Cease to Understand the World' by Benjamin Labatut.
1. 'The Boys in the Boat' by Daniel James Brown
2. 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt
3. 'There Are Rivers in the Sky' by Elif Shafak
4. 'A Gentleman in Moscow' by Amor Towles
5. 'Fever in the Heartland' by Timothy Egan
— Harvey M., Northbrook
'Beautiful Ruins' by Jess Walter has the right mix of history and drama for Harvey and his book club.
1. 'Pineapple Street' by Jenny Jackson
2. 'The Wedding People' by Alison Espach
3. 'Tom Lake' by Ann Patchett
4. 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah
5. 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride
— Beth T., Chicago
I think Beth is a good candidate for the uncompromising, propulsive power of Sarah Manguso's 'Liars.'