Page 8 - Norman Lear News Today

>> our obligation is to entertain. if weve left something to think about, so much the better. >> gunta kinte! >> television should not be just entertainment. >> charges were leveled at the commercial television networks. >> congress has no right to interfere in the media. >> excuse me! >> we have the responsibility to give the audience what it tuned in to see. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ the years of the 60s which end in a few hours have a bad reputation that is not entirely justif...

>> isnt that special? >> any tool for human expression will bring out both the best and the worst in us, and television has been that. >> they dont pay me enough to deal with animals like this. >> people are no longer embarrassed to admit they watch television. >> we have seen the news, and it is us. ♪ ♪ >> slowly but surely, the 1970s are disappearing. the 1980s will be upon us. what a decade it is coming up. happy new year! >> as you begin the 80s in the television world, the lan...

>> i dont want one. >> no, theyre good. >> i dont want it. >> what do you want? you want comedy. >> take one. >> no, kramer, stop it! >> and boom, there you go. a situation comedy. >> theres 23 minutes of magic. >> its so tasty, too! >> you fell in love with these characters. >> what you talking about, willis? >> we need to laugh at ourselves. >> you hide my clothes, im wearing everything you own. >> laughter opens you up. >> okay, ready? >> no! no! >> things that we might be afraid to...

>> laughter is a great way to deal with a very tricky world. >> daddy horny, michael. >> sitcoms talk about sex. >> my underwear. >> my god. >> and about relationships. >> im breaking up with him tonight. >> these shows changed the way that we think about sexuality. >> for gods sake ellen, tell them youre gay! >> youre talking about gay rights. youre talking about womens rights. >> gender diversity. >> dismantling the patriarchy. >> you know, sexual revolution. >> so, im officially out...

these sitcom characters. theyre your friends. >> i dont think its going to pivot anymore. >> you think? >> they were purely selfish and purely immature. >> are you still master of your domain? >> im queen of the castle. >> you hope that youll have those kinds of relationships in your life. >> tonight is about celebrating our enduring weekend as friends, nay, family. >> good to see you too, girl. where you going? carnival? >> your friends, sometimes thats more family than the people tha...

>> class is fascinating to us as a culture. >> i never check my baggage. i cant stand that wait, baggage area. >> its good to laugh at it, to get it all out on the table >> youre going to have to go back to your seat. >> you know, our goal should be a society without classes! >> if we didnt laugh about social class in the united states, we would engage in class warfare. >> do you realize the people up here are getting cookies?! >> mmm! >> that is not a show about nothing. >> oh, come i...

And television has been that. They dont pay me enough to deal with animals like this. People are no longer embarrassed to admit they watch television. We have seen the news, and it is us. Slowly but surely, the 1970s are disappearing. The 1980s will be upon us. What a decade it is coming up. Happy new year as you begin the 80s in the television world, the landscape was, on any given evening, 9 out of 10 people were watching only one of three networks. More than 30 Million People are addicted to ...

and television has been that. >> they dont pay me enough to deal with animals like this. >> people are no longer embarrassed to admit they watch television. >> we have seen the news, and it is us. >> slowly but surely, the 1970s are disappearing. the 1980s will be upon us. what a decade it is coming up. happy new year! >> as you begin the 80s in the television world, the landscape was, on any given evening, 9 out of 10 people were watching only one of three networks. >> more than 30 mi...

human condition. >> the best comedy comes from your living experience. >> every comic sees the world through a prism that the average person doesnt see through. >> all we do is point out the obvious really and then twist it somewhere. >> i just cant believe the way people are, what is it with humanity, what kind of world do we live in? >> youre not alone ultimately. i think thats what the comics saying. >> reality is fodder for comedy. because its what we have, so, where else can we fi...

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ slowly but surely, the 1970s are disappearing. the 1980s will be upon us. and what a decade it is coming up. happy new year! >> as we began the 80s in the television world, the landscape was on any given evening, 9 out of 10 people watching only one of three networks. >> more than 30 million people are addicted to it. social critics are mystified by its success. what is it? its televisions primetime prairie potboiler "dallas." >> a move like that will destroy all of ewi...