Page 15 - Norman Lear News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> our obligation is to entertain. if we've 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 justified. some things got worse, obviously. but tv and other news coverage is better, not worse. we sim...

>> isn't that special? >> any tool for human expression will bring out both the best and the worst in us, and television has been that. >> they don't 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. >>...

>> i don't want one. >> no, they're good. >> i don't want it. >> what do you want? you want comedy. >> take one. >> no, kramer, stop it! >> and boom, there you go. a situation comedy. >> there's 23 minutes of magic. >> it's 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, i'm wearing everything you own. >> laughter opens you up. >> okay, ready? >> no! no! >> things that we might be afraid to talk about. some people that were supposed to protect us didn't do the right thing. >> like r...

>> 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. >> i'm breaking up with him tonight. >> these shows changed the way that we think about sexuality. >> for god's sake ellen, tell them you're gay! >> you're talking about gay rights. you're talking about women's rights. >> gender diversity. >> dismantling the patriarchy. >> you know, sexual revolution. >> so, i'm officially out of men to [bleep] i have to get married or move. >> but if you can make them laugh, then may...

these sitcom characters. they're your friends. >> i don't think it's going to pivot anymore. >> you think? >> they were purely selfish and purely immature. >> are you still master of your domain? >> i'm queen of the castle. >> you hope that you'll 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 that's more family than the people that you're related to. >> something's bothering you. >> i've never been happier. >> trying to ma...