Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom.
With unprecedented access to Lear, his work and his massive personal archives, “American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You” combines stories from his turbulent childhood and early career with his groundbreaking TV success (“All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times, Maude”) and social activism.
The documentary also features colorful stories from Lear’s family, friends and collaborators, including John Amos, Mel Brooks, George Clooney, Alan Horn, Bill Moyers, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner and Russell Simmons.
Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, 12th & Delaware, DETROPIA) show how a poor Jewish kid from Connecticut became one of TV’s most successful producers. Bringing provocative subjects like war, poverty, and prejudice into 120 million homes every week, Lear proved that social change was possible through an unlikely prism – laughter – and created some of the greatest moments in television history.
Philadelphia
Opens 8/5/16
Landmark Philadelphia
Related Posts
THIRTEEN’s American Masters Series presents filmmaker/photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ new documentary, The Women’s List, premiering nationwide Sept. 25 on PBS
THIRTEEN’s American Masters and WQED presents ‘August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand’ nationwide Feb. 20
PBS premieres Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s series “The African Americans” Oct. 22
Leave a Comment