TV Legend Norman Lear to Appear This Week at Moving Image

As writer, producer, director, satirist, and political activist, the legendary Norman Lear created some of the most important and influential comedy programs in television history with long-running series including All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and The Jeffersons. As President Bill Clinton said when giving him the National Medal of Arts, "He held up a mirror to American society and changed the way we look at it." Lear revolutionized the medium of television by infusing comedy with social commentary. His work created a profound sea change and ushered in the modern era of comedy, by creating such iconic characters as Archie Bunker, Maude, and J.J., in sitcoms that dealt openly with issues of race, class, sexism, politics, the women's movement, and war, reflecting a country in turmoil.

On Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., Museum of the Moving Image and the Comedy Hall of Fame will present Norman Lear in a discussion that will include clips from his greatest shows, moderated by former New York Times media reporter Bill Carter and Al Roker, feature anchor on NBC's Today Show.

This program, titled "The Architect, Norman Lear: How Lear Changed Comedy and the Culture," is part of the series Iconic Characters of Comedy, a collaboration between Museum of the Moving Image and the Comedy Hall of Fame, featuring high-profile personal appearances and focused on the impact of comedy delivered through the medium of television on the consciousness of the American public. The series has featured Alan Alda in conversation with Jeff Greenfield, Marlo Thomas in conversation with Gloria Steinem and Debra Messing, and Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller in conversation with Ben Greenman.

The Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35 Avenue (at 37 Street), Astoria, NY 11106.