Norman Lear on Trump: "He's Archie Bunker!" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 06-03-2016, 09:12 PM

Norman Lear Uses WGA Event To Lash Out At Donald Trump: “He IS Archie Bunker!”
by Pete Hammond
June 3, 2016

Norman Lear blasted presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump Thursday night telling a Writers Guild audience “He IS Archie Bunker. I think of Donald Trump as the middle finger of the American right hand.”

Lear went on to ask somewhat angrily, “Why is this happening? Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, can we all seriously agree this is bad for America?”

He continued by adding an opinion of why this is taking place right now.

“I think this is a case of the American people saying, ‘this is the kind of leadership you are giving us,’ because they didn’t invent him. The Republican party handed it to them. I think they are saying ‘screw you’. I don’t think they are married to the notion that he is going to be a great President.”

In fact, Lear reminisced about his proudest moments involving another infamous GOP figure and that President’s reaction to the treatment he got on network TV from Lear 45 years ago.

“Have you never heard Nixon in the White House tapes talking about All In The Family and Archie Bunker? It is the greatest three minutes of my life. He’s talking with John Erlichman about this theme song and asks, ‘how do they make such fun of a good man?'”

Lear talked about some of his pet peeves including a diatribe against a corporate America system in which companies had to do, quarter by quarter, better than the last which is what he thinks is partially responsible for the rise of Trump.

When I mentioned CBS head Les Moonves’ now famous quote about Trump’s ratings-getting ability in this election year ( “It may not be good for America but it is good for CBS”), Lear didn’t mince words.

“I couldn’t say it better,” he said describing the cynicism he sees rampant in the world today.

Although Lear said TV has mostly lost the mojo of the topical kind of half-hour comedies he did in the ’70s like "All In The Family", he did single out for praise the animated "South Park" for continuing to carry the flag.

“South Park did it brilliantly I think,” he said.

http://deadline.com/2016/06/norman-l...er-1201766617/

Mr. Television · 06-03-2016, 10:50 PM

Lear went on to ask somewhat angrily, “Why is this happening? Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, can we all seriously agree this is bad for America?”

Yes Hillary is bad for America.

omg65 · 06-06-2016, 04:17 PM

Norman Lear is a left wing intolerant jerk.Who cares what he thinks.Yeah he had a funny show that tried to portray conservatives as idiots.So what.These Hollywood types have been trying to tear this country apart for years now.

JamesG · 06-10-2016, 09:34 PM

Norman Lear Calls Donald Trump “The Middle Finger” of America, Talks “Golden Age” of Diversity on TV – ATX TV Festival
by Lauren Huff
June 10, 2016

A chat about the new, more diverse American TV family took a turn to politics Friday at the ATX Television Festival in Austin.

Norman Lear made the room roar with laughter when he said he views “Donald Trump as the middle finger of the American right hand,” a comment that came after fellow panelist "Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal interrupted the conversation on diversity with one word, yelling, “Trump!”

The conversation quickly shifted back to the importance of diversity on TV, and how creators work to incorporate it into their shows.

“This is the moment, this is the golden age. Because it’s the moment we’re experiencing it,” Lear said in response to a question about why it’s taken so long to talk about diversity in television.

“I think when we get various ethnicities, it’s the patina that changes,” he said. “We’re all kids and parents and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles or nieces or nephews. We share the same basic human conditions. My bumper sticker reads ‘Just Another Version of You,’ and I think we are all just versions of each other.”

The topic shifted to Trump again later in the day, during a special conversation with Lear and his goddaughter, actress Katey Sagal. Sagal asked Lear about fear and worries, and Lear said he didn’t worry about the success of his shows, but then he jeered, “I am worried about Donald Trump!” He likened the issues in politics now to the issue he saw in the rise of television evangelicals, specifically the way “they mixed religion and politics.”

He was so concerned at the time, in fact, he created a PSA about it. In it the subject says, “There’s gotta be something wrong when someone tells you that you are a bad or a good Christian depending on your political view,” adding, “that’s not the American way.”

Added Lear: “We have a common identity as human beings. We humans are capable of whatever another human is capable of. Just know that there is nobody that is so foreign to human beings from you, that you don’t recognize the common humanity.”

http://deadline.com/2016/06/norman-l...al-1201770790/

Dr. Thong · 06-11-2016, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omg65

Norman Lear is a left wing intolerant jerk.Who cares what he thinks.Yeah he had a funny show that tried to portray conservatives as idiots.So what.These Hollywood types have been trying to tear this country apart for years now.

Our government and political parties have been tearing this country apart for years.

Norman Lear's just a guy expressing his opinion.

Vahan · 06-11-2016, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Our government and political parties have been tearing this country apart for years.

Norman Lear's just a guy expressing his opinion.

I'm not saying Hillary is the one to vote for, but why should I vote for Trump? omg65 says Norman Lear is intolerant. And Trump saying Starbucks should be boycotted over "offensive" red cups, and Trump saying there is a War on Christmas, is NOT intolerant?

OH Nuts! · 06-11-2016, 03:04 PM

Trump is not Archie Bunker IMO; Archie dispite his curmudgeoness did have a bit of kindness; also Archie was not sinister.

Dr. Thong · 06-13-2016, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Trump is not Archie Bunker IMO; Archie dispite his curmudgeoness did have a bit of kindness; also Archie was not sinister.

I agree. Archie didn't hate minorities so much as he was afraid of them. They were a great unknown to him -- he felt they would take his job and he didn't understand them.

If Archie hated blacks, for example, he wouldn't have allowed The Jeffersons in his home. And while he was condescending towards Lionel, he did like him and think he was a good kid.

I was re-watching the classic episode with Sammy Davis Jr. when Lionel reassured Sammy that Archie would never join the KKK and do something like burn a cross on someone's lawn.

Sammy agreed, but came back with "No, but he'd probably roast a marshmallow on it."

They broke down into laughter, because they both knew Sammy was right.

06-03-2016, 09:12 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	Norman Lear on Trump: "He's Archie Bunker!" *Norman Lear Uses WGA Event To Lash Out At Donald Trump: “He IS Archie Bunker!”* by Pete Hammond June 3, 2016 Norman Lear blasted presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump Thursday night telling a Writers Guild audience “He IS Archie Bunker. I think of Donald Trump as the middle finger of the American right hand.” Lear went on to ask somewhat angrily, “Why is this happening? Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, can we all seriously agree this is bad for America?” He continued by adding an opinion of why this is taking place right now. “I think this is a case of the American people saying, ‘this is the kind of leadership you are giving us,’ because they didn’t invent him. The Republican party handed it to them. I think they are saying ‘screw you’. I don’t think they are married to the notion that he is going to be a great President.” In fact, Lear reminisced about his proudest moments involving another infamous GOP figure and that President’s reaction to the treatment he got on network TV from Lear 45 years ago. “Have you never heard Nixon in the White House tapes talking about All In The Family and Archie Bunker? It is the greatest three minutes of my life. He’s talking with John Erlichman about this theme song and asks, ‘how do they make such fun of a good man?'” Lear talked about some of his pet peeves including a diatribe against a corporate America system in which companies had to do, quarter by quarter, better than the last which is what he thinks is partially responsible for the rise of Trump. When I mentioned CBS head Les Moonves’ now famous quote about Trump’s ratings-getting ability in this election year ( “It may not be good for America but it is good for CBS”), Lear didn’t mince words. “I couldn’t say it better,” he said describing the cynicism he sees rampant in the world today. Although Lear said TV has mostly lost the mojo of the topical kind of half-hour comedies he did in the ’70s like "All In The Family", he did single out for praise the animated "South Park" for continuing to carry the flag. “South Park did it brilliantly I think,” he said. http://deadline.com/2016/06/norman-l...er-1201766617/

06-03-2016, 10:50 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Lear went on to ask somewhat angrily, “Why is this happening? Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, can we all seriously agree this is bad for America?” Yes Hillary is bad for America.
	__________________ Sonny

06-06-2016, 04:17 PM	#3
omg65 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 05, 2006 Location: hilliard oh Posts: 403	Norman Lear is a left wing intolerant jerk.Who cares what he thinks.Yeah he had a funny show that tried to portray conservatives as idiots.So what.These Hollywood types have been trying to tear this country apart for years now.

06-10-2016, 09:34 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,121	*Norman Lear Calls Donald Trump “The Middle Finger” of America, Talks “Golden Age” of Diversity on TV – ATX TV Festival* by Lauren Huff June 10, 2016 A chat about the new, more diverse American TV family took a turn to politics Friday at the ATX Television Festival in Austin. Norman Lear made the room roar with laughter when he said he views “Donald Trump as the middle finger of the American right hand,” a comment that came after fellow panelist "Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal interrupted the conversation on diversity with one word, yelling, “Trump!” The conversation quickly shifted back to the importance of diversity on TV, and how creators work to incorporate it into their shows. “This is the moment, this is the golden age. Because it’s the moment we’re experiencing it,” Lear said in response to a question about why it’s taken so long to talk about diversity in television. “I think when we get various ethnicities, it’s the patina that changes,” he said. “We’re all kids and parents and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles or nieces or nephews. We share the same basic human conditions. My bumper sticker reads ‘Just Another Version of You,’ and I think we are all just versions of each other.” The topic shifted to Trump again later in the day, during a special conversation with Lear and his goddaughter, actress Katey Sagal. Sagal asked Lear about fear and worries, and Lear said he didn’t worry about the success of his shows, but then he jeered, “I am worried about Donald Trump!” He likened the issues in politics now to the issue he saw in the rise of television evangelicals, specifically the way “they mixed religion and politics.” He was so concerned at the time, in fact, he created a PSA about it. In it the subject says, “There’s gotta be something wrong when someone tells you that you are a bad or a good Christian depending on your political view,” adding, “that’s not the American way.” Added Lear: “We have a common identity as human beings. We humans are capable of whatever another human is capable of. Just know that there is nobody that is so foreign to human beings from you, that you don’t recognize the common humanity.” http://deadline.com/2016/06/norman-l...al-1201770790/

06-11-2016, 03:04 PM	#7
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Trump is not Archie Bunker IMO; Archie dispite his curmudgeoness did have a bit of kindness; also Archie was not sinister.