Rob Reiner remembers friend Norman Lear’s legacy: 'He fought his entire life for democracy' 

Thanks for your insight into Norman Lear Rob! You yourself are an absolute legendary film maker and I thank you both for the great use of your platforms 🙏

Lear was the MOST important TV producer to have ever lived...how much poorer we would have been without him. RIP Norman

A true television legend who pushed the envelope with the series he created. Thank you for all you have given to this world Mr Lear. Rest in peace. A very full life lived to the fullest.

Great tribute from Rob. Hard to imagine what TV would have been like when I was growing up without Norman Lear. Rest in peace, sir. Well done.

Norman Lear was a genius. An American Treasure.

It can't be overstated when it comes to this man's influence on American television. A bonafide innovator and game changer.

Chuck from OH. I lived in a small city in OH as 10 yr old during the 70s with my single parent mother remember watching all these shows Norman created with my mother always enjoyed the humor and the time with my mom . She's gone now since 1982 but I'll always have the memories watching these shows with my mom . Rest in peace the both of you . Chuck from OH.

Carroll O'Connor was also a liberal. He gave an interview describing the Archie character as sympathetic because his limited understanding kept him from being happy.

May his memory be a blessing... 🙏

I'll never forget when the Bunkers visited Mike and Gloria after the Stivics had moved to Los Angeles and Archie says, "You know what, Edith? We done [sic] all right for a son-in-law." The man had come full circle in a wholly believable transformation!

What a great interview.

God Bless Norman Lear, he was such a wonderful man. Thank you Rob for always fighting the good fight for our country. Also, thank you for all of your wonderful films. ❤

A legend. And a wonderful human being.

Great segment! Sorry for your loss Rob! To be continued...

I know more about Rob and his wonderful dad than I did about Norman Lear...but now I love Norman as much as I do Rob and Carl. Great thanks to Rob, and a terrific job done here by Chris Hayes!

Norman Lear knew about everyday real people. He saw the problems and made funny of it. They had a lot of Archie Bunkers in his day. But today they are different. Norman Lear was a very good writer. And he made people laugh no matter how bad it got.

Both very great Men Rob & Norman ❤

Our dear Mel Brooks is our last cherished comic genius left standing.

His shows were like school to me. They helped me understand the issues of the time and make sense of it all. I was 14yrs old. Time has passed (50 years!) and the issues persist.

You can hear the emotion in Rob Reiner's voice as he speaks of today's political climate, and of Mr. Lear's contributions. Very moving.

I had no idea that he was a war hero. My grandfather flew a troop glider on D-Day. Men beyond today's yet from long ago. 💜 💙💙💙

Some of my favorite movies portrayed on the wall behind Rob Reiner. What an icon in his own right. Normal Lear really opened our eyes to different ideas and mindsets. He influenced so many and because of him we are very blessed with some of the best movies and TV again influenced by his projects.

I love Norman Lear for his tv work, his political activism, & his service during WW2. Brilliant man. I’m always willing to listen to Rob Reiner. He’s brilliant in his own right.

Thank you Norman Lear for using comedy to bring a light handed view to people’s differences, and common ground to all. RIO ❤

His Legacy will go on if we all us our vote. If we don't who knows how the country will go. Thanks for having Rob Reiner on. His dad was wonderful, too. My dad was a lot like Archie, and he was a liberal,too.

He’s all our childhood! We all owe him our television childhoods up to our adult life … thank you Mr. Norman Lear ❤️

Love Rob Reiner. He lives Norman Lear's ideals. And he's contributing, along with other influential people in the arts, e. g., Taylor Swift, to the clarion call to save our democracy.

One of Lear's gifts was his ability to recognise great situation comedy in other countries, and then adapt them to fit the American culture. All in the Family was the originally British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, just with a US accent and American meme characters. Sanford & Son was the earlier British sitcom Steptoe & Son, but set in a US muticultural inner city, rather than a 50s English city. Lear was a true comedy genius. Bob Newhart is now the only remaining US comic genius of that golden age.

I am 64 years old and the positive impact that the work of Norman Lear had on myself, my family and those I grew up with cannot be fully measured. He at once, taught us realism regarding the world around us, the dignity of every person we could meet and how to move forward and make our way towards love for each other with humor and good will. I honor the memory of Norman Lear and wish him peace everlasting.

They all stayed with us everyday ❤ i miss Carl, too. Good long lives. Love you all.

My father loved Archie Bunker and agreed with him. I was on the side of Mike & Gloria. And honestly, if it wasn’t for this show and these characters, because my family didn’t go to the theatre, I might not have been a democrat. My father was a real narcissist and strict republican. I wasn’t allowed to do anything. And I don’t recall ever seeing characters like Mike or Lionel or Gloria again. The eighties gave us stupidity.

His sitcoms made you think and laugh. Rest easy Norman🇺🇸

Rest well Norman Lear and thank you Rob Reiner for your intellegent words. We need to hear the truth these days and let all Americans have a voice.

Oh man, I loved Norman Lear -- what a special human being. I'm so happy we had him for as long as we did, but dang.... I'm not ready to let him go. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Lear -- you will be missed. Chis: I only have one thing I need to disagree with you about in this piece-- I don't know anyone who aspired to be like Archie Bunker, while the show was running. Archie and what came out of his mouth was there for the shock value that woke us up, that taught all of us a thing or two while he was at it. It's was all so brilliant and I can't imagine such brilliance will ever visit us again. The timing of it all..... perfection.

thanks for the memories!..A true talent. RIP Mr. Lear.

Rest in PEACE Norman Lear! A true American and hero who fought the good fight!

I loved All in the Family when I was a young soldier during Vietnam.

Thank you, Mr. Reiner, for speaking the truth about our nation's current political climate - just like Mr. Lear and Archie and company did a half century ago RIP, Norman Lear 🕯️

Rob Reiner is an individual who is beloved to me

A wonderful creative American.

Mr. Lear was a True American. Mr. Reiner is correct in saying we have three parties, Democrats, Republicans & Trump’s Fascist MAGA group. R.I.P. Norman Lear. 🙏🏽💕🇺🇸💕🙏🏽

Thank you, Norman Lear. Thank you, Rob Reiner!

Very sweet sentiments 😢

A giant! ❤

Some die with their boots on.....Norman ✨ died with His ✨ Hat ✨ On 😊 He's Gone to Glory ✨ R.I.P. 🕊 Will be Sorely ✨ Missed ❤

Absolutely ❤❤❤

So Right ! 👍🕊️

I have mixed feelings about this interview. On the one hand, it was supposed to be about the life and legacy of Norman Lear, but it also became a platform to go after Trump. That goes to show just how much of a threat the man is. So I understand why it happened and Reiner is certainly very passionate about his politics. But at the same time, a part of me wishes I could have just listened to an interview about Norman Lear and forget Trump for 5 to 10 minutes. Actually, I'd like to forget Trump ever existed. The only bright side to Trump is that (hopefully) the backlash is so great that he loses in 2024 and then our government passes laws to strengthen our institutions so that a man like Trump gets stopped in his tracks much sooner. And good luck with that while MAGA still exists.

I used to watch all in the family with my mother. After she passed away in 2021 i couldnt watch it for nearly a year

RIP Norman ❤

Another Great One gone😢 R. I.P Norman Lear.

awesome man!

Rob is a good director! I like his film This is Spinal Tap funny!😅

Thank you Rob for alerting the American people on the perilous state we are facing if Trump returns to the WH.

His book was really great Highly recommended

Not all television was stupid, but his programs made people think. But, Archie Bunker seemed to grow and to learn as the show progressed. That's the way I remember it. All In The Family paved the way for MASH.

I hope to meet you some day Rob.

THREE CHEERS FOREVERRRRRRRR for the ONE AND ONLY Norman Lear who is the GREATEST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR and WRITER of all television time! He was, is and always will be a SINCERELY AMERICAN, TRULY SANE AND INTRACTABLY WONDERFUL CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN HERO.❤❤❤❤❤‼

Thanks For All The Great Tv Shows,Mr Norman Lear, You Will Be Missed,May You R.I.P😢

I love you Rob Reiner and I thank you for sharing you political views with which I agree 100%.

R.I.P. Mr.Lear😢

Opposing Trump has created a common terrain for many Americans.

So happy to see Rob Reiner sharing what great attempts were made at balancing social and political ideology. It’s true we lack the cohesiveness that we once had when we shared a gathering time to watch a favorite show on our family’s television. So appreciate Rob’s voice in these arduous times. He is a gem. Thanks Chris.

It's not about fascism or democracy, it's about capitalism and freedom versus communism and tyranny. That's really what is at stake here.

Frank Zappa, Carlin and Lear and many . Lear got to see this Trump stuff..Carlin and Zappa didnt get to see 2016..

My generation of television I was born in 1972 and that was a fun time the fashion, the clothes, the television, the music, the movies, dance television in soul train all you can think of, and good television to rest in in peace to one of the pioneers🙏🏿

Leave it to Beaver the Donna Reed Show Father Knows Best and other shows of the time were great entertainment. What Norman Lear did was to bring real life American life of ordinary people to the situation comedy landscape and changed it forever. 😊❤

RIP - thank you for your service.

❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you Rob (Meathead) Reiner

I love Norman Lear and Rob Reiner...Reiner looks great, btw, and looks so much like his dad. Lear was a television icon - Reiner's tribute was moving and loving, but wish we wouldn't mention Tr*mp all the time, he doesn't deserve to be centered in all of our conversations

I thought you were going to talk about Norman Lear...?

Right on, Rob!

We will never forget the legacy of Norman Lear. Even towards the end of his life, he still was doing things for TV. In 2019, ABC ran the "Live in front of a studio audience", which had actors play roles from a specific episode from different Norman Lear shows. While they were pretty good, my only complaint is that I would have done all that I could do to air those specials on CBS rather than ABC. I know it's not really important, especially since Norman Lear had shows on all three networks like Sanford & Son which was an NBC Show. However, when you think of Norman Lear, you think of CBS and vice-versa. And considering the prestige CBS has from the news department (Murrow, Cronkite, 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning) to sports (the NFL, March Madness, Golf, SEC Football (from '96 to '23), and now B1G Football (from 2023 going forward)) to daytime (Let's Make a Deal, the Price is Right, the longest running Daytime Drama in American Broadcast history (GL), the top rated Daytime Drama of the 1960s and 1970s (ATWT), the most watched Daytime Drama in the World (B&B), and the top rated Daytime Drama for almost 35 consecutive years (Y&R), it would have made a lot more sense to (at least try to) air the "Live in front of a studio audience" specials on CBS (who historically is No. 1) rather than ABC (who is historically No. 3). But that's not the important thing right now. What is important is that Norman Lear revolutionized an entire industry.

All In The Family was appointment TV in our house. This show was a big deal.

Then, most laughed at Archie’s stupid thinking. Many, now, nod in agreement with Archie’s mindset.

It's no joke anymore.😑

Rob nailed it in his comparisions and differences between the Orange One and Archie Bunker. 🎯

All in the family was a direct take off of the English program, till death do us part, staring warren Mitchell. Admittedly Norman tweaked the format for American sensibilities.

Rob was great in AITF

Come Lear was a crook. He stole some good things from a black man. This Norman Lear was a crook.

There's humanity in The Donald. The Meathead dropped the meatball on this one.

Thank you for sharing. I agree with everything you said.

Rob, stick to the subject..

The convo turns immediately to Trump. Talk about Lear, not your political leanings.

Norman Lear - gone way too soon.

👍👍

"Miss-odja-nee" FFS. How can you not know that?.

He also shone a bright light on the ridiculousness of going TOO FAR LEFT. Something that Rob Reiner obviously failed to realize.

RIP funny man!

Robby was Carls son. Everyone knew that. He never wrote the classic All in the Family episodes. He just has the opinions of a faded celebrity!

Major Barbara was the first play staged at Neptune Theatre in its first season. Early 1960s.

And l will remember it too🤨but not in the Lily white way you want me to, I'll remember it as a white man making money off of the black experience and when the TV father expressed his concerns about wanting more for his TV family you fired him😘❤️🖤💚🙏🏽❤️🖤💚what a fine guy you're NOT Norman Lear,God deal with you for that❤️🖤💚🙏🏽❤️🖤💚😘

Funny how Norman Lear flew 50 in a B-17 over Europe. He was a progressive or if you choose, a liberal. My father flew a Spitfire for the RCAF, was shot down and fought with the French resistance until France was liberated. He was a life long liberal. Caroll O'Connor for what I understand, was on the opposite end of the political spectrum from the TV character, Archie Bunker, and a liberal. Rob Reiner and his dad, Carl, both great creators of humour, were/are both liberals. I am also a liberal, and yet , in the eyes of some people, we do not deserve to be heard, deserve to be respected and are totally wrong.

MAY THIS GREAT MAN NORMAN LEAR. THE GREAT VETERAN, WRITER OF ALOT OF TELEVISION SHOWS, THAT WOKE UP ALOT OF PEOPLE. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. AND MY CONDOLENCES TO ALL HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND ALL HIS CLOSE FRIENDS.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

Norman Leer stole show ideas from a black man then when the man sued him and won he had him black balled ! NO RESPECT 👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿

"I want to establish the 4th R eich in America....with me on top." -------------Ad olf Trump

Norman Lear flew combat missions in world war2 .......others gropped women at mir a lago

all in the family and sanford and son both copied from british sitcoms entitled til death do us part and steptoe and son

All in the Family, the greatest show ever, case closed