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Remembering TV Legend Norman Lear; Critics Choice Awards Nominees

Emmy-winning producer and screenwriter Norman Lear, who created and produced All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time, has died. He died on December 5 at his home in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest, as a complication of heart failure. Mr. Lear was 101.

Lear developed the 1971-1979 CBS sitcom All in the Family. Based on the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, it was produced by Lear and Bud Yorkin. The series received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series in 1971 and for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1972, 1973 and 1978. On February 16, 1991, CBS aired a 90-minute retrospective, All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special, hosted by Lear to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary.

His second big sitcom was Sanford and Son, which aired on NBC from 1972 to 1977. The series, which was based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, was about a Watts junk dealer and his son. It was a rating hit throughout its six-season run, finishing in the Nielsen top ten for five of those seasons.

Lear and Yorkin created the 1972-1978 CBS sitcom Maude. The show was the first spin-off of All in the Family, on which Bea Arthur had made two appearances as Maude, Edith Bunker's favorite cousin. Maude is generally considered to be based on Lear's wife Frances, something she herself confirmed, with Charlie Hauck serving as main producer and writer.

He developed and produced the 1974-1979 CBS sitcom Good Times. The spin-off of Maude was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans. It was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. On December 18, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2020.

Lear developed the 1975-1985 CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family (after Maude), on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. On May 22, 2019, ABC broadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, produced by Lear and Jimmy Kimmel. It won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special in 2019.

He developed and produced the 1975-1984 CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. It starred Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis. He also executive produced the 2017-2020 Netflix remake of One Day at a Time, which starred Justina Machado and Rita Moreno as a Cuban-American family living in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park.

Some of Lear's other sitcom producing credits included Hot l Baltimore (1975), The Nancy Walker Show (1976), All That Glitters (1977), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-1977), A Year at the Top (1977), Fernwood 2 Night (or Fernwood Tonight (1977), America 2-Night (1978), In the Beginning (1978), Apple Pie (1978), Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986), The Baxters (1979-1981), Hanging In (1979), a.k.a. Pablo (1984), Sunday Dinner (1991), The Powers That Be (1992-1993) and 704 Hauser (1994). He developed The Dumplings (1976), All's Fair (1976-1977) and Sanford Arms (1977). He directed an episode of The Powers That Be in 1992 and an episode of 704 Hauser in 1994.

He directed, co-produced and co-wrote the 1971 satirical black comedy film Cold Turkey, which starred Dick Van Dyke and a long list of comedic actors. Some of his other film writing credits included Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Divorce American Style (1967) and The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968).

Mr. Lear was a TV legend and pioneer. He produced, wrote, created or developed over 100 shows. He received many awards, including six Primetime Emmys, two Peabody Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 1999, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017, and the Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award in 2021. We thank him for the many laughs and for the entertainment that he brought us during his legendary career. He will be greatly missed.

Antenna TV today announced that it will air a "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" on Wednesday, December 6 starting at 5pm Eastern. This special marathon celebrates Norman Lear, the legendary television producer behind popular sitcoms including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and One Day at a Time, who died Tuesday at 101.

Antenna TV's "Remembering Norman Lear: An Evening of Love and Laughter Marathon" features curated episodes from One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Maude, and Archie Bunker's Place.

In recognition of Norman Lear's vast accomplishments and influence across television, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and The CW will simulcast an on-air in memoriam card tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT honoring the late legendary TV writer and producer.

Catchy Comedy will remember television icon Norman Lear with a look back special hosted by Mr. Lear, The 200th Episode Celebration of All in the Family, airing Friday, December 8th at 8p ET | 5p PT.

Great Entertainment Television will honor the late Norman Lear this weekend with marathons of Good Times and Sanford and Son, starting at 10 am each day.

Saturday, December 9
10A - Sanford and Son, "Crossed Swords"
10:30A - Sanford and Son, "Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three"
11A - Sanford and Son, "The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!"
11:30A - Sanford and Son, "A Visit From Lena Horne"
12p - Sanford and Son, "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe"

Sunday, December 10
10A - Good Times, "Too Old Blues"
10:30A - Good Times, "Cousin Cleatus"
11A - Good Times, "A Matter of Mothers"
11:30A - Good Times, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style"
12P - Good Times, "The Dinner Party"

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the TV category nominees for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Chelsea Handler, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW on Sunday, January 14, 2024 (7:00 - 10:00 pm ET - delayed PT, check local listings). The Morning Show (Apple TV+) leads the television contenders for the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards with six nominations. In addition to Best Drama Series, the show earned several acting nominations including Best Actress in a Drama Series for both Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Billy Crudup was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, while Nicole Beharie and Karen Pittman both earned nods for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Succession (HBO | Max) followed with an impressive five nominations overall, including Best Drama Series. Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong are both nominated in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category, while Sarah Snook garnered a nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Matthew MacFadyen is up for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

A Small Light (National Geographic), Abbott Elementary (ABC), Beef (Netflix), Lessons In Chemistry (Apple TV+), Loki (Disney+), Reservation Dogs (FX), and The Bear (FX) tied with four nominations each. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will air live on The CW from 7:00 - 10:00 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings). The Critics Choice Awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, they are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations. The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards show will be executive-produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. The Critics Choice Awards are represented by Dan Black at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Full Comedy nominees are below:

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO | Max)
The Bear (FX)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader - Barry (HBO | Max)
Steve Martin - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Kayvan Novak - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Drew Tarver - The Other Two (HBO | Max)
Jeremy Allen White - The Bear (FX)
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai - Reservation Dogs (FX)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ayo Edebiri - The Bear (FX)
Bridget Everett - Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max)
Devery Jacobs - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Natasha Lyonne - Poker Face (Peacock)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Phil Dunster - Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Harrison Ford - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Harvey Guillén - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
James Marsden - Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach - The Bear (FX)
Henry Winkler - Barry (HBO | Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Paulina Alexis - Reservation Dogs (FX)
Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Janelle James - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Meryl Streep - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jessica Williams - Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Posted by Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com at 2:00 PM

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Labels: Abbott Elementary, All in the Family, Antenna TV, Beef, Critics Choice Awards, Good Times, Maude, Netflix, Norman Lear, Obits, One Day at a Time, Reservation Dogs, Sanford and Son, The Bear, The CW, The Jeffersons