{"product_id":"norman-lear-his-life-and-times-9781493068401","title":"Norman Lear: His Life and Times","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn in-depth telling of the Norman Lear's seven-decade career that \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ecalls a \"lovingly detailed portrait\" and \"a fitting tribute to a consequential figure in television history\" and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003epraises as an \"extensive and comprehensive look at a comedic legend.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeginning in the 1970s, writer and producer Norman Lear forever altered the television landscape with such groundbreaking situation comedies as \u003ci\u003eAll in the Family, Maude, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eOne Day at a Time\u003c\/i\u003e. For over half a century his body of work boldly tackled race, class, sexuality, politics, and religion--topics previously considered too taboo to be the subject of comedy on the small screen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eNorman Lear: His Life and Times \u003c\/i\u003eis the unforgettable story of an extraordinary seven-decade career. Veteran author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell offers an intimate portrait of Lear that is the product of years of research and numerous interviews. Whetsell shows how Lear created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to confront their own humanity and shortcomings. In the process, he explores one of television's most transformative periods, detailing Lear's legacy as one of its chief architects and catalysts. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis affectionate and candid tribute combines show-business history with an illuminating consideration of the inner workings of \"the man in the white hat\"--a figure who singlehandedly redefined an entire medium by reflecting the world around him. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTripp Whetsell\u003c\/b\u003e is a bestselling author, entertainment journalist, show-business historian, and adjunct media studies professor at Emerson College in Boston. His previous books include \u003ci\u003eThe Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club that Revolutionized Stand-Up\u003c\/i\u003e. As a journalist, he has covered TV, film, comedy, music, theater, and other aspects of popular culture for more than two decades. His articles have appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, Vulture, and \u003ci\u003eVariety, Vanity Fair, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Los Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Hollywood Reporter\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eTV Guide\u003c\/i\u003e, among others. He lives in Manhattan. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Applause Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50875429749010,"sku":"9781493068401","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2dd14d82-79e1-4c13-a7a3-48690f55a91f.jpg?v=1738287723","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/norman-lear-his-life-and-times-9781493068401","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}