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PEOPLE & ARTSWednesday 2 December
Norman Lear says TV is still a place to talk about race
J. LANDRUM Jr.
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Legend-
ary TV producer Norman
Lear believes there is still a classic sitcoms, “The Jeffer-
place for shows to explore
race relations issues in the
same manner as his famed
sitcoms “All in the Family”
and “Good Times.”
Lear, a champion of televi-
sion diversity, took part in
a panel discussion about
race and American cul-

ture on Monday night at
Morehouse College to cel-
ebrate the 40th anniver-
sary of another one of his
sons.” The show’s 10-year
run ended in 1985. It starred
the late Sherman Hems-
ley as George Jefferson, a
feisty, bigoted owner of a
chain of dry-cleaning busi-
nesses.
Several joined Lear in the
discussion, from Marla
Television writer and producer Norman Lear poses for a portrait at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly
Hills, Calif. Legendary TV producer Lear believes there is still a place for shows to explore
race relations issues in the same manner as his famed sitcoms “All in the Family” and “Good
Times.” Lear, a champion of television diversity, took part in a panel discussion about race and
American culture at Morehouse College celebrating the 40th anniversary of his sitcom “The
Jeffersons.” (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Gibbs, who played the Lear, who also read from forth.”
wise-cracking maid Flor- his memoir “Even This I Get Lear said current shows like
ence on the show, to ac- to Experience,” is working “Black-ish” have followed
tresses Kim Fields and Kei- on a Hispanic version of suit, commending the sit-
sha Knight-Pulliam, as well his single-parent comedy com for tackling the N-
with veteran casting direc- “One Day at a Time.” But word controversy head on.
tor Reuben Cannon and he said there are more sto- He said that one particular
Usher. ries that should be told by episode created a series of
Usher wasn’t old enough a new generation of writ- dialogue between many,
to watch the “The Jeffer- ers and filmmakers to spark which needs to happen
sons,” ‘’Sanford and Sons” more conversations. more.
or “All in the Family” when “The problems are still “We’re crazy not to talk
they were on the air. But there to be talked about,” about it, and get rid of it
the singer said watching Lear said in an interview once and for all,” he said.
the reruns of those shows with The Associated Press. He recalled how “The Jef-
filled a major void for him. “We still have problems. fersons” helped Russell
“Realistic television and We still have a long way to Simmons at a young age
sitcoms became very valu- go. I kept hearing about before he became a well-
able to me, because I was my shows from people known music mogul.
raised without a father,” that ‘We watched as a “He talked about how he
Usher said. “So I looked to family and talked when it saw George Jefferson writ-
these shows for an idea was over. We always had ing a check,” Lear said.
of a family structure. ... I conversations when it was “At that time, he didn’t
found a connection there over.’ know a Black man could
with those shows.” “That’s what the whole write a check. It was a big
Throughout his career, Lear American experiment is all moment in his young life. It
confronted war, sexuality, about: Talking together. wasn’t the glitz of a hit TV
abortion and poverty with Finding the solution to the show. It was the moments
topical humor on many of problem, being helped by that made them feel
his shows. The 93-year-old literature, theater and so whole.”q
‘Love & Hip Hop’ star gets 8 years in prison
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A made from the television The sentence was the low-
cast member of the VH1 show, along with a 2011 est possible term under a
reality show “Love & Hip Audi R8 sports car worth plea agreement that in-
Hop” has been sentenced $111,000. cluded a maximum sen-
in upstate New York to Harris pleaded guilty in tence of just over 10 years.
eight years in prison for April to conspiracy to dis- Harris’ attorney, Donald
drug trafficking. tribute and possess heroin Thompson, says the judge
At his federal court sen- and cocaine. Prosecutors recognized the work Har-
tencing Tuesday, Mend- say the 37-year-old was ris has been doing since his
eecees Harris also agreed involved in drug trafficking arrest to deter young peo-
to forfeit the $171,000 he’s from 2005 until 2012. ple from drug trafficking.q