Happy Birthday, Norman Lear!

That’s it, that’s the post — Norman Lear turns 99 on July 27, and we are all still lucky that he’s around and still producing great TV!

Read my 2019 cover article about Norman Lear here.


UPDATED: Indeed, Norman Lear had a wonderful birthday. Read about how he celebrated it here.

Norman Lear and Me: Spending Time with the TV Legend for Variety

What a treat it's been to spend time with the legendary Norman Lear, for our Variety cover story and honoring him at our recent showrunners' dinner. (Plus several panel conversations in recent years!) A career highlight, for sure.

'Live In Front of a Studio Audience': Norman Lear Tells Tales of the ABC Special (WATCH)

I recently had the honor of moderating a panel with Norman Lear and his production company partner Brent Miller that touched on their recent successes, including ABC's hit special "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" (which has now been picked up for two more editions), the Pop TV revival of "One Day at a Time," and much more. Held at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation on Aug. 6, 2019. Watch above!

WGA Chooses the 101 Best-Written TV Series of All Time; Do You Agree?

Lists like this were made for debate, and boy, are people debating it. Last year the Writers Guild of America members were asked to pick 20 of the best-written TV series of all time. A independent group then tallied the entries and helped come up with the Top 101 list. The WGA unveiled the ranker on Sunday night at an event in Beverly Hills; because TV Guide Magazine was the media sponsor, I got to open the event with a few remarks before turning things over to moderator Merrill Markoe.

The top ten:
1. The Sopranos
2. Seinfeld
3. The Twilight Zone (1959)
4. All in the Family
5. M*A*S*H
6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
7. Mad Men
8. Cheers
9. The Wire
10. The West Wing

Read the full list here.

The gathering attracted some hefty names, but the highlight was easily Carl Reiner and Norman Lear. We could have listened to them tell stories all night. Some pics:


Living legends Carl Reiner and Norman Lear at WGA's 101 Best Written TV Series event. At 91, Reiner is sharper, wittier and faster than most comedians half his age. And at 90, Lear is remarkably spry as well. Can someone bottle their youthful energy?


Gail Parent, Jim Brooks, Steven Bochco join Reiner and Lear on the panel to discuss TV of the '60s and '70s.


Drama panel: Matt Weiner, Ron Moore, Gail Parent, Jim Brooks, Steven Bochco, Winnie Holzman, Vince Gilligan.


Modern Family's Steve Levitan (far left) joins the panel to discuss comedy.