Norman Lear took television by storm for over 40 years. His domination on TV made him one of the world’s most beloved and decorated producers. Lear’s career on TV began as early as 1959 when he created his first show, The Deputy. The show was a half-hour Western that followed a Marshall and his townsfolk’s lives. The Deputy aired on September 12, 1959, and had two seasons.
Lear went on to have a decade of writing, producing, and directing TV credits. After The Deputy, Lear’s second show premiered in 1971. All in the Family is a sitcom about a working-class man, his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. It ran until 1979, and to this day, it is seen as one of the most essential sitcoms to air on TV.
Many people know Lear from other shows he created, such as Sanford & Son (1972), The Jeffersons (1975), and Good Times (1974). Those are Lear’s most popular shows, but what about the TV shows that weren’t as popular? From spinoffs to brand-new series, here are a few of Norman Lear’s shows that you might’ve forgotten about.
Norman Lear’s Sanford Arms (1977-1978)
A direct spinoff from the hit 1972 show Sanford & Son, Sanford Arms followed Phil Wheeler. Phil became the new owner of Sanford’s home after Fred and Lamont moved to Arizona. He is a widower with two children, and after moving them into the Sanford home, he decides to transform it into a hotel.
Norman Lear’s The Baxters (1979-1981)
A big difference from his other sitcoms, Norman Lear’s The Baxters was an interactive comedy in which the first half was a TV show and the second half was similar to a talk show. In the second half, the actors would discuss the issues in the previous episode and how they could be resolved.
The Dumplings (1977-1977)
Inspired by the newspaper version of the syndicated comic strip, The Dumplings was a family sitcom where husband and wife, Joe and Angela Dumpling, ran a luncheonette called Dudley’s Take Out. The show operated with Joe & Angela as happily married and overweight. The show’s humor revolved around the couple and the customers joking about their weight.
Sunday Dinner (1991)
After several years of absence, Lear returned to TV in 1991 with Sunday Dinner. Co-produced with his wife, Lyn Davis Lear, Sunday Dinner followed the life of 56-year-old widower Ben Benedict. Who fell in love with a 30-year-old lawyer named Thelma Todd. Ben and Thelma try to navigate the obstacles in their lives, including Ben’s children, who disapprove of the age difference.
By his passing in December 2023, Norman Lear had over 100 credits in radio and television, including writing, directing, and producing.
