#norman lear

For most people, I would guess that thinking of Rob Reiner automatically invokes the many, many timeless films that he directed or otherwise contributed to. But for me, he's Mike Stivic, the anxious left-wing son-in-law on All in the Family. I grew up associating Mike with my father because of how much they had in common. For years, my family and I would watch the show together and laugh.

And while Rob Reiner's performance was usually hilarious, he could often be heartfelt. In the episode "Edith's Crisis of Faith," Edith Bunker becomes completely heartbroken when her close friend, a drag queen named Beverly, is killed in a hate crime right before she was to join them for Christmas dinner. She's utterly shattered and questions her belief in God for the first time. When Christmas finally comes, she can't focus. Mike is the one who comes to comfort her. 

a few fun things they discuss:

influences on them as they went into Hollywood (for Ted it was Dick Van Dyke, for DVD it was Laurel and Hardy, and Buster Keaton)

Dick Van Dyke show origins-- and how it was cancelled the first year, it was against Perry Como. Sheldon Leonard went to bat for them to talk them into keeping the show.

Dick Van Dyke Show - a lot of improve, history of the show, a few memories

Memories of people in Hollywood (Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Ed Asner, Rose Marie, Paul Lynde, Tom Poston, Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, Marcel Marceau, Leslie Neilsen, Dudley Moore,

DVD's early days in the business, on Broadway

Ted Danson absolutely gushes. He admits he's a bit of a stalker and has followed DVD throughout his career- he would race to the gym to see DVD (who danced at the gym- DVD still goes to the gym at 99)

DVD still has a barbershop quartet

DVD worked in news in the early days with Walter Kronkite and Barbara Walters

DVD struggled to be taken seriously as a serious actor (talks about the film The Comic)

DVD briefly talks about sobriety-- he went through a short period where he was drinking too much, that was about 50 years ago, struggles to quit smoking

some of his films that haven't been as recognised- The Comic, Cold Turkey

DVD seriously loves Halloween. He used to make halloween monsters for decades - they had competing exhibitions every year with James Cameron who used to be their neighbours, Cameron bought them all

DVD into tech - Diagnosis Murder did the special effects on an episode because no one on set knew how to do the special effects

how DVD met his wife Arlene, and their age difference

Ted met Mary at Henry Winkler's garden BBQ

DVD being teased about his English accent - Americans tease him, but Brits don't

DVD guest starring on Becker as Ted Danson's character's dad - Ted tells him how much the episode meant to him, and the whole cast were just so gobsmacked to be around him they couldn't really rehearse because everyone couldn't stop talking to him.

DVD talking about losing all his friends, as he's 99. Last friend he's lost was Bob Newhart.

DVD used to go down to the homeless shelters to entertain people and give them sweets, but since Covid he's been struggling to dot his (fair play, man, you're turning 100 in 3 months)

“It was very important to me that Archie have a likable face, because the point of the character was to show that if bigotry and intolerance didn’t exist in the hearts and minds of the good people, the average people, it would not be the endemic problem it is in our society.”

Norman Lear, July 27, 1922 – December 5, 2023.