Norman Lear Collection, The (DVD)

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Years ago when I substitute taught, I saw a sign at the Las Plumas High School bookstore that read, "Those of you who think you know everything are irritating to those of us who really do." True geniuses are modest; they may be confident, but they also realize how much they don't know.

I was reminded of that when I popped in the bonus features disc on the impressive new "Norman Lear Collection" from Sony. In a very brief (and very modest) introduction, Lear begins by saying, "I wanna emphasize that I was part of a giant collaboration. And then he proceded to talk about how he may be smart, but he's smart enough to know when to use other people's ideas. "I'm a good collaborator," he says, and proceeds to introduce this set by making sure that all of his fans know that it was a team effort. Lear's real genius was being able to spot and surround himself with great creative talents.

You don't have to look any farther for proof than the first bonus features disc, which includes two rare, rever-before-released pilots for "All in the Family." Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton were onboard from the very beginning, but it turns out that Sally Strothers and Rob Reiner were the third Mike and Gloria combination that Lear tried. The 1971 pilot of the show, then titled "Justice for All" (because the family name was Justice), featured Tim McIntire and Kelly Jean Peters as Mike and Gloria, along with a different Lionel. Mike was actually "Richie" in this version, and he was an Irish "Mick" rather than a "Pollack." And in the second pilot for ABC (neither of which was picked up), titled "Those Were the Days," Chip Oliver played Dickie (still Irish) and Candy Azzara played Gloria.

As Lear remarks in one 11 20-30 minute bonus features, "It took three years and two networks to get the show on the air. That says how difficult it was." Even then, when CBS said yes, they insisted on a disclaimer for the very first episode:

Warning: The program you are about to see is ALL IN THE FAMILY. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. By making them a source of laughter we hope to show--in a mature fashion--just how absurd they are. Twenty-some additional operators on duty that first night, but there were no complaints. People who called in were excited about it. And the Norman Lear era of television was officially ushered in.

"All in the Family" started it all in 1971. "Maude" spun off in 1972, the same year that Lear launched "Sanford and Son" as a mid-season replacement, while "The Jeffersons" spun off "All in the Family" in 1975. "Good Times" spun off "Maude" in 1974, the single-mom sitcom "One Day at a Time" followed in 1975, and the soap-opera parody "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" appeared in 1976."

Lear left a huge imprint on TV comedy. That first year "All in the Family" finished as the Number 1 show in the nation, and "Sanford and Son" finished at Number 6. The next year, "All in the Family" remained on top, with "Sanford and Son" in second, and "Maude" in third. In 1973-74, it was Archie Bunker and Co. on top again, with "Sanford and Son" coming in at Number 3, "Maude" at Number Six." In 1974-75, Lear placed five of his comedies in the Nielsen Top 10. It's a phenomenal run, and this box set commemorates the irreverent genius of Lear and his many collaborators.

"All in the Family" (1971) begins with the CBS version of the two pilots, with the Bunkers celebrating an anniversary and Archie introducing TVland to his racially offensive ideas and language. This is the season that Mike (Rob Reiner) and Archie write competing letters to President Nixon, Archie fakes whiplash after a minor accident, Archie refuses to donate blood because he's afraid his might get mixed with other races, and Archie labels one of Mike's friends gay . . . though it turns out one of Archies drinking pals is the homosexual. This is the season that Gloria gets pregnant and miscarries, and when Archie learns that the house next door has been sold to "coloreds"--none other than the family of Mike and Gloria's friend, Lionel. Every episode wasn't just laughs based on comedy of character; it was a debate over major issues of the day, like women's liberation and affirmative action. It's probably aged the best out of all the Lear comedies, based on the strength of characters and their actors. Rating: 9 out of 10.

"Sanford and Son" (1972) was, like "All in the Family," based on a British comedy. Redd Fox stars as Fred G. Sanford, a cantankerous junk dealer who lives with (and verbally abuses) his son, Lamont, who drives their broken-down truck and is just as abusive when it comes to dealing with his father. Lamont is always trying to better their situation, while Fred thinks they've got it pretty good. Naturally, Lamont usually ends up on the short end . . . even, this season, when it comes to marriage. This season he's left at the altar, and then has to deal with relatives who demand their presents be returned. This is the season that has Fred and Lamont buying a load of hot copper from a neighborhood thief, and the season in which Fred is convinced he's dying of tuberculosis. The Sanfords get robbed this season, and this is the season in which Lamont schemes to make a profit by buying two coffins at auction and Fred gets spooked by having them in the house. Fred's girlfriend "Donna" is introduced this season, whom Lamont labels "The Barracuda" because he can't understand what a nurse in her forties would want with a junk dealer in his sixties. And this is the season in which Lamont finds an old suitcase that just happens to be stuffed with money, with an armed man not too far behind. It's a solid debut season. Rating: 8 out of 10.

"Maude" (1972) has probably weathered the worst of the Lear comedies, and not just because of the abrasiveness of the title character (Bea Arthur), which can really get old. The issues that are on the table seem presented in ways that are considerably more didactic than the other Lear shows. We know we're being lectured to, while the lessons are more subversive in the rest. As I said in my review of Season 1, as gruff and blustery as Archie Bunker could be, there was still something in his eyes, or in his manner that made him slightly lovable in spite of his prejudices. I had a hard time finding anything in Maude's character besides an abrasiveness that, frankly, gets old. Even more likable characters like her daughter, Carol (Adrienne Barbeau) and husband, Walter (Bill Macy) can't offset the annoyance. Rating: 6 out of 10.

"Good Times" (1974) was a loose spin-off from "Maude" in which Maude's maid, Florida (Esther Rolle), is now living in Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing projects with her husband James (John Amos) and their children J.J. (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (BernNadette Stanis), and Michael (Ralph Carter). As Dean Winkelspecht noted in his a href=http://www.dvdtown.com/reviews/dvd-good-times-tv-show/1473>review of Season 1, the first two seasons are the best, before the show tipped toward beanpole comedian Walker and his "Dy-no-MITE!" catch phrase. I agree with Dean that the shows tried to be a little too serious at times by tackling such problems as rape, gun control, and gangs, and I agree on the Rating: 7 out of 10.

"The Jeffersons" (1975) went more for laughs in a comedy that was structured as a mirror opposite of "All in the Family." Instead of the prejudiced Archie Bunker it was George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and his longsuffering wife, "Weezy" (Isabel Sanford) and their son, Lionel (Mike Evans). Instead of being mired in poverty, George has built a chain of dry cleaning shops and, as the theme song proclaims, was "moving on up . . . to a de-luxe apartment in the sky." Goodbye Harlem, hello uptown New York City. "Sesame Street" regular Paul Benedict appeared often as their British neighbor, while the couple's best friends were mixed-race marrieds (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) who provided most of the oil for George's vinegar, and a daughter who would date Lionel. Thrown into the mix was George's grumpy mother (Zara Cully), who practically lives with them though she can't stand Louise. Once again, I wouldn't dispute what Dean had to say in his Season 1 review. Rating: 8 out of 10.