By Lynn Elber, Television Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --Veteran TV producer Norman Lear of "All in the Family" fame is looking ahead to his next groundbreaking series.
Lear, 93, told a TV critics' meeting Saturday that he's working on a Hispanic version of his single-parent comedy "One Day at a Time."
"I love the idea because I don't see enough of that representation on the air," said Lear, who is the subject of a PBS' "American Masters" documentary planned for 2016.
The original series aired from 1975 to 1984 and starred Bonnie Franklin as the mother of two girls, played by Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips. The reboot would focus on a Latino woman with perhaps a boy and a girl, Lear said, and a grandmother.
He wants to show three generations of Latinas, he said.
Does he have actors in mind? "Yes, but I'm not going to share," Lear replied, his tone as jaunty as his trademark white hat.
He was asked why broadcast networks aren't airing sitcoms with the kind of topical humor that was a constant of Lear's shows of the 1970s through the mid-1990s, which besides "All in the Family" included "The Jeffersons" and "Maude."
"My guess is that, first of all, they're (producers) fully capable of doing it. They just don't elect to," or the major networks don't elect to have them do so, Lear said, adding, "So I don't know which it is. … They're doing very well without it. I love 'Modern Family.'"
Lear, whose last sitcom was 1994's short-lived "704 Hauser," was asked if networks shied away from working with him because of his edgy humor or his years.
Perhaps his age is at issue, he said, "but nobody shakes my hand and says, 'You're too old.' Nobody shakes my hand and says, 'I'm afraid you're gonna croak.'"
Lear, known for his social activism, was asked if he found much to laugh at in today's politics.
"It's so hard," he said. While he's labeled a progressive, a liberal or a lefty, "I think of myself as a bleeding heart conservative" who is intent on seeing the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights protected.
Americans are patriotic, he said, but "I don't need their flag pins to prove it. I would like them to go back to civics lessons."
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More