Reflecting on the loss of Norman Lear, Rob Reiner expressed deep sorrow on Wednesday, sharing how Lear was not just a mentor but a second father figure to him since their first meeting when Reiner was just eight years old. Lear’s passing feels especially poignant amid a resurgence of the intolerance and bigotry that he fought against through his groundbreaking television shows.
“He couldn’t believe America was facing these challenges again,” Reiner shared during a phone interview. “He often remarked, ‘This isn’t the America I grew up in or fought to protect. Something has gone terribly wrong.’”
Reiner, who portrayed the liberal son-in-law Michael in Lear’s iconic sitcom “All in the Family,” reminisced about their conversations. “He likened the current state of affairs to ‘Alice in Wonderland,’” Reiner recalled.
The show, which aired from 1971 to 1979, was a cultural phenomenon during an era when audiences gathered for shared viewing experiences. Reiner noted how today’s fragmented viewing habits have intensified societal divisions, making Lear’s work more relevant than ever.
