Late night host Jimmy Kimmel movingly paid tribute to legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who passed away Tuesday at age 101. Kimmel opened his ABC show Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night with a heartfelt homage to his friend and mentor.
“Norman was the genius who brought us some of the greatest television shows and characters of all time,” an emotional Kimmel told viewers. He proceeded to list some of Lear’s most influential and groundbreaking sitcoms, including All in the Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons and more.
Lear revolutionized the TV comedy landscape in the 1970s by tackling pressing social issues of the time with a balance of humor, heart and nuance. Decades later, Kimmel had the honor of collaborating with Lear on ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience specials, winning an Emmy with the TV trailblazer for one retrospective.
In his poignant remarks, Kimmel emphasized Lear’s cultural significance in television as well as modern society: “Everyone who works in or even watches television owes him a great debt.” He closed by expressing his dearest wish: “I hope we never forget him, or the many lessons he taught us.”
While the entertainment world deeply mourns losing Norman Lear, his legacy of using comedy to challenge assumptions and bring people together will undoubtedly live on. As Lear famously never said goodbye but rather “to be continued” or “over and next” – so too will his monumental impact.
