One of the handful of individuals who can be said to have had a profound impact on the development of television; a writer-producer and occasional director who has in the process become a familiar face on the small screen and a potent voice for liberal causes, Norman Lear is an icon of TV.

Known for his warm persona, V-neck tennis sweaters and weekend sailor's cap worn as he communicated effortless with America on talk shows and specials, Lear was well established as a TV and feature film writer and producer before America ever bothered to note his name. That came in January 1971 with the debut