Jimmy Kimmel Pays Emotional Tribute To Norman Lear On ‘JKL’: “I Hope We Never Forget Him”

deadline.com:

One of the highlights in the final chapter of Norman Lear‘s legendary career were the Live In Front Of a Studio Audience specials recreating episodes from his classic sitcoms.

He executive produced them with Jimmy Kimmel, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) together while also developing a close friendship.

On Wednesday night, hours after news broke that Lear had died Tuesday night at the age of 101, Kimmel opened his ABC late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live with a moving tribute to his idol and friend. “Norman was the genius who brought us some of the greatest television shows and characters of all time,” a visibly emotional Kimmel said, listing some of Lear’s most famous series, including All in the Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude, The Facts of Life; Diff’Rent Strokes; Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Fernwood Tonight. “He changed situation comedy in the best possible way – he taught us so much about so many serious things – always making us laugh while he did it – and everyone who works in or even watches television owes him a great debt.

Especially me,” Kimmel added. The late-night host then then shared a funny story about Lear’s response to a “Norman f*ckin’ Lear” sweatshirt Kimmel and his wife had sent him as a holiday gift. “101 years and somehow, it wasn’t enough,” Kimmel said. “We were all lucky to have him.