Betty White offered wisdom that exceeded her years, as does Norman Lear, who is nearing 100

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Connie Mason Michaelis

Special to The Capital-Journal

I have followed two famous actors for years — along with millions of fans — Betty White and Norman Lear. Together, they wrote, produced and acted in hundreds of movies and television shows.

They were both born in 1922 and shared a parallel history in theater, movies and TV. However, my interest was not primarily in their screen careers but in their attitudes toward aging. It was headline news when Betty died on New Year’s Eve 2021, just 18 days before her 100th birthday.

Although she will be greatly missed, her uplifting attitude and outspoken voice will be with us forever.

Norman Lear is still with us and will turn 100 on July 27. Norman has that same feisty attitude about adaptive aging. Lives that span a century are still rare, but more of us will have that opportunity in every generation.

My hope is to gather a lot of wisdom in the years we have. Everyone has an audience to share their wisdom with, whether large or small.

Betty was adamant about her work. She said: “Retirement is not in my vocabulary. They aren’t going to get rid of me that way.” The older she got, the more popular she became. Finally, she said she had so many gigs she didn’t have time to think about retiring.

Although that is typical theater jargon, it’s true for all of us. How many gigs will we have? That’s exactly what adaptive aging means.

Norman Lear said it even better in his “over-next” philosophy. In his 80s, he began to describe his experience with life as a series of things being over, and then the next thing would appear. Always, it was over-next.

He said: “Yeah. When something is over, it’s over, and you’re on to next, whatever next happens to be. So I thought, if there was a hammock in the middle of those two words, that would be the best definition I know of living in the moment: accepting that hammock between over and next.”

Some of us are in that spot and perhaps a little uncomfortable with lying in a hammock. There is a lot of anxiety at the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another.

Retirement is an obvious example, but we face many phases throughout our lives. Whether it is graduation from college, changing careers, losing a loved one or going through a divorce, there is the over and the next.

We can get comfortable with that philosophy and maybe even anticipate the next with more enthusiasm. What’s over and next in your life?

Find Connie’s book, “Daily Cures: Wisdom for Healthy Aging,” at www.justnowoldenough.com.

How Sanford and Son Cleaned Up Redd Foxx’s Act to Create a TV Icon

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Sanford and Son, the first mainstream, primetime sitcom in television history with an almost-all Black cast, debuted on NBC on Jan. 14, 1972. Created by Norman Lear, and starring legendary “blue” comedian Redd Foxx as an African American bigot, it was seen as a direct answer to CBS’ All in the Family. But the Bunker family series was a social satire which took its laughs seriously. The Sanfords presented pure comedy, any lessons it taught were intentionally coincidental. The most controversial part of the show, when it first aired, was its lead actor.

Foxx was already an underground comedy legend when Cleavon Little, best known for his role as Sheriff Bart in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, suggested him for the lead in the mid-season replacement. Little wasn’t available, but worked with Foxx on Ossie Davis’s 1970 neo-noir film Cotton Comes to Harlem. Before Foxx played the junk dealer stuck with the bale of genuine Mississippi cotton, he was known as the “King of the Party Records.”

In a time of repressed standup, Foxx worked notoriously “blue.” He agreed to clean up his act for television, but consistently fought to keep Sanford and Son authentically funny. Born John Elroy Sanford, raised on Chicago’s South Side, and relocated to Harlem, he was known for keeping it real. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965), Malcolm X called “’Chicago Red,’ the funniest dishwasher on this earth.” Foxx started out as a singer, and ate half a bar of soap to get out of the draft during World War II. He got heart palpitations during the physical. But not “the big one, Elizabeth,” it was only a warm-up to one of the show’s running gags, which Foxx stole from his own mother.

“I’m 65. People say I look 55. I feel 45. I’d settle for 35 and you make me feel 25.”

Marilyn Bergman Mourned by Norman Lear, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and More: ‘Her Music Lives On’

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Hollywood is paying their respects to Marilyn Bergman, one half of the songwriting team of Bergman and her husband Alan, after the 93-year-old passed on Saturday morning.

Actors, musicians and producers posted tributes to the popular lyricist, whose decades-long career yielded Oscars, Emmys and Grammys for songs like “The Way We Were,” Windmills of Your Mind,” “Yellow Bird” and “Nice ‘n’ Easy.”

Norman Lear, whose shows “Good Times” and “Maude” featured Bergman-penned theme songs, saluted her as a singular talent.

“There was only one Marilyn Bergman. No one knew that more than her husband and partner in music, Alan,” tweeted the 99-year-old producer. “To those of us who loved the Bergman’s lyrics, Marilyn takes a bit of our hearts and souls with her today.”

There was only one Marilyn Bergman. No one knew that more than her husband and partner in music, Alan. To those of us who loved the Bergman’s lyrics, Marilyn takes a bit of our hearts and souls with her today. — Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) January 8, 2022

Megaproducer Quincy Jones posted a photo of himself and the Bergmans, accompanied by a heartfelt series of Tweets.

“My dear, dear, beautiful Marilyn Bergman, to lose you this morning, so close to our brother Sidney, is just crushing me. You, along with your beloved Alan, were the epitome of Nadia Boulanger’s belief that ‘an artist can never be more or less than they are as a human being.’”

My dear, dear, beautiful Marilyn Bergman, to lose you this morning, so close to our brother Sidney, is just crushing me. You, along with your beloved Alan, were the epitome of Nadia Boulanger’s belief that “an artist can never be more or less than they are as a human being”(1/3) pic.twitter.com/2y7v76W4jJ — Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) January 8, 2022

He continued, “The secret weapon to your songwriting…the unconditional love in your heart for your family, friends, and community… We shared so much of life together… songs, laughter, love and hugs, and every minute was pure joy.”

Tony Bennett posted a message with a link to his song “How Do You Keep The Music Alive?,” written by the Bergmans. “Marilyn and Alan Bergman with Michele [sic] Legrand wrote my favorite song, ‘How Do You Keep The Music Playing?’ We lost Marilyn today, but her music keeps playing.”

Marilyn and Alan Bergman with Michele Legrand wrote my favorite song, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing? We lost Marilyn today, but her music keeps playing.https://t.co/iM1fITp9zz — Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) January 8, 2022

Diane Warren shared a link to Dusty Springfield’s “Windmills Of Your Mind,” the 1969 song written by the Bergmans. “Write in power forever Marolyn [sic]. Thank U for so many songs that will live forever,” she added.

My favorite of the many ggrat songs written by Marilyn Bergman. Write in power forever Marolyn. Thank U for so many songs that will live forever.🖊🎶🎵🎼💔 https://t.co/4Tm5azooRl — Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) January 8, 2022

Paul Reiser tweeted, “We’ve lost one of the most talented, beautiful and inspriing [sic] woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Marilyn Bergman was so unique – and badass in the most glorious ways. RIP dear, dear Marilyn.”

We’ve lost one of the most talented, beautiful and inspriing woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Marilyn Bergman was so unique – and badass in the most glorious ways. RIP dear, dear Marilyn. https://t.co/hkPrN7Hjoh — Paul Reiser (@PaulReiser) January 8, 2022

Dana Delany recalled meeting Bergman and reflected on the couples’ loving relationship, writing, “I met Marilyn thru politics, early 90’s. Warm, gracious & fierce. But what I will always remember is how much Alan loved her. ‘What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?’ Her music lives on.”

I met Marilyn thru politics, early 90’s. Warm, gracious & fierce. But what I will always remember is how much Alan loved her. “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” Her music lives on. https://t.co/qvLMHWidpZ — Dana Delany (@DanaDelany) January 8, 2022

ABC Boss Addresses Oscars Host Plan, Status of Primetime All My Children, Grey’s, Millionaire and Live Sitcoms

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The Academy Awards airing on ABC in March will have a host — for the first time in four years.

Appearing at the Television Critics Association virtual winter press tour on Tuesday, Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, affirmed that filmdom’s biggest night will have a host this year, though he had no details to share at this time — including whether ABC’s late-night star, Jimmy Kimmel, might make a return as emcee. Oscars 2021: The 11 Best, Worst and Weirdest Moments

Other topics addressed, even if vaguely, by Erwich during the TCA press conference:

Declaring Grey’s Anatomy to be “still at the top of its game creatively” (as well as broadcast-TV’s No. 2-rated entertainment program), Erwich said that beyond this week’s Season 19 renewal, “any decisions around that franchise are going to be made by the stewards of the franchise — [series creator] Shonda [Rhimes] and [showrunner] Krista [Vernoff] and [star] Ellen [Pompeo].” He then added, “We will have as much Grey’s as as we can have. It’s one of the things we’re most proud of at ABC.”
Erwich had no updates at this time on the primetime All My Children follow-up, titled Pine Valley, which was sent into development over a year ago. But he did say that a la NBC rival Days of Our Lives‘ recent streaming miniseries and standalone holiday movie, he is “always open to additional iterations or explorations” of ABC’s General Hospital franchise.

*Erwich affirmed that there will be more installments of Jimmy Kimmel and Norman Lear’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience franchise, but again had no details to share.

*Asked for an update on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire‘s fate (the primetime quizzer’s Season 2 finale aired back in late March), Erwich again had nothing to share.

An I Love Lucy documentary is coming to Amazon Prime

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American actor Lucille Ball (1911-1989) and Cuban-born actor Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) talk to each other in a still from the television series, ‘I Love Lucy’,1956. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

You can now check in at The Golden Palace on Hulu

You can now check in at The Golden Palace on Hulu by Evelyn Ulrich

The onscreen and personal lives of the infamous and legendary I Love Lucy couple, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz will be explored up close and intimately in a new documentary that will be heading to Amazon Prime on March 4th. Before the platform’s launch, the film will be shown at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 22.

It is well-known that the pair fought CBS to get their show on the air mostly due to the fact Lucy and Desi were an interracial couple and the belief audiences won’t accept it. Thanks to Lucille’s persistence and a successful vaudeville act to prove that they can be comedic, however, CBS greenlit I Love Lucy.

The doc, titled, Lucy and Desi, will be directed by comedienne, Amy Poehler. It will feature a lineup of talent interviews, including Desi and Lucille’s children, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Luci Arnaz-Luckinbill. Others in the lineup include singer Bette Midler, comic legend Carol Burnett, Gregg Oppenheimer (son of I Love Lucy head writer Jess Oppenheimer), and tv producer Norman Lear.

In December, Amazon released the biopic drama, Being the Ricardos starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, and offered ‘fictionalized’ glimpses of behind the scenes of I Love Lucy as well as facing personal conflicts.

Amazon released the official poster for Lucy and Desi recently, shoeing a vivid highlight of Desi in his WWII uniform, for which he served the United States in the Army.

Dare you to name a more iconic TV couple. Don’t miss this deep dive into Lucy and Desi’s real lives in Amy Poehler’s documentary feature directing debut #LucyandDesiMovie, coming March 4. pic.twitter.com/i8t9Pa3jMl — Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) January 11, 2022

Along with the poster, Amazon released the synopsis for the documentary.

“Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz risked everything to be together. Their love for each other led to the most influential show in the history of television, I Love Lucy. Desi – an immigrant from Cuba who lost everything in exile, became a band leader, and eventually a brilliant producer and technical pioneer. Lucy came from nothing and, with an unrivaled work ethic, built a career as a model, chorus girl and eventually as an actor in the studio system. She found her calling in comedy, first in radio. When Lucille was finally granted the opportunity to have her own show, she insisted that her real-life spouse, Desi, be cast as her husband. Defying the odds, they reinvented the medium, on screen and behind the cameras.”

Select episodes of I Love Lucy can now be streamed and enjoyed on Paramount+.