An emotional Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the late producer Norman Lear at the top of his ABC show on Wednesday night, calling him “one of the most important and impressive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Kimmel, who had collaborated with the late producer on ABC specials like “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” paid tribute to Norman Lear following Lear’s passing at the age of 101. Describing Lear as “The genius who brought us some of the greatest television shows and characters of all time,” Kimmel highlighted iconic shows like “All in the Family” and “Maude” as part of Lear’s incredible legacy. He praised Lear for transforming situation comedy in a positive way. An emotional Jimmy
In his tribute, Kimmel acknowledged Lear’s profound impact on television, stating, “Everyone who works in or even watches television owes him a great debt,” and expressed the sentiment that, despite reaching the remarkable age of 101, it somehow feels like it wasn’t enough time.
After sharing a humorous thank-you card from Norman Lear, Kimmel mentioned Lear’s preference for saying “To be continued” instead of goodbye. As a nod to this sentiment, Kimmel concluded his tribute by saying, “To be continued.”
Following this, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” aired an on-screen disclaimer, reminiscent of the one displayed by CBS before the first episode of “All in the Family” in 1971. This move reflected a cautious approach, perhaps anticipating varied viewer reactions.