I was 18 in 1971 and moved from Idaho to Los Angeles to start my adult life. A friend of mine had a brother working in a supermarket there, and we'd connect sometimes. One day, he said: "A customer just gave me tickets to a live taping of a new show...tonight. Do you want to go?"
As a small town kid I was thrilled. The show was new, and I had never seen an episode yet. The actor who played Lionel sat directly behind me and was introduced to the audience. During the taping, a controversial line in the script came up. It was whether William Windon's character should say about his Christmas card that he had The Christ Child in a Cadillac, or the Three Wise Men in a Cadillac.
I will never forget what happened next: They stopped the taping, and the actors and Norman Lear came out, sat on the edge of the soundstage, dangling their legs just feet in front of me, and engaged the audience in which line should be in the show...they asked for OUR feedback! After a brief discussion and a gauging of the audience preference, the Three Wisemen line was selected, the lights went down, the actors took their places again and completed the scene.
For a 18 year old from a small town in Idaho, it remains an indelible memory...not only getting to be there but interacting with the actors and producer, being asked to express an opinion, influence a TV show.... It was an extraordinary night for me, I'm not sure who from that cast or crew might read this, but I'll bet they remember it too. Mr. Lear, the incredible cast and crew changed television and society for the good with this show. I'll never forget it.
