How Norman Lear’s Final TV Series Is a Testament to His Legacy [Exclusive]

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Legendary TV producer and writer Norman Lear passed away in 2023 at the age of 101. His final television credit is in the Netflix hit dramedy Boots. Before Boots, Lear had established himself as a pioneer of socially conscious television that explored tough topics in unprecedented ways. The dramedy is a fitting ode to his legacy, given its wide popularity stemming from its nuanced exploration of LGBTQ service members. The series is inspired by Greg Cope White‘s memoir The Pink Marine. Cope White — also a writer on the series — told Collider’s Maggie Lovitt during an interview that working with Lear was a dream come true. He grew up watching Lear’s works because they resonated with him in a way that other shows from that time didn’t.

“I started in the ’70s as a fan of Norman’s and his shows because that was the first time I was seeing the way I was feeling represented on television. His pioneering moves to show a same-sex marriage in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, I think in 1976, maybe, or a trans character on All in the Family, and then another one on The Jeffersons and All That Glitters,” Cope White said, spotlighting some of Lear’s most significant LGBTQ moments that went on to define the culture. “These are people that I almost knew. These are characters that I looked up to. So, when I first got the job for him in 1992, I couldn’t believe that I was going to be in his orbit. And then the more we talked about my story and the book and the resulting show, it was a dream come true that I never dared to dream, to be part of his legacy,” Cope White added. He appreciated the honor of being able to work with Lear on his final show, saying,

“I’m so happy to report that, if we have to be known as his final show, everyone came together and created such a wonderful project. There’s a lot of responsibility there, being known as his last show, and to be in that canon is not just a privilege, but there’s a responsibility, and I’m so thankful to… I mean, look at what you’re seeing. I’m thankful to Sony and Netflix and the actors and the military advisors and all the other writers who all wanted to make not just the most authentic depiction of this world, but to tell stories of ‘other,’ and a lot of other others.”

‘Boots’ Long Journey to the Small Screen

Boots remained in development for two years between the initial announcement and the series premiere. Cope White had written the book more than a decade before the series made it to our screens, but he always intended to turn it into a television show. The Pink Marine was published in 2015, and the show began to be shopped to potential homes in 2017. Lear played a significant role in its success, Cope White revealed. He explained how everything happened, saying,

“I’m a television writer first. This is my one book. Norman Lear is like the great connector. He raised a lot of TV babies. He called me Sergeant in the office. Rachel Davidson, one of the producers on our show, would hear him calling me Sergeant, and she thought it was funny, like calling a big guy Tiny, and he’s like, ‘Nope. He was actually a sergeant in the Marine Corps.’ So she said, ‘I have got to hear that story.’ So as I was writing the book, she was there cheering me on, and doing the great producer things, like, ‘Dig deeper,’ and things like that. Then, she optioned it right away, and we began shopping it very lightly in 2017. As you know from shopping anything around, you limit where you go because once you get a ‘no,’ it’s harder to get back in there.”

Thankfully, the show did not face rejection, especially when Lear became attached to it. Boots would encounter some unforeseen issues before debuting on October 9 to rave reviews. Cope White opened the curtain on that journey, saying,

“People were so receptive to the idea. Then, Norman jumped on board with his producing partner, Brent [Miller]. Norman had a deal at Sony, and we took it to Sony, and we got there in 2019, and they were so supportive. They got the world right away. Then, in COVID, we actually started looking around, and we found the brilliant Andy Parker, who created the television version and adapted the book. Then we went out and pitched it. So, you know what? I felt kind of, I don’t want to say guilty during COVID, but it was interesting to have something positive to work on during COVID, if that makes sense. The world was closing in, and then my own world was expanding. So, we had the writers’ room on Zoom, and all of it. Then, luckily, we were able to get out of the room and film it.”

Like many Norman Lear projects before it, Boots has ignited an important conversation, becoming a great way to cement the venerable producer’s legacy. Watch all episodes of the series on Netflix and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.