92-year-old Norman Lear attributes longevity to humor

Who the hell are you people? quipped Norman Lear to the fashionable crowd packed into his book party at the Richard Feigen Gallery off Madison Avenue on Wednesday night.

The liberal TV legend may not have known many besides Vogue editor Hamish Bowles, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Pat Kiernan of NY1, Tribeca Film Fests Craig Hatkoff and fashionistas Rory Tahari and Fern Mallis but they certainly knew Lear.

The People for the American Way founder took questions from the group about his pioneering shows like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons and Maude, and movies like This Is Spinal Tap.

When his cellphone rang, he answered it. Hello, Paul? said Lear, as 200 listened in. You wouldnt believe this fking moment.

Lears memoir Even This I Get To Experience details how he went from being a 9-year-old whose father was sent to jail to a World War II B-17 gunner to a gazillionaire who paid $8 million for a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

When asked if he felt comedy has contributed to his longevity, the 92-year-old said, I attribute it to humor as much as anything. I adore foolishness, because thats the human condition.

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92-year-old Norman Lear attributes longevity to humor