Legendary TV producer Norman Lear had quite a 2016. But as an activist, Lear is troubled by what this year meant for the country. Also:  we look at the new shows coming to TV this week, including Netflix's mysterious THE OA, and we say farewell to Alan Thicke.

Norman Lear on the Highs and (Many)Lows of 2016 (Episode 16 -- 12/16/16)

TURN IT ON with Michael Schneider is a weekly dive into what's new and what's now in TV -- no matter what you're watching or where you're watching it. Each episode features interviews with producers, reviews, essays on the latest buzz and trends, plus a roundup of what's premiering and what's returning over the coming week. With an enormous amount of choices overwhelming even the most sophisticated viewer, TURN IT ON is a must-listen for TV fans looking to make sense of what to watch and where to watch it.

TV & Film

At the end of Season 2 of HBO's "Crashing," fictional Pete Holmes discovers a darker side of his personality, while doing a roast battle with his girlfriend. It freaks him out so much, as a matter of fact, that he breaks up with her and questions his very persona. Now, as Season 3 opens, Pete continues to evolve both as a person and as a standup. The show follows Pete as the character starts to taste some success -- and experiences the ego that comes with that. The season also touches on timely issues, such as misogyny in comedy, and leads to a big moment for Pete in the season finale. Returning guests include comedian Artie Lange, whose addiction struggles have been addressed throughout the show.

We sat down with Holmes at the Austin ATX TV Festival last June. For information on how to attend this year’s festival (June 6-9, 2019), please visit: atxfestival.com. (Music by HookSounds.)

'Crashing' Star Pete Holmes on Imitating Judd Apatow, Saving Artie Lange, and Season 3

Hugh Grant returned to television for the first time since the early 1990s in "A Very English Scandal," which premiered on Amazon Prime Video this past June. Now he's received a Golden Globe nomination for the role, which tells the shocking -- and quite amusing -- true story of the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder. We recently moderated a panel with Grant about the series and what brought him back to TV; here's audio from that conversation. (Music by DJ Omar Khan and HookSounds.)

Hugh Grant on Why 'A Very English Scandal' Brought Him Back to TV

"The Neighborhood" stars Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs talk about their new sitcom and why they enjoy the multi-camera sitcom format. Also, they dissect their favorite episodes of TV of all time. While Greenfield chose the Season 2 finale of "The Leftovers," Behrs went back to a famous 1969 "Carol Burnett Show" sketch starring Tim Conway as a rookie dentist and Harvey Korman as his unwitting patient. (Music by HookSounds.)

Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs Geek Out on 'The Leftovers' and 'Carol Burnett Show'

TV writer Greg Garcia earned raves for creating shows with quirky but down-to-earth relatable characters, such as 'My Name is Earl" and "Raising Hope." His latest series, the TBS anthology "The Guest Book," introduces new characters every single week. Garcia was inspired by his heavy diet of sitcoms growing up, including the classic "Andy Griffith Show." For a young Garcia, it was a rare appearance by the eccentric Ernest T. Bass that made for his favorite episodes of the series. When we asked the TV creator to pick his favorite TV episode of all time, he zeroed in on those five Ernest T. Bass appearances. (Music by HookSounds.)

'The Guest Book' Creator Greg Garcia on Why 'The Andy Griffith Show' Was TV's Best Comedy

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna talks about the final season of her CW show, and how Rachel Bloom made it OK to like Rebecca Bunch even at her worst. We also talk about her favorite episode of the series, and her favorite episode of TV of all time -- the pilot to The Americans. (Music by Hook Sounds.)

Norman Lear on the Highs and (Many)Lows of 2016 (Episode 16 -- 12/16/16)

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