The Center is named for benefactor Norman Lear, the social activist and philanthropist, and television producer, and was founded and is directed by Marty Kaplan, associate dean of the USC Annenberg School, who has been a political speechwriter, Hollywood studio executive, and screenwriter-producer.
It launched on March 31, 2004, and the lineup included hosts like Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Al Franken, Marty Kaplan, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Colmes, Lizz Winstead and Chuck D. At the time, both Sirius and XM had centrist/progressive talk channels featuring talent from Air America Radio.
In 1986, Estrich married screenwriter, professor and former speechwriter Marty Kaplan, with whom she has a daughter, Isabel, and a son, James.
Marty Robbins | Marty Friedman | Marty McFly | Marty Schottenheimer | Marty Friedman (musician) | Marty Ehrlich | Jonathan Kaplan | Marty Willson-Piper | Marty Stuart | Sid and Marty Krofft | Marty Meehan | Marty Glickman | Gabe Kaplan | Marty Markowitz | Marty Feldman | Marty Allen | Betty Kaplan | Thomas Kaplan | Stephanie Kaplan | Silvia Marty | Scott Kaplan | Robert S. Kaplan | Philip J. Kaplan | Marty Morrissey | Marty Kaplan | Marty James | Marty Chan | Marty Brennaman | Marty Balin | Marty Allen (comedian) |
Contributing columnists include Judea Pearl, Dennis Prager, Marty Kaplan, Gina Nahai, Bill Boyarsky, Mark Paredes, Teresa Strasser, Raphael Sonnenshein, Jonathan Kirsch, and Rabbi Steven Weil.