Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise Weezy Jefferson as they move on up from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. All In The Family(19711979 205 episodes plus two un-aired pilots). [21], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first six seasons of The Jeffersons on DVD in Region 1 between 2002 and 2007. We actually enjoy working together." Similar to its parent sitcom, All in the Family, the Jeffersons explored controversial issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, being transgender, and much more, certainly making it one of the most importantsitcoms of all time. As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. Early seasons of the show used racial epithets for both Black and white characters fairly often, but as time went on Hemsley thought his character should be evolving and stop using expressions like "honky." 1. Florence Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. The series follows Florence's misadventures at the hotel with her co-workers: Lyle Block, her stuffy manager; Elena Beltran, her assistant; Earl Bellamy, the inept house detective; Hank Sabatino, the lewd handyman; Betty, the floor supervisor; Dennis, the bellboy; and Mr. Claymore, the hotel owner.[1]. All of that changed on May 9, 1971, whenAll In The Familywon Emmys for Best Comedy, Best New Series, and Best Actress forJean Stapleton(Edith Bunker). Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. Checking In, created by Mike Milligan and Jay Moriarty, only lasted for four episodes, one of the few Tandem/TAT sitcoms that wasnt a success. The sitcom featured Burgess Meredith and Jo de Winter, and lasted one season. But as Ebony writes, this was a deliberate calibration by the show's creators to make the show and the character of George Jefferson more palatable to audiences not quite ready to accept Blacks as their equals. WebThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were onAll In The Familyfor five seasons before they got their own show. WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. It only WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. All Rights Reserved. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. All in the Familyprimarily takes place at the Bunker residence on 704 Hauser Street. Sometimes the best, and most intelligent, TV shows never get a chance! [1] In an episode of Tyler Perry's House of Payne in 2011, Sherman Hemsley and Marla Gibbs reprised their roles of George Jefferson and Florence Johnston. Marla Gibbs remains best-known to many people as the sarcastic housekeeper, Florence, on The Jeffersons. But Gibbs knew how quickly fortunes turned in Hollywood. Florence and Elena suspect that a ghost is roaming the building, and Florence decides to spend the night alone in a room to prove that it's not haunted. [36], The Jeffersons changed time slots at least 15 different times during its 11-year run, unusual for a popular long running series. By what name was Checking In (1981) officially released in Canada in English? One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? [16], Louise Jefferson, played by Isabel Sanford, first appeared in the All in the Family episode "Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood", which was broadcast on March 2, 1971. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Affluent and successful, the Jeffersons still had to deal with race, prejudice, and economic pressures, and the show represented a more nuanced and more complex view of the Black American experience. Which is why it's easy to forget that George Jefferson actually had a fascinating fictional background story that was more thoughtful than your typical sitcom fare. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. WebThis spinoff from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility - African- American couple George and Louise Jefferson move into a swanky high-rise building. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. Thats not just impressive, its historic. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [2][3] Henry played as George when Louise felt embarrassed that George did not want to be in Archie Bunker's house due to prejudice. His alcohol problem isn't referenced anymore throughout the series, but it is assumable Charlie overcame it. Eventually this tactic worked, and the writers stopped using the offensive terms. Read Next: Rachael Ray Talk Show to End After 17 Seasons, The History of the Famed Hollywood Hyphenate: Writer-Directors, Why All Quiet on the Western Front Offers No Heroics And Doubles Down on Horrors of War, Colin Farrell on Family, Irish Civic Duty, the Power of Movies and Friendship With Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan Actor, Dies at 61, New Alien Movie Starts Filming in March, Reveals Cryptic Synopsis and Full Cast, Jonathan Majors Confronts Those Terrible Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Reviews: It Doesnt Change How I See Myself, Reality TV Star Stephen Bear Jailed for 21 Months Over OnlyFans Sex Video, Michelle Yeoh Says Hollywood Questioned If I Even Spoke English After 1997 Bond Film: I Didnt Work for Two Years Due to Stereotype, Why Sylvester Stallone Is Not in 'Creed 3', Idris Elba Says Backlash Over Not Calling Himself a Black Actor Is Stupid: Where Am I Denying My Blackness?, 21 Best Movies New to Streaming in March: Murder Mystery 2, Triangle of Sadness and More, Ke Huy Quan Lost His Health Insurance Right After Filming Everything Everywhere All at Once: Nobody Else Wanted to Hire Me, Netflix's Joey Sasso Explains Where His Relationship With Kariselle Snow Stands After 'Perfect Match, Britain's $4 Billion Boss: ITV Chief Carolyn McCall Bets It All on Talent, 2023 Music Festivals: How to Buy Tickets to Coachella, Governors Ball, Lollapalooza and More. Thats bullshit.. And then there's The Jeffersons. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. The misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons. Hemsley was so good, show creator Norman Lear waited years to be able to hire him. And in one episode when George is told a white worker should be referred to as a "custodian" he remarks that if he was black, he'd be called a "janitor.". The series' eighth season was the first African-American sitcom in years (since Sanford and Son) to peak in the top 5 (the series' eighth season debuted at No. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. 1. As he had done with Bea Arthur onAll In The Family, Lear immediately recognized a breakout character and quickly began developing a spinoff for Florida with writersEric Monte(Cooley High) andMike Evans(Lionel onAll In The Family). Larry M. Harris won the Emmy for Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series in 1983. The series gave John Amos and Norman Lear another chance to work together after tensions on set led Amos to leaveGood Times. At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. Archie and Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) share their home with their daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers), and her husband, Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner). Lear created this series, which had an inventive concept: an African-American family moves into the house formerly occupied by Archie Bunker. Sanford was also the recipient of five of the eight Golden Globe Awards nominations the program received.[48]. In fact, the parent show would have been completely different without the Jefferson family in the neighborhood. [5][7] The Jeffersons eventually evolved into more of a traditional sitcom, but episodes occasionally focused on serious issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, gun control, being transgender, the KKK, and adult illiteracy. Although this backstory wasn't explicitly referenced, it showed up in the writing. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Factory had acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released the complete series on DVD in a 33-disc collection on December 9, 2014. The sitcoms breakout star was Jimmie J.J. Walker, with his trademark phrase Dy-no-mite!. We cant talk about the offspring without a few words about the parent. In the 1996 series finale of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the Jeffersons made a guest appearance as the buyers of the Banks family house. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." [9] The Jeffersons also shared continuity with the sitcom E/R, which featured Lynne Moody who made a guest appearance in one episode of The Jeffersons. Dont miss on getTV:Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood(March 2, 1971) for Sanfords first appearance,Henrys Farewell(October 20, 1973) for Hemsleys debut,Lionels Engagement(February 9, 1974) for Mother Jeffersons (Zara Cully) and the Willis familys (played by different actors) first appearances, andThe Jeffersons Move Up(January 11, 1975) for the backdoor pilot. WebThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. Checking In was the first All in the Family spin-off series that was not successful, unlike The Jeffersons, Maude and Maude spin-off Good Times. They were guests in the fictional hotel and their voices were dubbed by Italian actors Enzo Garinei (George) and Isa di Marzio (Louise), who also dubbed their characters for the full series. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe is that Mike Evans (who played Lionel Jefferson on All in the FamilyandThe Jeffersons) createdGood Timeswith Eric Monte. But as Variety reports, this didn't satisfy everybody. They live in a public housing project and struggle to get by at times. MeTV points out that it was the first situation comedy on prime time television to depict a transgender characterGeorge's old Navy pal Eddie, revealed to now be Edie. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In response she showed a picture of her husband, Sy Kravitz, who was white. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. The song also adamantly drew from Black culture, styled almost as a spiritualcomplete with 35-member choirthat wouldn't have been out of place in church. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. The show was produced by the T.A.T. The location is the only concrete link fromAll in the Familyto the series, but it's a strong one despite the fact that704 Hauserwas only on the air for five episodes. [49] Marla Gibbs reprised her role as Florence Johnston. Maudealso introducedJohn Amosas Floridas husband Henry later changed to James and established their marital dynamic in preparation for the spinoff. 3). The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. As noted by BET, The Jeffersons was a consistently high-rated showonly the second sitcom with a majority Black cast to land in the Top Five of the Nielsen Ratings, in fact. His writers onArchie Bunkers Placewrote a pilot for Struthers that CBS rejected and OConnor had no further involvement, despite the fact that he was still playing Archie Bunker. One of the reasons The Jeffersons remains a pop culture powerhouse when many contemporary TV shows have faded from our collective memory is the theme song. He had endured a tortured development process that included two pilots rejected by ABC and multiple recasts. Before we go any further, a few words about math. Checking Infound Florence as executive housekeeper at a New York City Hotel. In his autobiography, Lear wrote that three members of the Black Panther Party came to his office at CBS, complaining about Good Times: Every time you see a Black man on the tube, he is dirt poor, wears shit clothes, cant afford nothing. But, if you love Carroll OConnors Archie, its a gift that we got to see more of him (even if the show isnt as good). Dont miss on getTV:TwoAll In The Familyepisodes set up the circumstances ofGloria:The Stivics Go West(March 19, 1978) where Mike takes a job as a teacher andCalifornia, Here We Are(December 17, 1978) where Mike and Gloria separate (but reconcile). There was one episode that was actually sort of scary, involving a flute-playing ghost that haunted one of the rooms in the old hotel. Lear agreed to let OConnor continue the series without him, but under one condition: he couldnt call itAll In The Family. 4. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. However, Mike Evans appeared for only one more season, along with Tolbert. The Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons. NEXT:Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, All In The Family And Its 7 Spin-offs, In Chronological Order, shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, 10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power, Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. The Jeffersons had many two-part episodes, either over two consecutive weeks, or aired as an hour-long episode. Dont miss on getTV:Cousin Maudes Visit(December 11, 1971) andMaude(March 11, 1972). The Black experience wasn't portrayed muchor at allon television prior to the 1970s. Luckily, producer (and future network president) Fred Silverman fought to keep the scene in, and protest was muted. In the 1984-85 season, CBS aired a forgotten comedy called E/R, starring Elliot Gould. [1] The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history,[2] the second-longest-running series with a primarily African American cast by episode count behind Tyler Perry's House of Payne[1][3] and the first to prominently feature a married interracial couple. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. If you include those inAll In The Familys grand total and you must, because they wouldnt exist otherwise All In The Familybegat 7 shows, 860 episodes, and more than 400 hours of network television. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. "Jeffersons" redirects here. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. Florence was only supposed to be a bit part, but audiences loved her, and the character of Florence was promoted to full-time status. Archie mentions a friend from the old neighborhood named Cumberbatch. It brought back the star ofGood Times John Amos in an update ofAll In The Familythat uses a plot point (interracial relationship) ofThe Jeffersons. Fame10 notes that executives worried depicting an interracial kiss would lead to violenceand, worse, to affiliate stations dropping the show. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. It only WebThe Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. As discussed by critic Robert E. Crafton, an insurance settlement allowed George to quit his job and launch his first dry-cleaning business, which in turn allowed the Jeffersons to move from Harlem to Queens (becoming Archie Bunker's neighbors in the process), and finally to make the move to Manhattan. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford Dont miss on getTV:While theres no direct Bunker connection,Checking Indoes featureLiz Torresas Florences assistant. Checking In lasted only four episodes, after which Florence returned to The Jeffersons with the story that the hotel had burned down in a fire. RELATED:10 Sitcom Characters With Supernatural Abilities, Ranked By Power. [46] Her victory in 1981 made her the first African-American actress to win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series,[1][21][47] and the second to win any Emmy Award; Gail Fisher, who played Peggy on the TV show Mannix, preceded her in 1970. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." It was funny and entertaining. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. 8 in the summer of 1980. It starred Sherman Hemsley and Isobel Sanford, with Marla Gibbs as the Jeffersons maid Florence and Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as the racially mixed couple upstairs, a real sitcom innovation. Maude becomes yet another person for Archie to disagree with politically. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Sally Struthers was next to get her own show as Gloria Bunker Stivic, Archie and Edith's daughter. For other uses, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of awards and nominations received by The Jeffersons, "The Jeffersons: A look at life on black America's new 'Striver's Row', "Sherman Hemsley dies: Watch George Jefferson at his finest", "The Jeffersons and Happy Days and Valerie Bertinelli Bio", "Tyler Perry's House of Payne: Paying Homage to Sherman Hemsley", "Are Any of 'The Jeffersons' Cast Members Still Alive Today? In the spring of 1981, Paul Benedict left the show for a season and a half, returning in the final two seasons of the series. In that regard,Good Timesis more like a reboot of Rolle and Amoss characters than a spinoff. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. [5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear. The Jeffersons spawned the television show Checking In. This show followed the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston as she worked at a hotel in Manhattan. Louise made friends with Tom and Helen Willis, an interracial couple with two adult children of their own[8] (whom George derided as "zebras"):[1][20] son Allan (played by Andrew Rubin in the first-season finale, and by Jay Hammer throughout season 5), a white-passing college drop-out; and daughter Jenny, an aspiring fashion designer. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. As of 2022[update], the members still alive from the main cast include Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert, and Damon Evans. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. The epithets nigger and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]. This show wasnt very successful, however. In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. Here are the shows that make up the Archie Bunker Extended Universe a.k.a. Communications Company from 19751982 and by Embassy Television from 19821985. See Amos in the episodeA Visit From Lena Horne(January 12, 1973) and DuBois inSanford And Son And Sister Makes Three(December 1, 1972). He used that power to push the envelope, depicting the first transgender character in a situation comedy and the first recurring interracial marriage. After the huge success of shows like All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and Sanford and Sonin terms of ratings as well as critical receptionhe had the ability to do things other showrunners couldn't. Hes mellowed. It was a sort-of spin-off of The Jeffersons, as it featured Lynne Moody as Nurse Julie Williams, the niece of George and Louis Jefferson. Zara Cully played George's mother, Olivia "Mother" Jefferson, who constantly disparaged her daughter-in-law. [23] Bentley also had a bad back, and frequently needed George to walk on it. [7], In its first season (197475), the show ranked at number four, surpassed by its parent series All in the Family (which landed at number one for the fifth year in a row). Gloria(19821983 21 episodes plus unaired pilot). The show was a spin-off of The Jeffersons. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford George was introduced in the episode "Henry's Farewell", and Hemsley and Stewart share their only scene together in its final minutes. Ralph was also known for making up stories of him struggling to fulfill the Jeffersons request to get more tips. It was her breakout role; as noted by The History Makers, Gibbs had started taking acting classes when her job with United Airlines transferred her from Detroit to Los Angeles, but prior to being cast as Florence the actress had only appeared in a handful of theater roles and one film, 1973's Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. [8] The Jeffersons' sixth season peaked at No. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. It was funny and entertaining. John Amos (who played James Evans onGood Times) is the father, Ernie Cumberbatch. The cast was not informed until after the July 2, 1985, episode, "Red Robins"; actor Sherman Hemsley, who portrayed George Jefferson, said he learned that the show was canceled by reading it in the newspaper. Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it. Archie's bigotrywas never meant to be accepted; rather,the entire sitcom wasmeant to "throw a humorous spotlight" on human "frailties, prejudices, and concerns," as a disclaimer before the first episode said. a disclaimer before the first episode said. Back in 1975, issues like these were much more shockingas noted by The Hollywood Times, interracial marriage had only become legal throughout the country in 1967! Many great shows and movies turn 50 years old in 2021, andAll in the Familyis one of the most iconic. The series began after a backdoor pilot on Archie Bunker's Placecalled "Gloria: The First Day." The Jeffersons (19751984 253 episodes plus pilot on All In The Family) Unlike Arthur and Rolle, who were spun-off quickly, the Jeffersons were on All In The Family for five seasons before they got their own show. As the Atlanta Black Star notes, the Panthers told Lear that there were successful Black people in the world whose stories could be compelling and funny. Looking back on decades past, it'sremarkable how seven shows followedAll in the Familyand belong to its universe. I would like to see this forgotten TV show resurrected on TV Land or Nick at Night, or maybe a special DVD release. WebSpun-off from The Jeffersons (1975) This spin-off of The Jeffersons came out about 8 years before Marla Gibbs' second series, "227." Maude(19721978 141 episodes plus pilot onAll In The Family). Actor Franklin Cover, who played Tom Willis, also heard about the cancellation while watching Entertainment Tonight. It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. The Bunker-Verse! Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. This was perceived as an act of deep disrespect by many of the cast members, and it also meant that one of the most successful and longest-running comedies of all time didn't get to have a proper series finale. And The Jeffersons was in many ways a broad, superficial comedy that relied on racially-charged jokes and physical comedy to get laughs. TV shows can be huge, massive hits for yearsand then vanish into near-obscurity (seriously, when was the last time you had a conversation about Lost?). 704 Hauserflips the Archie/Meathead dynamic by making Ernie Cumberbatch (John Amos) the liberal and his son Thurgood Marshall Cumberbatch (T.E. Here's the untold truth of The Jeffersons. Portrayed by Mel Stewart, Henry got the lines and screen time that would have gone to George. George's career as a dry-cleaner began in the first season of All in the Family in the third episode "Oh, My Aching Back" (though the character himself did not appear on-camera). Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) was Maude Findlay's maid in Tuckahoe, New York,andGood Timesmovedon to develop Florida's life with her family in Chicago. It was funny and entertaining. Web3. Checking In premiered on CBS on April 9, 1981, and lasted for only four episodes in the Thursday, 8:00p.m. EST timeslot. [44] Season 8 was released on August 11, 2015. 0. It's unsurprising then that once The Jeffersons aired, it remained on television for almost a decade.The Jeffersons was a spin-off that took the blueprint provided by All in the Family and made minor changes by making the Thanks to Lear and his characters, 70s TV audiences saw and heard things they never had before in primetime. All In The Familydirectly spun off five situation comedies between 1972 and 1994. According to The Washington Post, she'd been working for United Airlines for 11 years when she got the job on The Jeffersonsand she kept working there for two more years, not wanting to give up a good job for an acting role that might disappear at any moment. When shows featured Black characters, they were often portrayed as stereotypes, as clownish fools or ominous criminals. Lear called the704 Hausercharacters "responsible" and explained they knew what they were talking about in arguments. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Today were heading back to Manhattan, to revisit our favorite family, The Jeffersons. [12] Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson), who heard about the cancellation through her cousin who read it in the tabloids, has publicly stated that she found the cancellation with no proper finale to be disrespectful on the network's part. The characters of Lionel and Jenny were written out by stating that they had marital problems, the result of which became a two-part episode storyline as the series' eighth-season premiere. The patriarch of the Evans family, they noted, had to work several jobs to support his large family, and they noted that Black characters in general were often depicted in cheap clothing and in other negative ways. Other failed spin-off attempts were Gloria in the 1982-1983 season and 704 Hauser in 1994. The song was co-written by Ja'Net DuBois, who portrayed Willona on Norman Lear's other show, Good Times, and Jeff Barry. Florence is caught between Lyle and Elena when they have an argument, but she won't take anyone's side. Ned Wertimer played their tip-hungry doorman, Ralph Hart, throughout the series. Weve both mellowed. Simply put, "Movin' On Up" isn't just a great TV show theme song, it's a great song, full stop.