The Jeffersons As BET reports, it was the first TV show to directly address suicide in an episode where Florence the housekeeper falls into a depression and contemplates ending her life. [15], In 1985, Hemsley and Sanford made a special joint guest appearance in the Canale 5 comedy show Grand Hotel, starring the Italian actors Paolo Villaggio, the comic duo Franco & Ciccio, and Carmen Russo. The Jeffersons was notable because it depicted a Black family as upper-middle class. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. The sitcom was about the black family who had lived next door to the Bunkers, but Good Times was partly responsible. 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. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. As groundbreaking as The Jeffersons was in terms of depicting Black America on the small screen, it still earns criticism for some of its choices. Also worth noting: in the fifth season, Janet Jackson joined the cast. Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel, Howard Bendetson & Bob Bendetson. s noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as one of the writers on the show, Jay Moriarty, told The Hollywood Times, In a contemporary review by The New York Daily News. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. Lyle throws a party at the hotel, but his high school rival (now a pro football coach) and his team decide to crash it. Edith and Gloria appeared occasionally at first, then Jean Stapleton wanted to make a clean break and Sally Struthers got her own show. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. The Jeffersons (1975 TV Show Often, people calling in to book flights would tell her that her voice sounded familiar, and she'd just laugh it off. Isabel Sanford on not wanting to do "The Jeffersons" spin off Many people can't help but note that the main difference between The Jeffersons and other successful sitcoms that both enjoyed stable a time slot and received a formal finale episode is the color of the cast's skin. The character of George Jefferson was conceived of as a mirror image in some ways of Archie Bunker. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. Members of the Black Panther Party set up a meeting with Lear to discuss Good Times. A sitcom world must be a good one for a spin-off to spawn another spin-off! Today, a transgender person has been nominated to be part of the president's cabinet, and the Vice President of the United States is in an interracial marriage. During the January 11, 1975 episode of All in the Family, titled "The Jeffersons Move Up", Edith Bunker gave a tearful good-bye to her neighbor Louise Jefferson as her husband George, their son Lionel, and she moved from a working-class section of Queens, New York, into the luxurious Colby East, a fictitious high-rise apartment complex on East 63rd Street in Manhattan. This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 13:35. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. Edith's death in the context of the spin-offmade Archie a widow, and though he missed Edith terribly, he continued on with his pub and focused on taking care of Edith's young relative, Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois). Norman Lear's 1975 spinoff of All in the Family remains a unique show. The Jeffersons Most of the cast usually didn't respond, but George almost always gave in. It only Bunker has no reason to hate Blacks or to view them as inferior. "Jeffersons" redirects here. The Jeffersons [21], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first six seasons of The Jeffersons on DVD in Region 1 between 2002 and 2007. Marla Gibbs was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series each year from 1981 to 1985. 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. Lionel is introduced in the pilot, and is a core cast member for season one. 4. WhenAll In The Familydebuted in 1971, few people suspected it would be responsible for more spin-offs than any other sitcom in television history. 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 had one spin-off, titled Checking In. This CBS spin-off of "All in the Family" featured an African-American couple, George and Louise, who rose from their humble beginnings and moved into an expensive high rise. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. Larry Linville(Frank Burns on MASH) plays her manager. In the season two episodeCousin Maudes Visit, Ediths liberal cousin Maude Findlay (Beatrice Arthur) comes to help out when the Bunkers are sick with the flu. Mike Evans would leave The Jeffersons to work behind the camera for another show in the All in the Family family tree Good Times. ", "How 'All in the Family' Spawned the Most Spinoffs of Any Sitcom", "All in the Family Season 5, Episode 16 The Jeffersons Move Up", "Actor Paul Benedict, 70, Leaves the Stage", "Zara Cully: Known for Role as 'Mother Jefferson' on the Jeffersons", "Ned Wertimer, character actor known as 'The Jeffersons' doorman, dies at 89", "The Jeffersons Season 10 Episode 16: My Guy, George", https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/78-OCR/1978-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf, https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-06-18-OCR-Page-0056.pdf#search=%22rounding%20up%20the%20ratings%22, "The Norman Lear Experience: His Shows, His Honesty and One Thing He Wanted to Do", "Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership", "Mill Creek's Re-Releases for Next Month Get Great DVD Package Art", "The Jeffersons CORRECT DATE, Packaging for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "Great Extras Revealed for 'The Complete Series: The Deee-luxe Edition', "The Jeffersons Shout! But he's actually one of the most complex characters in TV history. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, but Checking In focused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. THE FAMILY 7 Spin-Offs From George is an obstreperous, often rude guy who thinks his wealth should get him anywhere he wants to go. [22] One episode featured George requesting Florence to insult him, in order to get to a prospective business partner who was fond of her wisecracks. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Web3. Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. Danny Wells played Charlie, the owner and a bartender of a nearby bar to the Jeffersons apartment building. 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! It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. 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. Another sparring partner for Archie is neighbor George Jefferson, and the twocriticize one another's race. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants. WebFor her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/isabel-sanford Gibbs then returned to The Jeffersons.. The idea of the Jeffersons "moving on up" came after three members of the Black Panthers who were fans of Lear's productions visited Lear's CBS office, raising issues with the creator over the portrayal of Black people on television, including his "Maude" spin-off series "Good Times." Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. You would be, too, if your neighbor was Archie Bunker. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. As noted by The Baltimore Sun, many Black Americans found aspects of the showfrom George Jefferson's "pimp walk" strut to his general foolishnessto be offensive. But Gibbs knew how quickly fortunes turned in Hollywood. Sherman Hemsley even appeared in the premiere. 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. The Bunkers and their neighbors, the Jeffersons,developed relationships with other characters, many of whom got spin-offs of their own. But just because Lear could push those characters and storylines onto the screen didn't mean everyone was happy about it. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. 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. 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. One other reason she kept her job despite becoming famous on a top-rate television show? Stage actressEsther Rolleshows up in the third episode ofMaudeas Florida, an AfricanAmerican housecleaner who has little patience for Maudes political correctness. [10] Sherman Hemsley guest-starred as George in two episodes of the series, which lasted for one season. 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. 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. The sitcom featured Burgess Meredith and Jo de Winter, and lasted one season. 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. Lead actors Rolle and John Amos felt a huge responsibility for that. Most television is ephemeral. [8] 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. [21], It returned to the Top 10 in 197980, and at the end of the 198182 season, The Jeffersons finished third overall, only surpassed by fellow CBS series Dallas and 60 Minutes. She appeared in seven episodes in 197677, so watch any of those! Archie and Mike are always butting heads since Archie is politically conservative and Mike is usually portrayed as being liberal. [38] The show's ratings for the following two seasons placed it in the Top 30, but during the 197778 and 197879 seasons (the show's fourth and fifth seasons), it fell out of the top 30, ranking 52nd in Season 4 and 49th in Season 5. It was funny and entertaining. But as BET notes, The Jeffersons was a real departure not only because it was just the second African-American sitcom to hit the top five in ratings, or because Isabel Sanford was just the second Black actress to win an Emmy Award for Best Actress. Happy Daysalso had five spin-offs between 1976 and 1979. George Jefferson was, in some ways, a black version of the white anti-hero Archie Bunker. 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. I remember watching Checking In in the early 80s and even remember the theme song. The influential sitcom was controversial when it first aired on 50 years ago on Jan. 12, 1971, and it went on to confront numerous issues that hadnt previously been portrayed on television. The show was a spinoff from "All in the Family." No episode was centered on Mother Jefferson's death, but it was occasionally mentioned that she had died in future episodes. Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. After a 1972 backdoor pilot onAll in the Family, Maude got a show of her own. George owns a profitable dry-cleaning chain, so he and the family move to a nice apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City in a backdoor pilot onAll in the Family. Even when shows remain in the popular culture after their cancellation, they're usually relegated to a murky backwater on the cable or streaming menu. 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. Show This show wasnt very successful, however. Almost as well known, but less controversial was the Nov. 10, 1975, episode of Maude talking to her psychiatrist. The Jeffersons It took until 1975 until television finally gave Black audiences a family that looked like them and that wasn't struggling. 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. 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]. 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. Even though it flopped,704 Hauserhas a special place in the heart of many Norman Lear fans. 1. 10 Iconic Black TV Shows That Defined The Culture, Another interesting connection of the sitcom universe, Lionel is the first Jefferson to be seen on. Spin-off RELATED:WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms. [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. 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. The Jeffersons 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). This CBS spin-off of "All in the Family" featured an African-American couple, George and Louise, who rose from their humble beginnings and moved into an expensive high rise. Gloria and Mike are no longer together, so Gloria and her son, Joey, leave California and go home to New York. [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. As progressive as it was when it came to race relations, it hedged its bets in many ways. 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). In a reversal ofAll in the Family, Ernie is liberal while his son is quite conservative. As noted by Ebony, many of the actors working on The Jeffersons were serious artists with a lot of training. The cast reunited in a stage play based on the sitcom. Ratings for the first season were poor, and the network didnt exactly shout about it from the antenna-covered rooftops. Sherman Hemsley, for example, came out of the revered Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), as did Roxie Roker (Helen Willis). WebIn 1975, George Jefferson was eager to move out of Queens. released season 7 on DVD in Region 1. 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. [27] He was known for constantly stalling at the Jeffersons' door with his hand out waiting for a tip. The Jeffersons At least stories featuring Black people were being told, and Black actors were getting significant roles on TV. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. Russell) who dated the girl down the block (Maura Tierney). Henry Jefferson was never seen again. Marla Gibbs was the breakout star onThe Jeffersonsas Florence, George and Louises maid, so it made perfect sense to spin her off. 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. Even before All in the Familyended, Stapleton expressed a desire to distance herself from the role of Edith. [8] However, the ratings sank below the top 30, and The Jeffersons aired its last episode, "Red Robins", on July 2, 1985.[28]. Charlie was also revealed to be an alcoholic in the season 11 episode "A Secret in the Back Room", in which Charlie is in denial, but the Jeffersons eventually get him to admit to his problem and advise him to get some help. Archie Bunker's Place extended Archie's role to over twelve years on television. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. As with Maude and Good Times , the main character of the new series was a maid on her previous series. Although Archie and George (Sherman Hemsley) argue a lot, Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford) is a dear friend to Edith Bunker, and it's hard for the two to say goodbye when the Jeffersons move away. Ned Wertimer played their tip-hungry doorman, Ralph Hart, throughout the series. 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. As reported by New Ravel, network executives weren't happy about taking things that far, and pressured the producers to remove the scene. All in the Familytook a leaf out of its own book and spawned yet another sitcom afterthe series ended. Tolbert became a regular guest star throughout the rest of the series. The show was a spin-off ofThe Jeffersons. While many of the shows connected toAll in the Familydid extraordinarily well,Checking Inonly lasted for four episodes. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. Florence Johnston (Marla Gibbs) worked for the Jefferson family on their show, but Checking In focused on her life as the executive housekeeper of the St. Frederick Hotel in New York City. Variety said it underscored that sitcoms this year are treading more realistic areas than the dramatic series., Also in the second season, Maude decided to have an abortion. In his autobiography, Even This I Get to Experience, Lear wrote that a relatively small group of agitators, especially when convinced God is on their side, can move corporate America to quake with fear and make decisions in total disregard of the Constitution.. We actually enjoy working together." A top 20 show for most of its 11 seasons, The Jeffersons was canceled abruptly without an official series finale. Arthur was the only actor seen for the entire half-hour. In some ways, 1975 doesn't seem so long agobut it was truly a different time in more ways than one. Checking In 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. The series was centered on the Jeffersons' housekeeper, Florence, who takes a job as cleaning management at a hotel. ", was added as a bonus feature on The Jeffersons: The Complete Series 33-disc DVD set issued by Shout! The Jeffersons (1975 TV Show Arthur was such a hit as Maude that Lear developed a series for her, with the second season finale ofAll In The Familyacting as the backdoor pilot for the spinoff. Florence Johnson returned toThe JeffersonsafterChecking Inended. That's exactly what happened withGood Times. The Jeffersons Jefferson has plenty of reason to distrust white people and the power structures they use to oppress him. Fun fact: Both Macy and Rodd played different characters onAll In The Familyjust weeks before Lear cast them onMaude. What is the chronological order of these Norman Lear shows? WebThe Jeffersons: Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Bernard West. Over the course of its 11-year run, the series was almost always one of the most-watched on television. Until then, Lear created the character of Henry Jefferson, George's brother. All In The Familyfans will recognize Torres as Teresa Betancourt, the hospital worker who rents Mike And Glorias room when they move out. Making George a little ridiculous softened the blow, because it made it clear that no matter how successful he and his family might be, they would always be second-class. This article is about the 1981 sitcom. He used that power to push the envelope, depicting the first transgender character in a situation comedy and the first recurring interracial marriage. WandaVision& 9 Other Shows That Have Paid Homage To Sitcoms, Younger & 9 Other Shows Or Movies That Couldn't Have Existed Before Social Media, Abby's Mother Reveal In Night Court Resolves The Harry/Christine Romance, Big Bang Theory Secretly Hinted At Paiges Dark Young Sheldon Future, One Big Bang Theory Main Character Was Only Meant To Be A Guest Role.